Description
This classic Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Cake offers a tender, moist crumb and intense chocolate flavor made with simple pantry staples. It requires only one bowl and a whisk for easy preparation, making it an ideal everyday chocolate cake. The recipe yields two 9-inch layers that are perfect for frosting with rich Chocolate Buttercream.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups plain / all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda (bi-carb soda)
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 2 eggs (approximately 55-65g / 2 oz each)
- 1 cup milk (low or full fat)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil (or canola oil)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
Frosting
- 1 1/2 batches Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (see separate recipe with scaling)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan). Grease two 22cm (9-inch) cake pans with butter and line the bases with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Sift the flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda into a large bowl. Add sugar and salt, then whisk briefly to combine evenly.
- Add Wet Ingredients: To the dry mix, add the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk vigorously for about 30 seconds until the batter is free of lumps and smooth.
- Incorporate Boiling Water: Carefully add the boiling water to the batter and whisk until fully combined. Note that the batter will be very thin — this is expected.
- Pour Batter into Pans: Divide the batter equally between the prepared cake pans.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Adjust time if using different shelf positions or pan types.
- Cool Cakes: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Then carefully invert them onto wire racks to cool completely, which helps maintain their texture.
- Frost: Once cooled, frost the cakes with 1 1/2 batches of Chocolate Buttercream Frosting as desired for a rich, decadent finish.
Notes
- Note 1: The sugar quantity creates a well-balanced sweetness complementing the cocoa’s bitterness.
- Note 2: Use good quality unsweetened cocoa powder for the best chocolate flavor.
- Note 3: Greasing and lining pans properly ensures easy cake removal. If using springform pans, baking time might vary.
- Note 4: Oven shelf position can affect baking time; the middle shelf is preferred for even cooking.
- Note 5: Cooling cakes upside down helps prevent doming and maintains an even surface for frosting.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
