Mandy’s Triple Chocolate Kahlua Cake

Nearly 60K Pins! Our Triple Chocolate Kahlua Cake is an easy doctored cake mix loaded with chocolate and soaked with a buttery Kahlua glaze.

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When we host friends for dinner, the first thing I hand over is dessert. It’s simply not my first love. I know… I’m a whacko! What woman doesn’t salivate over dessert much less chocolate kahlua cake? I’m kooky. I’m aware.

Give me savory apps (especially seafood) and a lovely cocktail and I’m good for the night. But on the occasion that I do make dessert when we entertain, guess what I pull out of my hat? A doctored up boxed cake recipe. Yup! Cheater, HUGE Cheater. Arrest me! But this one is like a cocktail and a dessert at the same time, requires no frosting, is a one bowl recipe and baked in one large bundt pan, making clean-up easier too! I’m full of fun tricks!

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Mix batter in a stand mixer or in a big bowl by hand. Either Works!

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Flouring the chocolate chips prevent them from falling to bottom of pan. They stay suspended in the batter while baking.

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Butter a bundt pan in every nook & cranny

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Flour a chocolate cake pan with cocoa so it won’t show after baking

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Mixing in chocolate chips into batter

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Pour batter into a bundt pan floured with cocoa powder

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Pour glaze slowly over cake after baking. Let it absorb.

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Cake absorbs the glaze topping. Then drizzle with Ganache after you put it on a cake stand.

I’ve served this cake at a dessert bar birthday bash and at cooking classes taught on both “Boozy Desserts” and “Doctored Cake Mixes”.

Cake mixes are a blank slate that you can add your own twist to.

“Pina Colada Cake”

  • Pineapple cake mix
  • Replace the water with coconut rum
  • Using half coconut oil, half vegetable oil
  • Add in crushed pineapple
  • Whipped topping or Whipped Cream spiked with rum and toasted coconut flakes

See what I did there? My mind jumped onto a flavor and looked at the box to see what items I could substitute. It’s merely swapping out one standard ingredient for another one that has the flavor profile you’re going for. And it’s only cake people! It can’t get too messed up… who’s gonna complain? Just write down the changes you make so that you remember for the next time and as you think up other combinations like…

Pumpkin Butterscotch Chip Spice Cake…just came up with that one right now!

  • Spice cake mix
  • Add can o’ pumpkin and butterscotch chips
  • An extra egg to bind the added wet ingredients
  • Add walnuts

It’s so easy, moist, full of flavor and as my husband always says…”A wet cake is a GOOD cake!”

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Mandy’s Triple Chocolate Kahlua Cake
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Average: 3.5/5
201 ratings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Yield: 12-15 Servings

Mandy’s Triple Chocolate Kahlua Cake

Our Most Pinned Recipe! Our Triple Chocolate Kahlua Cake is an easy doctored cake mix loaded with chocolate and soaked with a buttery Kahlua glaze.

Ingredients

  • 1 box chocolate cake mix
  • 1 box chocolate pudding
  • 1/4 cup chocolate syrup
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 4 eggs
  • ½ cup oil
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup kahlua
    Topping:
  • ¾ cups strong coffee
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup Kahlua
  • 2 tbs. butter
    Ganache:
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup chopped good dark chocolate

Instructions

  • Mix together all ingredients in a large bowl. Bake in a Bundt pan that has been greased and floured for 40 to 50 minutes at 325. Make topping. Remove from oven and while warm, pour topping over cake.
    For The Glaze & Ganache:
  • In a small saucepan, melt butter, sugar and Kahlua. Stir well. Add coffee. Poke cake with fork while still in pan. Pour over cake. Let cool and turn out. In a double boiler (a metal bowl over a pot of simmering water), melt together the heavy cream and the chocolate. Stir until fully melted and glossy. Top cake with ganache. Freezes great.
https://sumptuousliving.net/mandys-triple-chocolate-kahlua-cake/

 

 

  • Aunt Robin

    I’m gonna make this for Laura’s birthday on Sunday. She always requests a chocolate cake type dessert, and I feel the need to have something special. What could be better than a family recipe?

  • Connie

    How long should i cook the topping? Is it suppose to be thin or on the thicker side? Thank you for your help

    • It is supposed to be thin. Just need to cook until bubbling, about 2-3 minutes then remove from heat and pour on to cake. You can make the glaze at any point and let sit until you are ready to use it. Happy Cooking!

  • Jo

    Any idea what could be subtituted for the kahlua? The hubby isnt a fan of coffee.

    • Jo,
      You could use Chambord Raspberry Liqueur, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, Grand Marnier Orange Liqueur, Brandy, Whiskey, Stout (which still may be a little too much like coffee). Have fun with it!

  • Heidi Payan

    Hi,

    Should I use a small or large box of pudding, instant or cook & serve?

  • wendy

    I think the topping is a bit too much. It changes the texture of the cake. Maybe next time I wont use as much

    • Wendy, feel free to use less topping. A recipe is a guide and I love it when cooks have the confidence to make it their own! I always write in my cookbooks any notes or adjustments that I would make and I encourage everyone to do the same. Enjoy your time in the kitchen!

  • Susie

    Thanks! Great recipe!! Everyone that tried the cake when I made it loved it! ????

  • Mary Stone

    Made this cake for my husband’s birthday. It WAS absolutely wonderful & IS a keeper

    • Mary,
      Happy Birthday to your hubs! It’s such a great recipe for entertaining and I’m so glad you both enjoyed it! Thanks!

  • Patricia Bach

    I made this cake for a party last weekend. I can’t say enough how delicious
    it is! It’s extremely moist and flavorful. This is now my go to recipe for desserts. The very best bundt cake I’ve ever made!

    • Patricia, That’s so great to hear! Thanks so much for sharing!

  • Katherine johnson

    Mandy, do you add instant chocolate pudding in with cake mix? Instant?

    • Kathy, Instant pudding is right. Thanks for the heads up, we’ve added the full recipe doc with that specification. Hope you enjoy the cake. It’s delicious!

  • Kathryn Jones

    I made this with Irish Cream instead of Kaluha for a couples party my first hosting. They were eating 2 pieces at a time. THANKS! I was concerned about making a good impression. But I made a GREAT ONE!

  • Joanne

    What kind of dark chocolate, semi sweet??

    • Cody Seymour

      We always say the darker the better, but it’s really up to you what you want to use. The cake is going to come out delicious no matter what.

  • sue

    The cake will be the next chocolate cake i make. It sounds so good.
    I would love to receive more of your recipes.

    • Sue,

      Take a look at our recipe index or cooking page an find some other delicious recipes to try! Let me know what you pick!

  • Lizbeth

    325 preheating…. But do i higher it once the cake is in?

    • Lizbeth, it cooks at 325 for the whole time since it takes almost an hour.

  • Thelma

    I’ve made many different “Kahlua Cakes” and by far, this is the BEST one ever! However, when making the complete cake, (batter, topping and ganache) it takes me a good 30 minutes instead of 10 minutes. And worth every minute! LOVE this cake! Now I want to try other recipes from your website.

    • Thelma, THANK YOU! I will amend the recipe to the proper prep time. Love your kind words about our Kahlua cake, it’s the biggest hit on Pinterest & we’re so grateful. Let me know what other recipes you’ve tried. Thanks!

  • Monica

    This is like a rum cake recipe that I grew up with. Now I have two yummy cake recipes. Thanks for sharing

    • Monica,

      I remember eating that rum cake in Louisiana growing up! So yummy and easy!

  • Bev Murray

    Could I do the cream and chocolate in the microwave instead of in a double boiler as I have terrible luck doing in the double boiler, it always gets hard on me and then I can’t pour it.

    • Bev,

      Yes, You can do it in the microwave on low power in short bursts, stirring in between. Chocolate gets really glossy when it shifts. Let us know how it turns out!

  • Lori lou

    Delicious! We served it after a wonderful steak dinner. With raspberries on top and a glass of sweet red wine. Good Port wine will work too! Thank you!

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  • Nichole

    I made this cake today for Father’s Day and it was absolutely delicious!! My husband and I loved it! It was the moistest cake I have ever had. I can’t wait to impress my family. Thanks so much for the best chocolate cake recipe ever

    • Nichole, That is so sweet to hear! Yay! Glad we could help make your Father’s Day delicious.

  • Breanna

    What size instant pudding?

  • Hi,
    I’m going to make this delicious receipe tomorrow for my best friend’s anniversary. Do you know if the alcohol will evaporate or stay in the cake? I was wondering because of our and theirs children. Should I replace it by liquid chocolate extract and caf-lib (caffeine free)?

    Thanks in advance,
    Melodie

    • Hey Melodie, Heck no. :-), Keep it boozey (might have t-shirts made with that slogan). The alcohol will cook out both in the baking of the cake and while cooking the glaze. My kiddos have been eating it and loving it for years! Even if you serve it with spiked whipped cream, a few tbs of hooch infused into all that cream won’t affect them one bit! Happy Anniversary to your friend!

  • Wayne E Geis

    When using boxed cake mixes, they are smaller now. Should I add some flower to the mix to get the thickness needed?

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  • Stacie Wash

    Have you ever used Godiva Liqueur in the cake mix instead of Kahlua?

  • Angel White

    Can you use this recipe and make cupcakes?