2 Store-Bought Frozen Chocolate Cakes That Are (Almost) Better than Homemade

Nothing says celebration quite like a homemade chocolate cake. But we believe even the smallest achievements deserve recognition too! That’s why we always have a chocolate cake waiting in the wings (er, freezers) — and that you should, too. What’s the best one to keep on hand? We taste tested every frozen chocolate cake we could get our hands on, and narrowed it down to the best of the best.

Here are our picks for the richest, most chocolatey, and occasion-worthy frozen chocolate cakes.

Lava cakes were once the epitome of fine-dining desserts. These days, the rich cake and free-flowing chocolate ganache have the frozen chocolate cake market cornered. Three of the four lava cakes we tasted were eerily similar, but the Belgian Boys Dark Chocolate Lava Cake stood out from the rest (and not just because of its cute glass ramekin!). Side-by-side tasting revealed that this cake had a richer, more chocolatey flavor with a moist texture. The middle wasn’t as molten-y as the other cakes, but the decadent, fudgy dark chocolate center was unmatched. Dust the top with powdered sugar and fresh chocolate curls and nobody will guess these personal-sized cakes came from the freezer.

Buy: Belgian Boys Dark Chocolate Lava Cake, $3.49 for two cakes at Instacart

Layers of tender cake and chocolatey filling encased in a sugary, fudge frosting and garnished with chocolate curls make this square, triple-decker cake as impressive as it is indulgent. The cake cuts up into 8 perfectly sized slices — and we suggest making them your own with a dollop of sweetened cream and a few fresh raspberries.

Buy: Pepperidge Farm Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake, $5.79 for 19.6 ounces at Instacart

What is your favorite frozen chocolate cake? Share your nomination in the comments below.