Moist chocolate cake in the Instant Pot (one-bowl recipe)

This Instant Pot chocolate cake is rich, moist, and deeply chocolatey, with a soft, fudgy texture that feels indulgent without being complicated. Everything comes together in one bowl.

Cooking the cake in the Instant Pot creates a gently steamed environment, which helps the cake stay tender and prevents it from drying out. Minimal prep, simple ingredients, and reliable results make this a go-to dessert for any skill level.

Servings: 8 slices
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Cooling time: 10 minutes
Total time: approx. 45 minutes
Appliance: Instant Pot multicooker

Ingredients

• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, plus extra for dusting the pan
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ⅔ cup brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1 large egg
• ⅓ cup warm water
• ½ tsp instant espresso powder (optional, enhances chocolate flavour)
• ⅓ cup sour cream
• 4 tbsp salted butter, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Preparation method

Prepare the pan and Instant Pot
Lightly grease a 15 cm (6-inch) round cake pan and dust it with cocoa powder. Add 250 ml (1 cup) water to the inner pot of the Instant Pot and place a trivet or heatproof foil ring inside so the cake pan can sit above the water.

Mix the batter
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and brown sugar. Add the egg, warm water, espresso powder, sour cream, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Stir with a spatula or wooden spoon until you have a smooth, well-combined batter.

Pressure cook the cake
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and gently tap it on the counter to remove any large air bubbles. Carefully place the pan on the trivet inside the Instant Pot.

Secure the lid, set the valve to Sealing, and select Pressure Cook on high for 25 minutes. When the cooking time ends, allow the pressure to release naturally.

Cool and serve
Using oven mitts, carefully lift the cake pan out of the Instant Pot. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Serve as is, or finish with whipped cream, chocolate frosting, or a dusting of cocoa powder.

The Instant Pot is ideal for baking moist cakes, as pressure cooking creates gentle steam that keeps the crumb soft and prevents overbaking. This method is especially useful when you want a reliable dessert without using a traditional oven.

Discover more easy desserts in our Instant Pot recipes.

Looking for a versatile kitchen upgrade? Explore our full Instant Pot multicooker collection and find the model that suits your cooking style.