5 Easy Chocolate New Year’s Cakes You Can Make in Under an Hour

FOOD AND RECIPES

11/29/20253 min read

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New Year’s Eve desserts don’t need to be complicated to feel magical. These five chocolate-based cakes are quick, festive, and packed with flavor — each one a little different, each one doable in 60 minutes or less. Whether you’re hosting a dinner, celebrating with friends, or enjoying a cozy countdown at home, these cakes bring sparkle without the stress.

Let’s bake something delicious.

1. Chocolate, Cherry & Cognac New Year’s Cake

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

  • ½ cup cocoa powder (Dutch-processed preferred)

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • ½ tsp salt

  • 2 large eggs

  • ½ cup neutral oil

  • 1 cup milk

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 1 cup cherry compote or canned sour cherries (well drained)

  • 1–2 tbsp cognac (optional)

For the ganache:

  • 150 g dark chocolate

  • ½ cup heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease a round 20 cm (8-inch) pan.

  2. Whisk flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

  3. Add eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

  4. Fold in cherries gently. Add cognac.

  5. Pour into pan and bake 30–35 minutes.

  6. For the ganache: warm cream until steaming, pour over chopped chocolate, stir until glossy.

  7. Spread ganache over the slightly warm cake.

  8. Decorate with cherries and edible gold.

a cake with chocolate icing and cherries on top of a cake
a cake with chocolate icing and cherries on top of a cake
2. Midnight Espresso Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

  • ½ cup cocoa powder

  • ¾ cup brown sugar

  • ¾ cup white sugar

  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder

  • ½ tsp baking soda

  • ½ tsp salt

  • 2 eggs

  • ½ cup oil

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • 1 cup hot strong espresso

For frosting:

  • 150 g dark chocolate

  • 100 g butter

  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F).

  2. Combine all dry ingredients.

  3. Add eggs, oil, and vanilla. Mix lightly.

  4. Pour in hot espresso and whisk until glossy.

  5. Bake 28–30 minutes in a round cake tin.

  6. For frosting: melt chocolate, beat butter until fluffy, add powdered sugar, then mix in the melted chocolate.

  7. Frost when cake is fully cooled.

  8. Decorate with chocolate curls and gold stars.

a cake with chocolate icing and cherries on top of a cake
a cake with chocolate icing and cherries on top of a cake
3. Chocolate Orange Sparkle Cake

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

  • ½ cup cocoa powder

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • ½ tsp baking powder

  • ½ tsp salt

  • ⅓ cup oil

  • 1 egg

  • ¾ cup orange juice

  • Zest of 2 oranges

  • 1 tsp vanilla

For glaze:

  • 120 g dark chocolate

  • 3 tbsp warm orange juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F).

  2. Mix flour, cocoa, sugar, soda, baking powder, and salt.

  3. Add oil, egg, orange juice, zest, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

  4. Bake 25–30 minutes.

  5. Make glaze by melting chocolate and stirring in warm orange juice.

  6. Pour glaze over cake and let it set.

  7. Add candied orange peel and gold sugar for sparkle.

a chocolate cake with oranges and chocolate icing
a chocolate cake with oranges and chocolate icing
4. Dark Chocolate Raspberry Countdown Cake

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 1 ½ cups flour

  • ½ cup cocoa

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • ½ tsp baking soda

  • ½ tsp salt

  • 2 eggs

  • ½ cup oil

  • 1 cup milk

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • 1 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)

For topping:

  • ⅓ cup raspberry jam

  • Chocolate buttercream or ganache

  • Fresh raspberries for decoration

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F).

  2. Mix dry ingredients in one bowl.

  3. Add eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla.

  4. Fold in raspberries very gently so they don’t break apart.

  5. Bake 30 minutes.

  6. Spread a thin layer of raspberry jam over the warm cake.

  7. Add chocolate frosting or ganache on top.

  8. Decorate with raspberries in a “clock countdown” circle.

a chocolate cake with raspberries on top of a wooden table
a chocolate cake with raspberries on top of a wooden table
5. Salted Caramel Chocolate Truffle Cake

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 1 cup flour

  • ½ cup cocoa powder

  • ¾ cup sugar

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • ½ tsp salt

  • 1 egg

  • ½ cup oil

  • ¾ cup milk

  • 1 tsp vanilla

For topping:

  • ½ cup salted caramel sauce (store-bought is perfect)

  • 150 g dark chocolate

  • ½ cup cream

  • Flaky salt

  • Gold sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F).

  2. Mix flour, cocoa, sugar, soda, and salt.

  3. Add egg, oil, milk, and vanilla.

  4. Mix until smooth and bake 25–30 minutes.

  5. While still warm, poke small holes in the cake and drizzle salted caramel on top.

  6. Chill 5–10 minutes.

  7. Make ganache by heating cream and mixing with chopped chocolate.

  8. Pour ganache over the set caramel layer.

  9. Add flaky salt and gold sprinkles.

a chocolate cake with coffee beans and coffee beans
a chocolate cake with coffee beans and coffee beans
A Cozy New Year’s Eve Conclusion

New Year’s Eve is busy — people coming and going, glasses clinking, playlists looping — but dessert should always feel simple and joyful. These quick chocolate cakes deliver just that: effortless warmth, rich flavors, and a touch of sparkle that makes the night feel special.

Whether you choose the boozy cherry and cognac cake or the bright orange-chocolate version, you’re bringing sweetness into the new year — and that’s the best tradition of all.

Here’s to cozy homes, simple recipes, and celebrations that taste like chocolate.
Happy New Year! 🎉

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