Recipe For Hershey’s Chocolate Cake

My Version Of The Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake Recipe Tweaks The Chocolate Frosting

This review of the Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake recipe argues that its frosting is too sweet. I also found myself agreeing with this critique. I was surprised to find that the original recipe contained no salt at all!

In general, a little salt goes a long way in baked goods. The salt balances out the sugar, and can make other flavors in the recipe more flavorful. I ended up adding a whopping ½ teaspoon of kosher salt to the frosting. That may seem like a lot, but it really helped tone down the sweetness without any coffee .

I also found that the recipe didnt make enough for a 3 layer, 8-inch cake. But that made sense. Because although Hersheys gives you the option to make the recipe in different cake pans, the original recipe is for a 2 layer, 9-inch cake. As a result, Ive tweaked the frosting quantities below to be more suitable for a 3 layer cake. However, definitely check out the FAQ below if you want to make this recipe in other cake pans.

How To Make Hershey Candy Bar Cake

• 2Mix all ingredients together. and bake as instructed.
• 4Grate 5 Hershey candy bars in small bowl. Grate or shave the other bar and set aside for garnishing. in the frosting.
• 5Beat powdered sugar, sugar and cream cheese. FOLD IN GRATED CANDY BARS AND CHOPPED NUTS. FOLD IN 12 ounces COOL WHIP.
• 6Put 1 layer on the plate you are going to serve it on. You can be generous with the frosting between each layer, Then lay another layer on top of the first put another of frosting. Put the last layer on top . Proceed on to frost the top and sides. Sprinkle the 6th. candy bar on top. Refrigerate.
• 7ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Last Step: Don’t forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don’t forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
• Printable Recipe Card

Ingredients To Make The Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake Recipe More Chocolaty

So to make the Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake recipe even MORE chocolaty, make the following changes to the cake recipe:

• add 1 ½ teaspoons espresso powder OR instant coffee crystals
• replace the 1 cup boiling water with 1 cup boiling coffee

Whats espresso powder and where can I find it?

Espresso powder is made from espresso grounds that have been roasted, ground, and brewed. The water is then removed from the espresso either by flash-heat drying or freeze-drying, leaving behind dehydrated crystals.

Historically, espresso powder was primarily used in baking as an ingredient. As a result, it was only available for purchase or in specialty stores like King Arthur Baking Company. However, these days, folks use espresso powder to make drinks! You can now buy espresso powder in most major grocery stores and Target. In the US, the most readily available instant espresso brand is Medaglia DOro.

Whats instant coffee? Is it different from ground coffee? And if so, can I use ground coffee instead?

Instant coffee is different from ground coffee. Ground coffee is made by grinding coffee beans into a coarse or fine powder. You can easily make ground coffee at home with a coffee grinder.

In a pinch, you can use ground coffee instead of instant coffee in this recipe. However, ground coffee doesnt dissolve as well as instant coffee during the baking process. You may end up with small flecks of ground coffee in your chocolate cake!

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My Honest Review Of Hersheys Chocolate Cake

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.

Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake Recipe

Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake

recipe:

2 cups sugar

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup Hershey’s Cocoa

1 cup boiling water

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

Combine dry ingredients in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water . Pour into pans.

Bake 30 – 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 recipe below.

Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup butter

2/3 cup Hershey’s Cocoa

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.

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How To Make The Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cakerecipe

Whenever I bake a layer cake, I break down the recipe to make its different components over multiple days. Why? It can be really time-consuming to make the cake all in one day! First, you need to bake the cakes and wait for them to cool completely. Then, you need to make the frosting, assemble the layers and frost a crumb coat, and wait for it all to set. After that, you need to finish decorating the whole thing! You can see how this recipe is turning into a full days worth of work.

To make sure Im not stuck in the kitchen all day, I broke down the work for the Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake recipe over two days. Heres what I did:

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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Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate For Beginners

Hersheys Perfectly Chocolate Cake is also a great recipe for novice bakers. Its pretty much fool-proof, doesnt require lots of equipment and always gets compliments. Plus its less expensive than some other cakes since it calls for cocoa powder. Theres no need to purchase unsweetened chocolate for this one. And you dont have to bother with melting chocolate, either.

Another nice thing about Perfectly Chocolate Cake is that it can be made as a Bundt cake, layer cake or as a sheet cake. I make it as a layer cake for the family, but when I need to take a cake to a party, I bake it in a disposable pan and decorate it with frosting and sprinkles.

How To Store Hershey’s Chocolate Cake

Since this cake is frosted with buttercream instead of a cream cheese frosting, it will last at room temperature for up to five days. If you’ve cut the cake, it won’t last quite as long maybe four days. Cutting the cake introduces air, which contributes to drying.

If your cake becomes slightly dry before the four to five days are up, that’s OK! Just use the leftovers to make Cake Balls.

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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.

Choosing A Cocoa Powder

This chocolate cake gets its dark, rich color from Dutch processed cocoa powder. While seemingly similar products, Dutch-processed cocoa powder and natural cocoa powder have different chemical properties, so their roles within a recipe are unique. There are so many cocoa powders available, ranging from mild to dark and rich, and they will all make a very different tasting chocolate cake.

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Easy Hersheys Chocolate Cake

This simple but decadent Hersheys chocolate cake recipe is one of my kids absolute favorites and its one of mine too!

• 12 C canola oil
• 1 C fresh brewed coffee, cooled
• 12 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 34 C hershey cocoa powder
• 12 C unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
• 1 12 C powdered sugar
• 12 C hershey cocoa powder
• 3 tbsp heavy whipping cream
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 6 regular size hershey chocolate bars

How To Make This Hersheys Chocolate Cake Recipe

For the Chocolate Cake

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with baking spray or line the pan with parchment paper. Set it aside.

STEP TWO: In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda.

STEP THREE: Whisk in the salt and granulated sugar.

STEP FOUR: Whisk in the buttermilk, vanilla extract and oil with the dry ingredients.

STEP FIVE: Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, until well incorporated.

PRO TIP:

Make sure that your eggs are at room temperature as they will combine better with the batter.

STEP SIX: Carefully whisk in the boiling water until all the ingredients are combined. The batter will be thin, but it is supposed to be.

PRO TIP:

The hot water is key to helping the cocoa powder incorporate well into the batter and wont leave you with pockets of dry powder.

STEP SEVEN: Pour batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes away clean. Allow the cake to cool completely.

PRO TIP:

Allowing the cake to cool before frosting is important as the frosting wont spread well and will just melt if the cake is still warm.

For the Chocolate Frosting

STEP ONE: Using either a stand mixer or medium bowl and an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the butter and vanilla for 30 seconds.

STEP TWO: Add the Hersheys cocoa powder and continue mixing until well incorporated.

STEP THREE: Add the milk and continue mixing until combined.

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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.

Hershey’s Chocolate Cake Frosting

So what about the frosting? Well, the frosting featured in this recipe is slightly different from the official Hersheyland’s “Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Frosting” it calls for a bit more butter, sugar, cocoa powder, and milk.

You’ll need the same ingredients for both frostings, though: Butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, confectioners’ sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. You can adjust the amounts to suit your taste, of course.

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Hershey’s Chocolate Cake Is Absolutely The Best Chocolate Cake There Is Cocoa Gives It A Rich Chocolate Flavor And It’s Never Dry Cover With My Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing And You’ll Have Your Guests Coming Back For Seconds

4 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons baking powder 2 teaspoons salt 2 tablespoons brown sugar ¼ cup granulated sugar 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, cold 2 cups heavy cream 2 tablespoons vanilla 1 egg for egg wash Turbinado sugar for sprinklingStrawberries 3 cups chopped fresh or frozen strawberries ¼ cup granulated sugar

Hershey Chocolate Cake Faq

Why are instant coffee granules in Hershey chocolate cake?

Adding coffee really enhances the flavor of chocolate, adding a deep richness. Its just a small amount, so it doesnt affect the flavor of the dessert at all.

How do I know when cakes are done baking?

Insert a wooden toothpick into the center of each layer. If it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs on it, its time to remove them from the oven!

Can I make Hersheys perfectly chocolate cake ahead of time?

Yes! Bake the cake layers and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack first. Then, wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap to lock in the moisture. When youre ready to assemble, remove the plastic wrap and frost!

If youll be making the cake more than 3 days later, refrigerate the plastic wrapped layers so they stay fresh for a few days. Then, simply take them out of the fridge and carry on with the recipe!

Enjoy!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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

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.

Hersheys Chocolate Cake Ingredients

Youll need:

• 1¾ cup all-purpose flour
• cup unsweetened Hersheys cocoa powder
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1½ teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup + 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup boiling water

• 1 cup salted sweet cream butter, softened
• cup unsweetened Hersheys cocoa powder
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons whole milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS

BUTTERMILK: You can make your own buttermilk using whole or 2% milk and lemon juice or distilled vinegar. For every 1 cup of milk, stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar.

WATER: You can substitute the boiling water for hot coffee in this delicious cake.

CHOCOLATE CHIPS: You can add chocolate chips tossed in flour to the cake batter.

NUTS: You can add chopped nuts to this easy cake batter.

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Frosting Ideas For Hersheys Chocolate Cake

Hersheys recommends frosting this cake with their Perfectly Chocolate chocolate frosting, and it is pretty tasty if a little sweet.

But if youre looking for something different, try one of these great options:

• Peanut butter frosting made with smooth peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar.
• Raspberry swiss meringue buttercream will give a beautiful color contrast between the dark chocolate cake and light pink frosting.

Hersheys Chocolate Cake Recipe #

If youve ever made a recipe from the back of a box Im talking about those Carnation lemon bars and Toll House chocolate chip cookies then you know they tend to be pretty impressive. These companies have spent thousands of dollars to perfect these recipes, and it really shows!So I knew this chocolate cake would be good. And its super easy to make, too!Once you have all the dry ingredients mixed together, including the sugar, you can add most of the wet ingredients right into the bowl as one.Theres no need to add things in a specific order or separate eggs. Just throw it all in and blend. The only thing thats slightly different is the addition of boiling water, which needs to be added last and carefully stirred through to finish the batter.

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