ANNOUNCING: Change is part of life, and apparently, it's part of blogging, too. As of September 5, 2013, I'm merging The Virtual Goody Plate with Disco Mom Takes on the World and whatever else may henceforth spill from my fingertips (and kitchen), into one great new blog. I hope you'll join me there in exclaiming, "THIS IS AWESOMELAND."

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake and Frosting

Editorial: Are you tired of my food photography yet? I am getting bored with it. Enough with the half-cake off-center close-ups, right? Unfortunately I don't have a great camera (an upgrade is about 11th on our big-purchase priority list, after new car, furniture for every room, new kitchen and laundry appliances, college funds, etc.), or any Photoshop skills, so I'm not sure what else I can do.

I did invest in a
Lowel Ego light awhile back so I can at least avoid using the flash (nice, see below), but sometimes it's still not great (not nice, see farther below.) I get ideas from cookbook pictures sometimes, but I gotta work with what I got - a black counter, a few decorative plates, a wooden coffee table, a white windowsill. I'm just saying, if you're annoyed, I want you to know I'm annoyed, too. Now happens to be one of those times.BUT. Let's please not let that distract us from yet another fabulous chocolate cake! This recipe from the back of the Hershey's cocoa box is my sister Maren's go-to chocolate cake for all occasions, and it's wonderful - a very reliable recipe for an outstandingly delicious, chocolately, rich homemade cake. NO cake mix taste, which, over the last few years, I have come to regard a bit of snobbish distaste.

This particular cake in the picture I was making for the birthday of a friend who is currently dairy-free. I chose the Hershey's cake because it calls for vegetable oil rather than butter. I substituted chocolate Silk for the milk, and used margarine in the frosting. Not my first choice, but better than no frosting at all! Especially when you usually have to pass up the treats...

Also. You may have noticed my subtle further use of ed-i-ble glit-ter on top. I simply love the stuff. I was going for sophisticated-festive. What do you think?Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake
2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. (Wet, wring and wrap on your bake-even strips if you have them. What? You haven't seen these on my Well-Stocked Kitchen List? They're number 8.)

2. Combine dry ingredients in large mixing bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat in medium speed 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water. Batter will be thin. Pour into pans.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes (20 to 25 for cupcakes) or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely before frosting.

Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Frosting
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2/3 cup Hershey's cocoa powder
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

1. Melt butter; stir in cocoa.

2. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating on medium speed to spreading consistency. Add more milk if needed. Stir in vanilla. Makes about 2 cups frosting.

Recipe from the back of the Hershey's cocoa can

Click here for printable recipe

7 comments:

Irene said...

Several years back, my mother went on a quest for the perfect chocolate cake. Obviously, we were all more than happy to help her. After a dozen or more recipes, she decided the one on the back of the Hershey's cocoa box was the best.

Shells said...

Are you sure you didn't take a picture of the cake I made last month? Seriously, we made this EXACT same cake, with chocolate frosting and gold star decorations. Great minds think alike and great tastes run in the family! Super cool.

Arlene Delloro said...

I have 2 dog-eared Hershey's cookbooks and their cakes, pies, and other desserts are always reliably delicious. I know just what you mean about photography. All my shots look alike and I'm tired of buying special plates that get old so fast. I do this because I enjoy it and I hope people look past the amateur photography and appreciate the food. Your cake looks wonderful.

Just Katy said...

One day I will eat chocolate again!! And when I do this is at the top of the To Make list.

Liz said...

I don't have any complaints about the photography b/c as far as I am concerned....it looks good enough to eat.....

Shaunel said...

I found this cake in high school when I had to provide for my mother's birthday. I was pretty sure I had hit the jack pot of the most perfect from scratch, easy choc. cakes. I've only made it 3x total, but I feel so connected to it, I get thrilled if anyone else brings it up. So glad you did!

Anonymous said...

You forgot to list the chocolate in the actual cake ingredients. Just FYI.

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