Hersheys Cocoa Chocolate Cake Recipe

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What Is The Secret To A Chewy Cookie

Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake Recipe | MOIST CHOCOLATE CAKE

Rest the Dough

A secret bakers trick is to rest your cookie dough in the fridge. You can rest it for at least an hour, which will evaporate some of the water and increase the sugar content, helping to keep your cookies chewy. The longer you allow your dough to rest in the fridge, the chewier your cookies will be.

Dont Forget The Frosting

What cake would be complete without frosting??

I think this recipe for Hersheys Chocolate Cake is perfect with the accompanying homemade chocolate frosting recipe.

After all, we already discussed how chocolate cake and chocolate frosting are a match made in heaven.

But if you want to change it up, you could always turn to homemade buttercream frosting instead. would be a fun option, too!

Honestly, it doesnt really matter which frosting you use, because when theres homemade chocolate cake, you know everybody will be happy.

How To Make Chocolate Cake:

Mix Dry Ingredients. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl.

Addwet ingredients:. Eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla and mix until well combined.

Add boiling water. Stir to combine . Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool in the pan for a few minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting.

Assemble and Frost: Place one cake layer on serving tray. Spread a generous amount of frosting on top. Add second cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting.

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Making The Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake Recipe Even Better

First, I tried the original Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake recipe without any modifications. I wanted to see if, after all these years and a cookbook later, Id changed my mind. I also wanted to see if I would agree with any of Jesses criticisms against the recipe.

To my surprise, I STILL thought that the original, unmodified Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake recipe produced a delicious cake. I especially loved the super soft and moist cake crumb. I thought the chocolate frosting was a dream to work with. Its texture was super silky and creamy, making the cake easy to frost!

But that being said, I also understood where Jesse was coming from. I could see why he thought the cake was overly moist and sweet. So in my version of the recipe below, I updated the Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake recipe to address some of his major criticisms. Learn more in the next section!

Can I Use Dark Chocolate Chips For Cookies

Best Chocolate Cake

Use dark chocolate chips with over 70% dark chocolate for the best flavor and to get the health benefits of dark chocolate. We used the large size chocolate chips but you can also use the regular sized dark chocolate chips. These can also be made with dark chocolate chunks if you want that big melty chocolate cookie.

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Tips For Making Chocolate Lava Cake

I prefer using bars or baking chocolate rather than chocolate chips because I prefer the flavor, texture, and they melt more smoothly, which is important for a recipe like this.

If including the instant espresso , be sure to purchase INSTANT espresso granules and not regular espresso or ground coffee.

Instant espresso granules completely dissolve when mixed into the cake batter, whereas regular ground coffee would make for gritty lava cakes.

As I mentioned above, you can easily double or triple this lava cake recipe to feed a crowd.

But youll need to prep, bake, and enjoy the molten chocolate cakes immediately otherwise theyll lose their gooeyness.

Cuisine:Category:

Faq: Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake Recipe Techniques

Why do I need to add boiling water to the cake batter?

Great question! Ive been doing a lot of research to answer this question for some time now. I believe its a trick gleaned from old-fashioned chocolate cake recipes. According to my research, the hot water helps get rid of any stubborn lumps in the cocoa powder. Most old-fashioned chocolate cake recipes instruct you to make the batter by hand with a whisk. And if youre a seasoned baker, you know how hard it can be to whisk lumps out of batter.

Furthermore, the hot water blooms the cocoa powder, deepening the cocoa powders chocolate flavor. Its similar to how coffee and tea become more flavorful when steeped in hot water.

And finally, all that extra water makes the cake super moist.

Why do you recommend freezing the cakes overnight?

Why do I recommend freezing the cakes overnight? Well, I already mentioned how doing so gives me more control of my time. Typically, you need to wait for cakes to cool completely before frosting them. Otherwise, the frosting will melt! And it can take a while to bring cakes down to room temperature. So making the cakes a day ahead means I dont have to sit around for hours waiting. Instead, I can just frost and assemble the cakes any time I want on the next day!

Okay, but I dont have room in my freezer. Can I refrigerate the cakes instead?

Do I really need a crumb coat for the Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake?

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Grandmas Old Fashioned Chocolate Pudding Recipe

When I first made this recipe from Hersheys, with a few minor adaptions, I was surprised at how much it reminded me of old-fashioned pudding, like what Grandma used to make. Sometimes we get so stuck on the ready-made, boxed mixes, that we forget its also easy to make it from scratch and will taste way better.

How To Make The Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake Recipe In One Day

Hersheys Chocolate Fudge Cake Recipe

I get it. You read everything above but thought that overnight seems like a long time to wait for a chocolate cake. What if you want the Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake RIGHT NOW? Good news! You dont have to assemble the cake over two days.You can make the both the cake and frosting in one day, and assemble it in the same day, too.

To do so, follow the recipe instructions to make the chocolate cake. Cool completely in the pans on a wire rack before frosting. Once cool, tightly wrap each cake layer in its own sheet of plastic wrap. Freeze for 5 to 10 minutes while you make prep the ingredients for and make the chocolate frosting. Then, follow the recipe instructions to assemble, crumb coat, and frost the cake.

Freezing the cakes for 5 to 10 minutes will stiffen the cake and make it easier to frost. Note that youll likely need to set the crumb coat for longer than whats listed in the recipe below. The recipe instructs you to refrigerate the crumb coated cake for 10 to 15 minutes. However, if the cakes havent been frozen overnight, you need to refrigerate the crumb coated cake for at least 30 minutes.

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The Best Chocolate Cake

The Best Chocolate Cake a.k.a Molten Lava Cake is sponsored by Fred Meyer Stores Check out Fred Meyers Stores Red, White and BBQ Promotions! Thank YOU!

Hi beautiful! How have you been? My oldest is almost done with school, I am so excited to have her home and go hiking together or simply cool off at the pool cause it gets really HOT in Idaho, during the summer.

Today, I want to share with YOU, in my opinion, The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe in the form of a Molten Lava Cake. Girl, this chocolate cake is truly the best and it is super easy to make!

It is out of This World Delicious! Rich and super moist, chocolaty with a hint of freshly brewed coffee, garnished with Hersheys Chocolate and Caramel Syrup and a scoop of ice cream. Pure perfection!

As I am typing this, I can totally see myself sprinkling a handful of chopped toasted hazelnuts on top and enjoying it with a hot cup of coffee. I love NUTS, and I can not lie! Ok, now I am drooling!

Make this chocolate cake and enjoy it with someone you love, whether its on Valantines Day, Mothers Day, Fathers day, a birthday party or just becasue I love you day.

After searching for the best chocolate cake recipe, finally, I have found the #1 chocolate cake recipe my family and I love! Cant wait to hear what YOU think of this delicious recipe! As always thank you for stopping by!

  • Vanilla Ice Cream

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Day : Make The Chocolate Cake

  • Prep the ingredients for the chocolate cake. Luckily, prepping ingredients for the Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake recipe is straightforward. All you need to do is make sure that all the ingredients are at the temperatures listed in the recipe. Note that you need very hotas close to freshly boiled as possiblewater for the recipe. Be sure to check out the FAQ and Bakers Tips sections below for more information.
  • Make the chocolate cake batter. Making the cake batter is an easy process. First, whisk together the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Then, whisk together the wet ingredients in a large bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, then pour in the hot water. The recipe uses only two mixing bowls! Cool, right?
  • Bake the chocolate cake. Divide the cake batter between three 8-inch round cake pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. After baking the cakes, cool them completely. Then, turn out each layer and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Freeze overnight.
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    Fluffy Vanilla Frosting Recipe

    1/2 cup butter or shortening5 cups confectioners sugar1/8 teaspoon salt4 to 5 tablespoons milk

    Cream butter, 1 cup confectioners* sugar, vanilla and salt in large mixer bowl. Add remaining confectioners sugar alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency. Makes 3 cups frosting.

    2-1/4 cups unsifted all-purpose flour1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda1-1/3 cups buttermilk or sour milk*Burnt sugar frosting

    Stir together cocoa and boiling water in small bowl until smooth set aside. Cream shortening, sugar and vanilla in large mixer bowl blend in eggs.

    Combine flour, baking soda and salt add alternately with buttermilk to creamed mixture. Blend in reserved cocoa mixture.

    Pour batter into two greased and floured 9-inch or three 8-inch layer pans. Bake at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes for 9-inch layers, 25 to 30 minutes for 8-inch layers or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.

    Cool 10 minutes remove from pans. Cool completely. Fill and frost with Burnt Sugar Frosting.

    * To sour milk: Use 1 tablespoon vinegar plus milk to equal 1 cup. Have milk at room temperature before combining with the amount of vinegar indicated in the recipe. Let mixture stand several minutes before using.

    My Honest Review Of Hersheys Chocolate Cake

    Hershey

    This cake had a standard, run-of-the-mill chocolate flavor that was pleasant but not great. It was a tad too sweet for my taste and lacked the pleasant bitterness that comes with cake made with quality dark chocolate. The flavor was enjoyable, but it was nothing to rave about.

    The frosting itself was too sweet as well, and it needed salt to help balance out the generous amount of powdered sugar. It was smooth and easy to work with, but the flavor was dull. It also dried out as it sat, so youll need to work fast or cover it with plastic wrap.

    The texture of the cake is where Hersheys really lost points. It was extremely moist to the point of being overwhelming. It was damp, marshy, and dense. Dont get me wrong, I love a moist cake, but eating this was a bit too similar to eating a wet sponge. After a few bites it became too much I felt like I was eating a slice of fudge instead of cake. For such an iconic recipe, I was surprised by how intense the texture was.

    Dont get me wrong, this is a good cake its just not the best cake. Its just as good as store-bought cake, but not necessarily better. If you prefer a more exciting chocolate cake, look elsewhere.

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    My Version Of The Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake Recipe Instructs You To Freeze The Cakes Overnight

    Although I was impressed with the original Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake recipe, I agreed with the criticism that the cake is hard to frost. Why? The cakes crumb is REALLY soft and moist. It can be hard to frost the cake without indenting it and/or loosening crumbs into the frosting.

    Freezing the cakes overnight solves this issue. A cake thats been frozen solid is much easier to frost than a room temperature one. Crumbs are less likely to shake loose, and the cake will hold its shape under a generous amount of frosting.

    In general, I always recommend making the cakes for a layer cake ahead of when youre planning on assembling and frosting everything. Doing so gives you more control over your schedule. Why? Typically, cakes need to be cooled completely before frosting. However, cooling a cake completely can take HOURS. It turns a simple layer cake recipe into a full day of waiting and working in the kitchen.

    But if you freeze the cakes overnight , you can pick up the project any time that works best for you. Pro-tip: if youre into this kind of recipe time management, I highly encourage you to check out my cookbook, Weeknight Baking. All cake recipes are broken down in this way!

    Keto Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting

    keto Hersheys chocolate cake being frosted with sugar-free chocolate buttercream frosting

    I have also included a low carb chocolate buttercream frosting as an option that only slightly increases the net carbs from 3.4 to 4.2 net carbs.

    Its a great chocolate frosting to include for special occasions, even as a chocolate keto birthday cake.

    Ive also shared in the recipe card how to make this a layer cake, or cupcakes, depending on your choice of pans.

    • Unsalted butter, room temperature softened
    • Cream cheese room temperature softened

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    Make Ahead And Freezing Instructions:

    The cakes and the chocolate frosting can both be made ahead of time. Allow the cakes to cool completely and then wrap each layer in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to three month. Cakes can be frosted while frozen.

    The homemade chocolate frosting will keep well in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or in the freezer for up to three months. Remove the frosting from the fridge about an hour before youre ready to frost your cake to allow it to come to room temperature.

    If Youre Making Hersheys Chocolate Cake A Few Tips

    HERSHEY’S “PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE” CAKE – How to make a moist CHOCOLATE CAKE Recipe

    1. Sift your cocoa powder: Unlike most chocolate cake recipes, Hersheys does not call for sifting the dry ingredients before mixing the cake batter. This caused the batter to have a few tiny lumps of cocoa powder in it, and sifting would have prevented this.

    2 Let your unfrosted cake layers sit out at room temperature for several hours before assembling: Because this cake is so darn moist, its difficult to frost without ripping the cake apart. To make things easier let your cake layers sit uncovered, at room temperature for several hours before assembling. I let mine sit out for about four hours, and it helped dry them out just enough so I was able to frost them easily.

    3. Add a pinch of salt to the frosting: The flavor of this cake is a tad dull, and it would have benefitted from a pinch of salt in the frosting to help elevate the chocolate flavor and balance the sweetness. I recommend adding 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt to the frosting, tasting it, and adding more if needed.

    Rating: 6/10

    Have you ever made Hersheys chocolate cake? Tell us what you thought!

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    How Do You Make The Best Chocolate Cake

    • Make sure you preheat your oven before starting. Weve included temperatures for standard AND fan or convention ovens.
    • If using springform pans, note that they are NOT 100% leakproof. Very thin cake batters such as this one will leak through the base. To combat this issue, line the base with parchment paper coming up where the sides meets the base to create a cover. Place a baking sheet on the shelf below the cake pan to catch any stray drips. Dont put cake pans directly on the pan as the heat will effect the base of your cakes.
    • Let cakes cool COMPLETELY before frosting. You can make this chocolate cake the day before and frost the next day.

    Tips For Making This The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe Ever

    Use Special Dark Chocolate Cocoa Powder. This gives the best flavor. Since it is dark chocolate, it combines well with the other flavors and provides richer chocolate. There is plenty of sweetness to combat any bitterness from the darker chocolate.

    Make sure to use buttermilk. If you do not have buttermilk, you can curdle regular milk by adding a tablespoon of vinegar. The acidity that buttermilks brings to this cake is a necessity for the best flavor possible. It also gives the cat additional fat which helps to keep to the cake moist.

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    What Size Chocolate Cake Does This Recipe Make

    This recipe is really versatile and can be used to make:

    • One 9-inch 2-layer cake,
    • One 13×9-inch sheet cake,
    • One bundt cake, or

    Seriously! I love when a cake recipe is so adaptable because it means I dont have to dig into my recipe file and find a different recipe if I need cupcakes instead of a layer cake.

    Just make sure you grease and flour any cake pan you use or use cupcake liners if youre making cupcakes.

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