Which Store-Bought Chocolate Cake Is Actually The Best? We Tried 16 And Ranked Them

Ask 10 people what their favorite chocolate cake is and you're bound to get 10 variations on an answer. Is it moist and bittersweet with fudgy icing, or is it dense and rich with airy buttercream frosting? Are there curls of dark chocolate decorating the edge or puffs of whipped cream lining the top? For a dessert concept that sounds simple, the possibilities for chocolate cake recipes are limitless, a fact that becomes all too clear when trying to buy a store-bought version that checks all the boxes in one purchase. Whether you pick it up in the bakery or grab it from the freezer section, store-bought chocolate cake comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and flavor combinations.

To get a handle on which is the best chocolate cake on the American grocery scene, I moseyed around town to the chains in my area and picked up as many twists and turns on store-bought chocolate cake as I could find. Then I spent a few days nibbling at the edges to see what's what in the world of premade cocoa-based bakes. I enlisted the help of my family to make sure my palate wasn't giving false readings. It was one of the sweeter experiences I've undertaken as a writer, and one that revealed a definite hierarchy among the wild and wonderful world of chocolate cakes available in the most familiar grocery stores around.

Glassy ganache, dark chocolate curls scattered about the bottom, delicate rosette on top and three delicious layers separated by creamy frosting; how could you not be seduced by such a gleaming ornament of a chocolate cake? Private Selection Fudge Cake does its darnedest to draw you in with its sleek form, but it almost feels like this cake's appearance is trying too hard. It couldn't be as good as it looks ... could it?

The answer is a unanimous "no" from me and my tasting cohort. Though one of the team found it to be better than the other Kroger chocolate cakes, the others gave it a resounding "yuck." I found it to be similar to boxed cake mix topped with homemade frosting, a combination that might fool a party crowd that isn't paying close attention when the cake is cut. Anyone keeping their eye on the dessert tray is bound to taste right through the flash-and-panache in this dressed-up dud.

This full-size cake presents a two-layer 6-inch round cake, topped with a decent spread of chocolate buttercream and adorned with twisted puffs of more icing to make sure every slice has enough sweetness for every bite. You might think that sounds like a lot of frosting for such a small cake, and you would be correct. There's also frosting between the two layers and a sheath around the exterior, plus bits of actual chocolate pressed in like confetti. Yes, it's a lot of chocolate. But is that a good thing, or could a little restraint go a long way in this mini bake?

Actually, restraint seems to be a problem here; I found the cake to be largely flavorless, while my tasting team's opinions ranged from moist but pretentious, with frosting that uses too much powdered sugar. The texture of the cake wasn't fantastic, and one of my co-tasters dubbed it entirely terrible. It just goes to show you that the loveliest cake may be hiding a literal sugar bomb when it comes time to dig in.

The Favorite Day bakery items in Target's limited baked goods section usually does an adequate job of presenting treats that may not be the best grocery store bakery items, but they're also not the most expensive goodies on the shelf, either. So the fact that you have a single slice of chocolate cake that costs less than $3 means you might have to sacrifice quality. It may not be a compromise for a lesser chocolate cake aficionado, but those with higher tastes won't be impressed here.

No matter the price, Favorite Day offers chocolate cake that won't be putting any local bakers out of business. The cake is chocolate, the frosting is chocolate, the jimmies are waxy and approximate the flavor and texture of chocolate too ... and there's not much more to say about it than that. If you're in Target and you need a sweet slice of something fudgy, you'd do better with the tuxedo cakes or cupcakes that share the section with this least-favored Favorite Day find.

It's a cake that looks formidable even through the plastic casing that holds it captive, its Bundt shaped festooned with ribbons of dark chocolate glaze over even darker chocolate cake promising all sorts of ridiculous indulgence. My hopes were sky-high for a dense crumb adorned with a well-considered strand of bittersweet ganache laced over top. That's the power of an attractive bake, even one churned out by a big-box grocery store bakery.

But when you taste this creation, you find out that it doesn't live up to its potential, mostly due to a sponge that's more moist than chocolaty and a glaze that's more sugary than fudgy. I'd rather have a cake with less aesthetic value that brings a more satisfying cake to the table. It's easy enough to spruce up a plain-looking chocolate cake that tastes great with some additional sprinkles or a quick drizzle of chocolate sauce, but making a pretty store-bought cake taste better is nearly impossible.

Another single slice among the larger cakes, Albertsons Bakery Iced Chocolate Fudge Cake is a fancy little number that looks tastier than it is, which seems to be a plague for many of the chocolate cakes in grocery store cases. It's a lesson in not being fooled by what looks luscious, though it's impossible to tell whether there's substance behind the sheen without giving it a try. Luckily, you have me to take the hit, and this time, the illusion is just that: an illusion.

The depth of darkness in both the cake and frosting and the cookie crumbles on top made me think this would be a richer cake than it was. What it turned out to be was too much sweetness and not enough intrigue. It left me with a bit of a stomachache, and all I had was a single bite. All told, I would pass this one over in a heartbeat for the other Albertsons cakes in the case.

This one presented the prettiest slice in the Albertsons bakery section, complete with joyful sprinkles in bright primary colors and a swath of what appeared to be milk chocolate frosting on top of a tempting chocolate cake. It's one of those dazzlers that makes you wonder why you haven't had chocolate cake in a while and lures you in with its vibrancy and its lusciousness.

Unfortunately, it's all a trap, and there's practically no flavor to be found in any part of this slice. The edges were a bit dry too, which suggests the recipe doesn't include enough moist ingredients to make the cake as well textured as possible. No amount of Funfetti could salvage what turns out to be a most unimpressive cake slice. Though younger cake fans may be over the moon to get this goodie on their plate, I'd gladly skip dessert altogether.

The look of Walmart's Freshness Guaranteed Chocolate Cake surpasses its flavor by a wide margin. With sugary grit in the frosting and the cake being a bit on the dry and lightly flavored side, it's exactly the sort of cake I would gravitate toward for an office event if funds were tight but I wanted to contribute something that drew the eye even if it didn't satisfy the tongue. It's a shame the eating experience detracts from the overall enjoyment.

This might make a snazzy ornament for a holiday table setting or a potluck where packaged desserts are welcomed, but it's also likely to be overlooked once word gets around about its below-average taste and texture. Considering that Walmart has better cakes for similar prices, I'd be more likely to find one that tastes better rather than going for this beautiful-looking bake. I might even choose Walmart's best bakery pie instead, just to play it safe.

This miniature marvel caught my eye mostly for its tiny size and over-abundance of glaze and chocolate chips on top. After all, if Walmart is doling out diminutive delights that don't require a major investment of dollars or calories, it's pretty much a done deal for anyone with a sweet tooth. I count myself among those easily swayed by a smaller morsel that might be bursting with chocolate goodness and dug in with my fingers crossed.

Though it was dark enough to convince me my test bite would be a bittersweet experience, the glaze proved to be a little too sugary and overpowered the essence of cake itself. The chocolate chips helped balance out the gooey texture, a nice touch, but one that only increased the sweetness. If you only have a couple bucks to spend and you want a three-bite treat, this little cake is your guy. If your budget is a little bigger and you're looking for something to share with others, you might want to keep shopping.

A thick slab of chocolate cake fresh from the refrigerator case may be just what your day calls for, and this is what Kroger tries to provide with its Bakery Fresh Chocolate Fudge selection. It's the prettiest of this chain's more modest chocolate cakes, which is great if you only eat with your eyes. But eventually, you'll have to actually taste it too, and that comes with a whole different set of considerations.

The ribbed chocolate icing sprinkled with cookie crumbs and a deep dark chocolate body largely impressed my tasting crew, who noted the moistness and pleasing presentation and called it "solid for a basic cake" and "the perfect birthday treat." I found it to be middling, not perfect but not terrible, the kind of cake that I'd do one slice of and be done. For a so-so cake, the center of the list is the perfect placement.

The prettiest little cake in the Albertsons collection also turns out to be one of the tastiest cakes in my ranking. The generous fudge coating, multicolored sprinkles, and maraschino cherry plopped into a frosting puff on top makes it celebration-ready with just a pop of the lid. And the flavor you'll be serving, a contrast between the moderately sweet cake, supremely sweet chocolate buttercream, and deep fudgy drizzle, is a triple up of fantastic chocolate flavor.

The fact that it's only a 5-inch cake doesn't diminish its impact, especially since it's stacked three layers high. Not only will it sit pretty on your party table, it will also satisfy any guests lucky enough to slice into it. The combination of presentation and flavor lifts it above the other mini cakes for sheer charm factor. There may be slightly tastier tidbits around, but they're not likely to have the cuteness of this cake.

The truth about Pepperidge Farm is that the company does incredible things with cookies, but can it come through with its cake? The answer is a resounding, "Yum!" The Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake box contains an incredibly fresh-tasting frozen cake that adds a touch of class to a special occasion. It thaws out pretty quickly, and the cake turns out to be very soft, with lightly fudgy frosting and sprinkles of actual chocolate that enhance the texture and the flavor.

I always consider frozen cake an era from a bygone era, given the vast selection of fresh store-bought cakes available. But there's no reason not to keep one of these Pepperidge Farm performers on deck for a quick sugar hit or an impromptu dessert for surprise guests. At under $10, you can serve up to eight with a single purchase — not bad for an unassuming icebox item.

Cake with gooey hot chocolate oozing out of the center? Count me in to give that one a try. Private Selection even makes it easy to recreate the restaurant-level effect with a frozen two-pack that heats up in under a minute in the microwave. The box recommends decorating with extra chocolate sauce, which I found a little presumptuous. A store-bought cake should be ready to go out of the box, no extra zhuzh needed.

I was disappointed with this chocolaty yet dry mini cake, with chocolate lava that was a bit oily for my taste. The other four in my tasting party disagreed; they all thought it was a delicious take on lava cake, especially for a frozen version. So I tried another bite and was still unimpressed. Since it was four against one, I defer to more discerning palates that may be better attuned to the chocolate side of the spectrum.

Dessert maximalists will adore this super-sized chunk of baked magic. Six layers of cake with six spreads of chocolate buttercream icing and grated chocolate press to the surface, and available as a one-slice dessert that can be shared by several cake fans. The visuals reminded me of the oversized slices of carrot cake served at Claim Jumper, though Albertsons' chocolate cake delivers less of a visual punch.

But the real test is in the flavor, not the expansiveness. As it so happens, this may be one of the best fudge cakes I've ever tasted, with frosting and sponge perfectly balanced between cocoa sweetness and dark bitterness. It demanded a second bite, which turned out to be as convincing as the first and revealed a sort of malted milk essence I missed the first time. The whole moment made me wonder where this cake had been hiding all my life.

The Cake Boss makes an appearance among the store-bought cakes with Carlo's Bakery Chocolate Fudge Cake Slice. Texture is the star of the show with this sandwich-shaped slice, a four layer masterpiece that wins points for the cleverest packaging as well. Who wouldn't want to unwrap a cake slice in a package that lets you hold it as you eat? Forks are for amateurs!

I found chocolate in three different versions here: a fudgy ganache layer between bittersweet chocolate cake layers wrapped in a lighter chocolate buttercream outer frosting. There are also chocolate sprinkles that add some fun toothiness to the situation. The whole thing is a delicious kick, and it's only $4, which makes it a pretty premium purchase if you want to split it with someone special. The fact that it's a Walmart product also means it's readily available, too.

The bakery section at Sprouts is loaded with decadent picks that make the rest of your whole food shopping a challenge. Among the tasty inventions is Simple Café Valley Single Origin Chocolate Cake, a creation that does its heritage justice while working in Belgian chocolate liqueur to enrich the situation. It may not be alcohol-based, but the results it imparts are intoxicating nonetheless.

This sweet little morsel lives up to its $8.49 price point by conjuring up a lighter cocoa flavor adorned with a delicate dark chocolate drizzle and milk chocolate chips. It had one of the most balanced flavor profiles of all the cakes I tried, which is an encouraging thing to discover, considering it's also one of the more expensive cakes on the list. It's the sort of cake I would ask about if I tasted it at a party and would go out of my way to find if I didn't have a Sprouts location in my area.

You can see three forms of chocolate present in this Aldi creation, with milk chocolate chips dotting a heavy fudge cake drizzled with a bittersweet-looking chocolate glaze. It's easy to spot too, situated at the entry to the Aldi baked goods section of the store. Maybe that's a marketing ploy to get customers shopping with their appetites instead of their shopping lists. Whatever the reason, it's a maneuver that's sure to work once you take a chance on this winner of a dessert.

I can't remember having a store-bought chocolate cake as moist, flavorful, and homemade tasting as this. It's the $5 equivalent of a much more complicated cake that you'd find at artisan bakeries or order from your favorite restaurant for dessert. The magnificent blend of glaze, chocolate chips, and ultra-moist cake give your taste buds plenty to shout about. That a budget-friendly cake can serve a table full of diners only makes it more of a temptation.

The first criterion for the great chocolate cake taste-off was availability; I could only sample the cakes that the grocery stores in my area had on hand. Fortunately, there were plenty of options when I made my list, a few of which were found in the frozen dessert section rather than the bakery. I also took note of the aesthetics of the cakes, since most grocery store bakeries try to make even their single slices look as attractive as possible.

Once I had my selections, I did a one-bite test for taste, texture, and freshness, which was about all I could handle given the number of cakes I had to try. My family was on hand to help spread the sweetness around for the Kroger selections, which my blood sugar was grateful for. When all factors were put together, I had an overarching enjoyability profile that made it easy to arrange the cakes in a clear worst-to-best ranking.