Hi I’m only a hobby baker but based in the UK, I’ve been on a few course too, and I can honestly say I have 3 favorite cake recipes for chocolate cake and 2 are from the same cake decorator and that is Lindy Smith – she has a book call the Cake Decorating Bible and is an absolute must if you are making wedding cakes, she also does a fudge cake recipe that really rich but also delicious – here is the link to the fudge cake. Her website is full of brilliant tips – the only thing I do differently is that I use stork not butter for the cakes – but always butter for buttercream if using.
http://www.lindyscakes.co.uk/2011/02/02/lindys-chocolate-fudge-cake-recipe/
Hope this helps
Not sure if you have access to boxed cake mixes like we do in the US. I love baking from scratch but as you mentioned, I have not been able to find a chocolate recipe that I trust. Here is a doctored cake mix recipe that I love, never fails.
1 box swiss chocolate cake mix – i use duncan hines
1 box instant chocolate pudding (do not buy serve and cook)
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup oil
There is nothing fancy about this recipe, just mix your eggs, oil and sour cream until they are well blended, add pudding mix and blend for 1 minute, add cake mix and water and mix for 2-3 minutes. That is all, this will yield 2 – 8 in rounds and cooks at 325F for 35 minutes.
Sprinkles Cake Studio
Not sure if you are still looking for a Chocolate Cake Recipe but I use this one that was posted on here a long time ago. I love it and it holds up great under fondant.
https://cakesdecor.com/entries/367-devil-s-food-chocolate-cake
The only change I made is instead of sour cream I use buttermilk. Equal parts substitution
How much time did I preheat Microwave for base baking?
