Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

People who haven’t tried Mayonnaise Cake tend to be a bit taken aback they hear it’s name. I’ll admit, at first glance it sounds, well, interesting, and might get a little side eye. But have faith my friends! The essential ingredients in mayonnaise are eggs and oil, which are also ingredients commonly found in many cake recipes.

Trust me on this – it’s an AMAZING cake, and no, it does not, in any way, taste like mayonnaise!

Ingredients and Substitutions

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake Ingredients

• Flour – All-purpose flour works perfectly in this recipe. Make sure you measure it correctly by giving your flour a stir, than spooning it into your dry measuring cup, then leveling it off. Don’t measure by scooping the flour with the measuring cup – this compacts the flour and results in a bit too much four in the recipe.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – While regular unsweetened cocoa powder works perfectly in this recipe, I also love using Dark Cocoa Powder for an even richer chocolate taste.
• Sugar – Granulated white sugar.
• Eggs – Make sure to use large size eggs.
• Mayonnaise – I prefer to use a full fat mayonnaise for the best results. Also, make sure not to use something like Miracle Whip. Stick with a simple, basic mayonnaise.
• Water – The recipe calls or water, but you can also use a cooled cup of plain coffee, or add instant coffee to the water prior to mixing it into the cake. It will not taste like coffee, it just gives it a deeper chocolate flavor.

Chocolate Frosting Ingredients

While this cake can be served plain, or with a dusting of powdered sugar, it is also delicious topped with chocolate buttercream frosting. Here’s what you’ll need to make the frosting.

• Butter – You can use salted or unsalted butter, whichever you prefer or have on hand.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – Just like with the cake, you can use a regular cocoa powder, or go with a dark cocoa variety.
• Powdered Sugar – Also called confectioners sugar. If yours is lumpy, give it a sift prior to using.
• Heavy Cream – Also called heavy whipping cream. If you don’t have heavy cream, you could also make this with half and half or even milk.
• Vanilla – I always recommend using a pure vanilla extract.

How To Make Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans. If desired you can also use parchment cake pan liners. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt, then set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine sugar, eggs and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer for approximately 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add mayonnaise to the mixture and beat on low for approximately 1 minute.
4. Add flour mixture to the sugar mixture, in three additions, alternating with adding the water, stirring well between each addition. Pour into prepared baking pans.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and cool on wire racks.
6. Cool completely prior to frosting.
7. To make the frosting, combine melted butter and cocoa powder. Then add in powdered sugar, along with cream, and beat until light and fluffy. Add in salt and vanilla, mix well, then spread onto cooled cake.

Recipe Tips and Advice

Storage – This chocolate mayonnaise cake can be stored covered, at room temperature, for approximately five days. If you are saving it any longer than that, I highly recommend freezing it.

Equipment Recommendations – Here are so items that will help you make, and store, this mayo cake.

• 9″ round cake pans
• Parchment Cake Pan Liners – If you struggle with getting your cakes out of your pans cleanly, then you’ll LOVE these precut parchment sheets.
• Baker’s Joy Spray – If you aren’t using the parchment sheets, then I highly recommend using Baker’s Joy Non-Stick spray. With flour in the spray, it helps your cakes release from the pan easily.
• Cake Saver – This is FANTASTIC at helping keep your cake fresh when storing.
• Cake Stand – This 12″ white cake stand is a classic, perfect to use with any cake.

Recipe FAQs

Mayonnaise Cake With Cake Mix

While the recipe in the recipe card below is from scratch, if you’d like to make a mayonnaise cake with a cake mix, I’ve got you covered!

Ingredients: Chocolate Cake Mix, 1 Cup Mayonnaise, 3 Eggs, Water

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl combine chocolate cake mix, mayonnaise, three eggs and 1 cup water. Stir to combine, mix with an electric mixer for two minutes. Pour into two 8″ round cake pans that have been coated with non-stick cooking spray. Bake for approximately 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of cakes comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool for ten minutes, then invert cakes from pans and onto wire cooling rack. Allow to cool completely. If desired, frost using frosting recipe shared below.

More Recipes To Try

If you enjoy this chocolate mayonnaise cake, here are some other cake recipes I recommend trying!

• Marble Cake
• Chocolate Eclair Cake
• Easy Chocolate Banana Cake
• Chocolate Sheet Cake
• Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake