Nothing Bundt Cake Recipe | Chocolate Chocolate Chip Bundtlets and Bundt Cake
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Make your own Nothing Bundt Cake Recipe with this moist, easy and delicious Chocolate Chocolate Chip Bundtlet and Bundt cake recipe. The best and easiest part, this Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake recipe uses cake mix and pudding!
The ideal recipe for the holidays, Valentine’s Mother’s day, baby and bridal showers or just because! Make this scrumptious chocolate bundt cake, bundtlets, mini bundts or cupcakes today!
Bundt cake recipes are some of my favorites, they always seem to come out more moist, and are certainly easier! Try these favorite bundt cake recipes; Cinnamon Swirl Bundt Cake, Chocolate Bundt Cake, and my new personal favorite, White Chocolate Raspberry Bundt Cake {Nothing Bundt Cake Copycat Recipe}.
Normally I would say cakes are always better from scratch, but this bundt cake recipe is so moist, dense, chocolate-y, delicious and easy; only takes about 7 minutes to whip up the batter!
Before long you will be drooling over this scrumptious bundt cake or bundtlettes! If you really want to make a from scratch chocolate cake, give my Zucchini Chocolate Cake or Texas Sheet Cake, they are both amazing!
I started testing this recipe to make bundlets for my PTO team and it did not disappoint, my family devoured the first test batch and I had to guard my second batch ferociously — haha! But as you can see, they turned out fabulous.
Ingredients for Copycat Nothing Bundt Cake Recipe
For the full list of ingredients and measurements please see the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Devils food or dark chocolate fudge cake mix* | I do not recommend using an all natural or the Ghirardelli cake mixes for this recipe, as the volume is different and will yield a very dense cake.
- Instant chocolate pudding mix | used Godiva Dark or Milk Chocolate, available with regular pudding mixes
- Sour Cream | I use full fat sour cream, and have also substituted with whole milk Greek yogurt
- Vanilla Extract | Love using my homemade vanilla extract.
- Eggs | I use large eggs in all of my baking, room temperature is best
- Milk | Whole milk is what I used, but may substitute plant based milk, water, or buttermilk
- Vegetable Oil | I love using heart healthy Avocado oil
- Chocolate chips | try mini chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, semi-sweet, milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate
How Do you Make Box Cake Mix Taste Like a Bakery Cake?
By changing out a few ingredients in a box cake mix; you have a richer, more moist and dense, delicious cake!
- Ditch the Water
Substitute whole milk, your favorite plant based milk (coconut would be divine) or even better, buttermilk, but due to the thickness of buttermilk add a few tablespoons more. - Flavor in the Fat
Normally, I’d swap out cup for cup; melted butter for oil, but today I stuck with heart healthy avocado oil. - Add an Extra Egg (or two)
Being at high altitude, I have always added an extra egg to my cake mixes, why? The egg white contributes strength and the yolk contains a natural emulsifier that allows batter to hold extra sugar without weakening the overall structure. (source) If you want a boxed cake mix to taste like a bakery cake or homemade then add an extra egg! - Amp Up the Flavor
Chances are the vanilla might be a little blah in the cake mix, so for all cake mixes add a teaspoon of your favorite vanilla extract, vanilla bean paste or other extract; or try homemade bourbon vanilla!
In chocolate cake mix, add a teaspoon of espresso powder.
Lemon cake mix, add the zest from one lemon, za-zing!
Spice or Carrot Cake Mix, use fresh grated nutmeg (this microplane is the best), an extra teaspoon of cinnamon, definitely a teaspoon of vanilla or tablespoon of rum, brandy or whisky. - Add Moisture
Add up to a cup of sour cream, plain greek yogurt or ¼ – ½ cup of creme fraiche. The richness, moisture it lends to a cake is amazing! You could even try a few tablespoons of mayonnaise, after all it’s just eggs and oil!
High Altitude Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake Instructions
- Increase oven heat by 25 degrees F for light colored pans; for darker pans keep heat at 350 degrees F.
- Bake less time than called for on the original recipe, typically start checking cake for doneness about 10-15 minutes before original time.
Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting
We devoured the bundt cake before dinner! I hope you have the recipe on your blog – all those chocolate chunks and that icing – yum!
~Kristin
Now, Nothing Bundt Cakes is known for their AMAZING Cream Cheese frosting, but honestly everyone who has tried this Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting RAVES about this it!
A delicious, better version with rich, caramel tones that come from using brown sugar. And if you like it on this cake, then you have got to try it on these Carrot Cupcakes!
Can You Freeze Nothing Bundt Cakes?
- You betcha! Even frosted you can freeze these cakes or bundtlets. If freezing before frosting, simple cool completely (very important so you don’t form ice crystals, then wrap well in plastic wrap and then in foil.
- Much like this Banana Bread, I think it’s better then second day, allowing the flavors to mingle and meld.
- If freezing after icing, simply place in the freezer for 30-50 minutes to harden the icing, then cover with plastic wrap well; then again in foil. Keeps frozen for up to 3 months, if you can keep yourself from digging in.
How to Make Bundtlets, Mini Bundts or Cupcakes
To make Bundtlets, also called Bundtlettes, prep the pans well just like the regular sized pan. Then scoop batter into prepared pans (not quite 2/3 full, makes about 14 bundtlets, probably closer to 18 cupcakes.
Bake as directed above; 20-25 minutes bundtlets, 18-22 minutes cupcakes. Done when cake springs back when lightly touched and no longer jiggly, don’t over bake. Cool 10 minutes, then invert onto cooling rack.
How Do I Store My Bundt Cake
Since this cake has a cream cheese frosting, I recommend you refrigerate, if making longer than 4-6 hours before serving. Remove from fridge about 20-30 minutes prior to slicing. Bundt cakes will last from 5-7 days in the fridge, if you can hide it from your family!
Don’t forget to PIN this recipe to your favorite Cake Board!
I hope you enjoy this dreamy, easy recipe for this Copycat Nothing Bundt Cakes Chocolate Chocolate Chip Bundtlets and Bundt Cake. My family are chocolate cake connoisseurs and they went ga-ga over this cake!
Recipe adapted from Tastes Better from Scratch.
More recipes using cake mix!
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 package 15.25 ounce devils food or dark chocolate fudge cake mix*
- 1 3.9 ounce instant chocolate pudding (I used Godiva Dark or Milk Chocolate) like Godiva Dark or Milk Chocolate
- 1 cup sour cream or try plain greek yogurt
- 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup milk substitute plant based milk or water, or ⅔ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup avocado oil or other vegetable oil
- 1 ½ cups chocolate chips try mini chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, semi-sweet, milk chocolate
Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese softened (can use Neufatchel)
- ½ cup butter softened
- ⅔ cup light brown sugar packed
- 1-2 teaspoons vanilla
- pinch of salt
- 3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F (375° for high altitude light bundt pans, keep at 350 for dark bundt pans) At regular altitude 350 for light pans, 325° F for dark pans). Butter and flour bundt pan well! I used Baker's Joy baking spray it has the flour built in. I use soft butter and a paper towel or pastry brush to get in all of the crevices, then splash in a tablespoon or two of flour and toss around pan to coat (over sink or trash).
- Mix on low speed the first 7 ingredients to combine, scrap sides, then increase speed to medium-high for 2-3 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Pour batter evenly into prepared bundt pan and smooth top. Bake at 350 (or above described temperature based on altitude and type of pan coating) for 40-55 minutes until cake tester comes out mostly clean (if looks done and seems gooey, retest in another location, you might be hitting chocolate chips. If it springs back lightly when touched and is starting to look dry at edges and is not wobbly at all, those are good signs, remove from oven.
- BUNDTLETS or cupcakes | scoop batter into prepared pans (not quite 2/3 full, makes about 14 bundtlets, probably closer to 18 cupcakes. Bake as directed above; 20-25 minutes bundtlets, 18-22 minutes cupcakes. Done when cake springs back when lightly touched and no longer jiggly, don't over bake. Cool 10 minutes, then invert onto cooling rack.
- Remove to cooling rack and allow to cool for 10 minutes, then invert cake onto wire rack and cool completely. Once completely cooled, frost as desired with below frosting.
Frosting
- Using a paddle or whisk attachment, beat together cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. Add brown sugar and mix on medium high speed for 2-3 minutes. IMPORTANT allow to sit for 10-15 minutes for the brown sugar to "melt" into the ingredients, thereby avoiding gritty frosting.
- After 10-15 minutes, scrape sides down and mix on low speed, adding vanilla, salt and powdered sugar. Mix until combined on low, then increase speed to medium-high for 3-4 minutes until creamy.
- Scoop into piping bag with or without tip and frost as desired. Frosting may also just be spread on top, you may have some frosting leftover, it freezes great and is delicious on top of cinnamon rolls, between graham crackers with strawberries and more!
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About Kathleen Pope
Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer
Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.
Hi! I made this recently and it is better than the nothing bundt cakes! Just curious, if I wanted to make the white chocolate raspberry one, would I obviously just need to change the cake mix and pudding? Thank you for a great recipe!
Thanks so much Tori, So glad you loved the cake, it’s a family favorite of ours too! Oddly enough I am just about to hit publish on a white chocolate raspberry copycat bundt cake, check it out!
I used to buy those cakes for work functions but they were so pricy. This is my favorite recipe and they’re even more delicious. Your tips are great too!
Can I use vegetable oil in lieu of avocado oil?
Hi Donna, yes of course! Any vegetable oil will work, thanks I will amend the recipe to reflect that!
Cake was very dense and eggy. I used Ghiradelli cake mix.
Nearly all NB Coppycat recipes I’ve seen call for four eggs. Maybe just use the yolks? Good flavor just not the right texture.
Thanks for letting me know, I have made this more times than I can count and it’s never come out eggy, dense maybe but that’s the way my family likes it, but I wouldn’t say eggy. I believe the Ghirardelli cake mixes are several ounces less ingredients than a standard cake mix, I will have to try sometime using Ghirardelli as I love their mixes, but that could have something to do with the reason it came out more dense and eggy.
@Kathleen, interesting. I didn’t notice that. I just thought the Ghiradelli mix would be higher quality and have less cake mix “aftertaste” My family are big fans of the brownie mix. I can see how having less dry ingredients would make a difference. I will try again with a full size mix. Thanks for pointing that out!
You bet, I have tried recipes with higher quality mix ingredients and they are usually a lesser quantity and have discovered they don’t usually turn out as well. I might play around with this and see if I can’t come up with a modification using a cake mix like Ghirardelli! Thanks and hope it turns out for you!
I just found your site and signed up for your newsletter. The main reason is because the recipe has high altitude instructions. We moved to northern Colorado about 10 yrs ago, and I’m still trying to figure out high altitude cooking. We are at 5100′. I am also here because my faith is important to me, too.
Thank you so much Debbie, for taking time out of your busy day to write this kind comment! So glad to meet another Coloradan whose faith means a lot!
First thing I do on Friday’s is look for your email. I so look forward to your recipes! My sister Julie would be so thrilled!
Awe, thank you so much Karen! Love hearing this and sure do miss your sister!
So moist and delicious!
Love hearing this, thanks for commenting Lisa!
Very moist and delish! I get requests for this!!
We made this decadent chocolate bundt cake for Easter weekend, and there was NONE left. The cake is so moist and delicious and that frosting… wow! We’ll definitely be making this again.
Really enjoyed this chocolate bundt cake. Moist, rich, delicious!
The magical thing about Nothing Bundt Cakes is how moist their cakes are. This did not disappoint! It was so chocolatey and delicious. 5 stars!!!
I made this yesterday and I can tell you I won’t be needing to visit nothing bundt cakes anymore!! This is SO MUCH BETTER!
OK, I have a problem. It seems that everytime I read one of your recipes, my scale just automatically adds 5 lbs! Argh! This looks OUTSTANDING!!
Bwah, ha-ha!! So if I read a blog post about exercising or an uber healthy meal plan, the scale will shed the lbs!?
This checks all the delicious boxes! Yum!
Loving all the tips on how to doctor a box cake Kathleen! This bundt cake looks amazing!! I bet it’s even better than the original too!
Thank you Tasia! We think it’s better, especially for the price!
My mom always made her cakes by adding pudding to the mix. When I saw your recipe I knew I had to try it & this did not disappoint. Great moist yummy cake!
Yippee!! So glad you loved it!
Wowzer…this is pure decadent … right? Good thing, no calories…! To bad it’s not Father’s Day! And, happy Mother’s Day to you!
Thank you, thank you kind sir! Maybe you could make this for Mother’s day and then you get to enjoy it as well! Blessings and thank you!