Name: Hershey's Chocolate Cake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 2 h 15 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 2 cups granulated sugar; 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour; ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Hershey's Cocoa recommended); 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder; 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 large eggs; 1 cup milk; ½ cup vegetable oil; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 cup boiling water

Hershey’s Chocolate Cake

Calling all chocolate lovers! This blog post brings you a timeless dessert – the Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Cake. Made famous by the brand itself, this recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Simple to follow, it yields a moist and flavorful chocolate cake perfect for birthdays, potlucks, or whenever you crave a decadent treat.

The recipe uses pantry staples like flour, sugar, cocoa powder (Hershey’s recommended!), baking soda and powder, eggs,milk, oil, and vanilla extract. The secret to its rich taste lies in the addition of boiling water, creating a batter that might seem thin but bakes into a delightful texture.

This post provides step-by-step instructions, including preheating the oven to 350°F, greasing and flouring cake pans,mixing dry and wet ingredients, and incorporating the boiling water.

The cake bakes for 30-35 minutes, and frosting options include store-bought varieties or a homemade chocolate frosting.Pro-tips include using buttermilk for extra chocolate flavor, making your own buttermilk with vinegar or lemon juice, or adding chocolate chips for an even richer taste.

So, preheat your oven, gather your ingredients, and bake this delightful Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Cake recipe!

Questions I often get asked about this recipe:

Can I use a different type of flour?
All-purpose flour works best, but some people have had success with whole wheat flour. Be aware the texture might be slightly denser.

I don’t have buttermilk. What can I use instead?
You can make your own buttermilk substitute as mentioned in the post (vinegar or lemon juice in milk). Some people also use sour cream thinned with milk.

Can I skip the boiling water?
No, the boiling water is key to the texture of the cake. It activates the cocoa powder and creates a steamy reaction that helps the cake rise.

My cake isn’t done after 35 minutes. How much longer should I bake it?
Every oven is different, so check the cake with a toothpick a few minutes after the recommended baking time. If it comes out clean, the cake is done.

My cake sunk in the middle. What went wrong?
There are a few reasons this could happen. Make sure you preheated your oven to the correct temperature. Overmixing the batter can also cause the cake to sink.

What you need to make Hershey’s Chocolate Cake:

Ingredients:

2 cups granulated sugar

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Hershey’s Cocoa recommended)

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1 cup milk

½ cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

How to make it:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.

In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla extract.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix on medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes until well combined.

Slowly stir in the boiling water. The batter will be thin, but that’s okay!

Pour the batter evenly into your prepared cake pans.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Frosting:

This cake pairs well with many different types of frosting. You can use your favorite store-bought frosting, or try making a homemade chocolate frosting.

Tips:

For an extra chocolatey flavor, you can substitute buttermilk for the milk.

If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.

You can also add a cup of chocolate chips to the batter for an even more decadent cake.

Let the cake cool completely before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.

Latest Reviews:

Classic Keeper! This Hershey’s cake is my go-to for chocolate cravings. So easy to make, always moist, and perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Definitely recommend! Gene D.

Rich and Delicious! I followed this recipe exactly and loved the results. The cake was incredibly moist and had a deep chocolate flavor. The boiling water trick is genius! Susan S.

Perfect for Beginners! This recipe is fantastic for bakers of all experience levels. Simple ingredients, clear instructions,and a crowd-pleasing outcome. Thanks for sharing! Karen T.

Printable Recipe: