Name: Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake
Cook time: 45 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: Makes 1 9" double layer cake (with variations for 1 9x13" sheet, 8" triple layer, or bundt cake or 30 cupcakes)
Ingredients: 2 cups sugar; 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup Hershey's Cocoa powder; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 eggs; 1 cup milk; 1/2 cup vegetable oil; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 cup boiling water; 1/2 cup butter; 2/3 cup Hershey's Cocoa Powder; 3 cups powdered sugar; 1/3 cup milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Hershey's perfectly chocolate chocolate cake in cupcake form.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova

This recipe makes decadent chocolate cake and delicious chocolate cupcakes. Don't skip the silky frosting, it's the best part!

Recipe information

Total Time
1 hour 30 minutes
Yield
Makes 1 9" double layer cake (with variations for 1 9x13" sheet, 8" triple layer, or bundt cake or 30 cupcakes)

Ingredients

For cake:

2 cups sugar

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup Hershey's Cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

For "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting:

1/2 cup butter

2/3 cup Hershey's Cocoa Powder

3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

Make the cake:
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
Step 2
Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla; beat on medium speed of an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water. Pour batter into prepared pans.
Step 3
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting.
Make the "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting:
Step 4
Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.
Step 5
Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla.
One-Pan (Sheet) Cake Variation:
Step 6
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. Frost.
Three-Layer Cake Variation:
Step 7
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and flour three 8-inch round baking pans. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.
Bundt Cake Variation:
Step 8
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and flour 12-cup fluted tube pan. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Frost.
Cupcake Variation:
Step 9
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter and bake 22 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.
Step 10
This recipe is made available as a courtesy by the Hershey Company.