Description

Italian Love Cake is a luscious layered dessert combining moist vanilla cake, a creamy sweetened cream cheese filling, and a rich cocoa drizzle topped with chocolate chips. This delightful cake offers a perfect balance of textures and flavors, making it an irresistible treat for special occasions or anytime you crave a decadent homemade dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Batter

1 box (15.25 oz) vanilla cake mix
1 cup water (240 mL)
1/2 cup vegetable oil (120 mL)
3 large eggs

Cream Cheese Filling

8 oz cream cheese, softened (225 g)
1 cup powdered sugar (120 g)
1 tsp vanilla extract

Cocoa Drizzle and Topping

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (50 g)
1 cup milk (240 mL)
1/2 cup chocolate chips (90 g)

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan to prevent sticking.
Mix Cake Batter: In a large bowl, combine the vanilla cake mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Mix until you achieve a smooth batter without lumps.
Layer Half the Batter: Pour half of the cake batter evenly into the prepared baking pan, spreading it carefully to cover the bottom.
Prepare Cream Cheese Filling: In a separate bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Add Cream Cheese Layer: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the layer of cake batter in the pan, ensuring full coverage.
Top with Remaining Batter: Spoon the remaining half of the cake batter gently over the cream cheese layer, trying to cover it as uniformly as possible.
Make Cocoa Drizzle: In a small bowl, whisk together the unsweetened cocoa powder and milk until combined into a smooth liquid. Drizzle this mixture evenly over the top layer of batter.
Add Chocolate Chips: Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the cocoa drizzle and batter surface for added texture and chocolate flavor.
Bake the Cake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Cool and Serve: Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely in the pan before slicing and serving.

Notes

Ensure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for easy mixing and a smooth filling.
Do not overmix the batter once the ingredients are combined to keep the cake tender.
For a richer flavor, use whole milk or substitute with a milk alternative if preferred.
Chocolate chips can be substituted with mini chocolate chunks or chopped nuts for added texture.
Store leftover cake covered in the refrigerator and consume within 3-4 days for best freshness.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/12th of cake)
Calories: 360
Sugar: 28 g
Sodium: 320 mg
Fat: 18 g
Saturated Fat: 7 g
Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 44 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 5 g
Cholesterol: 55 mg

Keywords: Italian love cake, cream cheese cake, chocolate cake, layered dessert, easy cake recipe, vanilla cocoa cake