The Best Matilda Chocolate Cake Recipe

The smell hit me first - that deep, almost bittersweet aroma of chocolate baking in the oven, filling every corner of our kitchen with warmth. Oliver sat at the counter, chocolate smeared across his cheek, eyes glued to my laptop screen showing that famous scene. You know the one. Bruce Bogtrotter, fork in hand, facing down an enormous Matilda Chocolate Cake while the entire school watches. "Mom," Oliver whispered reverently, "is ours going to look like THAT?" I opened the oven door to check our four cake layers, and the rush of chocolate-scented steam made us both lean in closer. The layers were rising beautifully, their tops cracking slightly, promising that perfect tender crumb underneath.

Matilda Chocolate Cake with three moist, dark layers and rich fudgy frosting, topped with a glossy chocolate drip.

Why You'll Love This Matilda Chocolate Cake

This moist Matilda Chocolate Cake delivers everything you remember from that iconic Matilda chocolate cake scene - impossibly rich, deeply chocolatey, and almost intimidating in its decadence. The classic chocolate cake layers stay incredibly tender thanks to a secret ingredient (coffee!) that intensifies the chocolate flavor without making it taste like coffee. Oliver describes the fudgy chocolate frosting as "like eating a chocolate bar that melted in the best way," and he's not wrong. It's the kind of indulgent dessert that makes grown adults suddenly understand why Bruce Bogtrotter kept eating. This bakery-style chocolate cake looks impressive enough for special occasions but uses straightforward techniques any home baker can master.

That's exactly what this Matilda chocolate cake delivers - the chocolate cake of your dreams, the one you remember from watching that movie as a kid, the one that made you understand why Bruce Bogtrotter kept eating. Four towering layers of the most moist chocolate cake you'll ever make, each one impossibly tender and rich, sealed together with fudgy chocolate frosting so decadent it's almost intimidating. The Matilda movie cake has become legendary for a reason - it represents pure chocolate indulgence without apology or restraint. After weeks of testing different recipes and techniques, I've cracked the code to recreating the Bruce Bogtrotter cake at home. This isn't your average birthday cake that you cut into polite slices.

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Matilda Chocolate Cake
Ingredients For Matilda Chocolate Cake
How To Make Matilda Chocolate Cake
Matilda Chocolate Cake Variations
Smart Swaps for Matilda Chocolate Cake
Equipment
Storing Your Matilda Chocolate Cake
Top Tip
FAQ
Ready for Chocolate Heaven!
Related
Pairing
Matilda Chocolate Cake

Ingredients For Matilda Chocolate Cake

For the Cake Layers:

All-purpose flour
Dutch-process cocoa powder
Granulated sugar
Baking soda
Baking powder
Salt
Eggs
Whole milk
Vegetable oil
Vanilla extract
Hot coffee

For the Chocolate Ganache Frosting:

Dark chocolate
Heavy cream
Butter
Powdered sugar
Cocoa powder
Vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

See recipe card for quantities.

How To Make Matilda Chocolate Cake

Years of perfecting this decadent chocolate cake taught me this foolproof method:

Step 1: Mix the Batter

Preheat your oven to 350°F and prep four 9-inch pans with grease and parchment. Whisk together your dry ingredients - flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, combine eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Mix wet into dry on medium speed for 2 minutes. Here's the magic - slowly add hot coffee while mixing on low. The batter will look thin and runny, but that's exactly right! This creates the impossibly moist texture in your Matilda chocolate cake.

Step 2: Bake the Layers

Divide batter evenly among your four pans - about 450-500 grams each if you're using a scale. Bake for 25-30 minutes, rotating halfway through. A toothpick should come out with just a few moist crumbs. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto cooling racks. Cool completely before frosting - this is crucial for the Bruce Bogtrotter cake success.

Step 3: Make the Frosting

Chop dark chocolate and place in a bowl. Heat cream until simmering, pour over chocolate, let sit 2 minutes, then stir until smooth. Cool 10 minutes, add softened butter, and beat until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar and cocoa powder, beating on low first, then high for 3-4 minutes. The fudgy chocolate frosting should hold peaks but spread smoothly.

Step 4: Stack and Fill

Level any domed tops with a serrated knife. Place first layer flat side up, spread ¾ cup frosting to the edges. Add second layer, more frosting, then third and fourth layers. The tower should look impressively tall - that's the Matilda chocolate fudge cake signature look. Don't worry if frosting squishes out slightly.

Step 5: Final Coat

Apply a thin crumb coat over the entire cake to trap loose crumbs. Refrigerate 15 minutes. Then generously frost the whole cake with remaining frosting, creating swoops and swirls with your offset spatula. Let sit at room temperature for an hour before slicing so the frosting sets to that perfect fudgy consistency.

Matilda Chocolate Cake Variations

Mocha Matilda Cake:

Increase coffee to 2 cups
Add espresso powder to frosting
Coffee liqueur in the ganache
Rich mocha flavor for coffee lovers

Salted Caramel Surprise:

Drizzle caramel between layers
Sprinkle sea salt on frosting
Caramel sauce for serving
Sweet and salty perfection

Mint Chocolate Version:

Add mint extract to frosting
Green food coloring optional
Top with chocolate mint candies
Refreshing twist on classic

Peanut Butter Dream:

Spread peanut butter between layers
Add peanut butter to frosting
Crushed peanuts on top
Elvis would approve

Smart Swaps for Matilda Chocolate Cake

Flour Options:

All-purpose → Cake flour (for extra tender crumb)
Regular → Gluten-free blend (add xanthan gum)
Standard → Half whole wheat (denser but delicious)

Cocoa Choices:

Dutch-process → Natural cocoa (more acidic taste)
Dark → Black cocoa (even darker color)
Regular → Mix of both for complexity

Liquid Swaps:

Coffee → Hot water (less depth but still works)
Whole milk → Buttermilk (tangier, more tender)
Regular → Non-dairy milk with vinegar

Oil Alternatives:

Vegetable oil → Melted butter (richer flavor)
Standard → Coconut oil (slight coconut taste)
Regular → Half oil, half applesauce (lighter)

Equipment

Four 9-inch round cake pans
Electric mixer (stand or hand)
Large mixing bowls
Cooling racks
Offset spatula
Cake turntable (optional but helpful)

Storing Your Matilda Chocolate Cake

Best Fresh:

Serve at room temperature for best texture
Frosting is at peak glossiness first day
Cake layers are most tender when fresh
Chocolate flavor is boldest within 2 days

Make Ahead Strategy:

Bake cake layers up to 2 days ahead
Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature
Make frosting day before and refrigerate
Assemble the day you plan to serve

Room Temperature Storage (3 days):

Cover with cake dome or large bowl
Keep in cool, dry place away from sunlight
Bring to room temp before serving if refrigerated
Frosting stays soft and spreadable

Refrigerator Storage (5-7 days):

Store in airtight container or well-covered
Let sit at room temp 1 hour before serving
Cold cake is fudgier but less flavorful
Frosting firms up but softens as it warms

A thick, homemade slice of Matilda-style chocolate cake with three moist, dark layers and rich fudgy frosting, topped with a glossy chocolate drip.

Top Tip

The first time we made this Matilda chocolate cake, Oliver insisted on watching the Bruce Bogtrotter scene on repeat while we baked. He narrated the entire process: "Now we're making the cake that Miss Trunchbull thought would defeat him! But we're GOING to eat it ALL!" His enthusiasm was contagious, even if slightly concerning.

When the cake finally came together - four towering layers sealed with glossy frosting - his jaw dropped. "Mom, it's real. The cake is REAL." He wanted to recreate the entire scene, sitting at the table with a fork while I pretended to be the angry headmistress. Of course, unlike Bruce, he tapped out after one generous slice, declaring, "I get it now. That kid was a champion."

But here's the thing that surprised me: Oliver discovered he loves helping frost the layers. He's usually impatient with fussy tasks, but something about spreading that thick chocolate frosting between each layer captivated him. "It's like building a chocolate skyscraper, Mom," he explained seriously, tongue poking out in concentration as he smoothed the frosting with the offset spatula. Now whenever someone has a birthday, he asks, "Can we make the Matilda cake?" That movie prop has become our family tradition.

FAQ

What was the chocolate cake in Matilda?

The chocolate cake in Matilda was a massive, five-layer chocolate fudge cake with thick chocolate frosting that Bruce Bogtrotter was forced to eat as punishment. The Matilda movie cake became iconic, representing both childhood rebellion and the ultimate chocolate indulgence. While the film version was a prop, bakeries worldwide now create versions of this rich chocolate cake that customers can actually eat.

What is the difference between chocolate cake and Matilda cake?

Regular chocolate cake is typically two or three layers with standard frosting, while Matilda chocolate cake is dramatically tall with four or five layers and extra-thick, fudgy frosting. The Matilda chocolate fudge cake is intentionally more decadent and moist, designed to be almost overwhelming in its richness. The visual drama and intense chocolate flavor set it apart from everyday chocolate cakes.

Why is it called a Matilda cake?

It's called a Matilda cake because of its appearance in the 1996 film adaptation of Roald Dahl's "Matilda," specifically the famous Bruce Bogtrotter cake scene. The Matilda cake origin traces to this memorable movie moment where a student must eat an entire enormous chocolate cake. The scene became so iconic that bakeries began making versions specifically called "Matilda cakes" or "Bruce Bogtrotter cakes."

What is the best Matilda cake UK?

In the UK, several bakeries are famous for their Matilda chocolate cake, including Cutter & Squidge in London, which creates an official version with multiple layers and chocolate frosting. Many local bakeries across the UK now offer their own takes on this decadent chocolate cake. The best versions stay true to the movie's visual - tall, dark, fudgy, and gloriously over-the-top indulgent.

Homemade Matilda Chocolate Cake with three moist, dark layers and rich fudgy frosting, topped with a glossy chocolate drip.

Ready for Chocolate Heaven!

Now you have everything needed to create the legendary Matilda chocolate cake - from mixing that thin batter to stacking those impressive layers to achieving that glossy frosting finish. This chocolate celebration cake proves that sometimes movie magic can absolutely become reality in your kitchen.The beauty of this Matilda-inspired cake recipe is how it transforms a simple afternoon into something memorable. There's something special about recreating an iconic movie moment in your own kitchen, watching faces light up when you carry that towering masterpiece to the table. It's not just cake - it's nostalgia, it's drama, it's pure chocolate indulgence that connects us to that wonderfully rebellious scene from our childhoods.

Craving more show-stopping desserts? Try our Old Fashioned Butter Pecan Cookies for a classic sweet treat with incredible buttery flavor. Need something truly British and indulgent? Our Best Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe delivers that warm, date-filled comfort with rich toffee sauce. Or explore our Easy Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake Recipe that looks as impressive as it tastes with those gorgeous autumn swirls!

Share your Matilda chocolate cake success! love seeing your towering chocolate creations and hearing about your own Bruce Bogtrotter moments!

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Why You'll Love This Matilda Chocolate Cake