If you’re looking for the perfect chocolate cake, then look no further. Hershey’s Chocolate Cake is everything a chocolate lover could dream of—rich, moist, and full of deep, satisfying cocoa flavor. It’s simple to make, and the results are nothing short of amazing. This cake has been a favorite for generations, and after one bite, you’ll see why!
When you think of chocolate cake, this is probably the cake that comes to mind. It’s the kind of cake you want to serve at birthdays, celebrations, or just because. The best part? You can whip it up in no time, and it’s always a crowd-pleaser.
Let’s dive into this classic recipe, and I promise, once you try it, you’ll be hooked!
Why You’ll Love Hershey’s Chocolate Cake
- Moist and rich – The cake is perfectly moist, with just the right amount of richness.
- Made with simple ingredients – No fancy tricks here, just good ol’ ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
- Chocolatey goodness – It’s packed with that rich, deep chocolate flavor you crave.
- Perfect for any occasion – Whether it’s a birthday, a family dinner, or just a weeknight treat, this cake always hits the spot.
- Easy to make – No need to be a baking expert to pull off this one!
What You’ll Need to Make It
You won’t need any exotic ingredients for this cake—just the basics that you probably have in your pantry right now. It’s so simple, yet so delicious.
Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Hershey’s, of course!)
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- ½ cup sour cream (for extra moisture)
- Optional: powdered sugar for dusting or chocolate frosting for topping
How to Make Hershey’s Chocolate Cake
This cake is incredibly easy to make, and the result is simply divine. You’ll need about 15 minutes of prep time, and 30 minutes in the oven. Ready to get started? Let’s go!
Step 1: Preheat the oven and prepare your pans
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans (or you can use a 9×13-inch baking dish if you prefer). You can also line the bottom with parchment paper for easy removal.
Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt.
- This step is important for making sure there are no lumps in your cocoa powder and that everything mixes evenly.
Step 3: Add the wet ingredients
- Add the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients.
- Use a hand mixer or a whisk to mix everything together until the batter is smooth. Be sure not to overmix; just combine everything until it’s incorporated.
Step 4: Add the boiling water
- Stir in the boiling water. Yes, it seems like a lot of liquid, but this is what makes the cake so wonderfully moist!
- The batter will be thin, but that’s totally fine—it’s supposed to be.
Step 5: Fold in the sour cream
- Mix in the sour cream to make the cake extra soft and moist. It also gives a subtle tanginess that balances the rich chocolate flavor.
Step 6: Bake the cake
- Pour the batter evenly into the 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 about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 7: Frost and serve
- Once the cakes have cooled, you can frost them with your favorite frosting. Hershey’s chocolate frosting is a classic choice, but you can also use vanilla frosting, whipped cream, or even just a dusting of powdered sugar.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy!
How I Like to Serve It
This Hershey’s Chocolate Cake is perfect all on its own, but if you want to make it extra special, here are a few ideas:
- Top with frosting – Whether you use chocolate frosting, buttercream, or even a simple dusting of powdered sugar, frosting adds a sweet finishing touch.
- Serve with ice cream – A scoop of vanilla ice cream or chocolate ice cream on the side makes it even more indulgent.
- Add fresh berries – Fresh raspberries or strawberries make a lovely, tangy contrast to the rich cake.
Tips for the Best Hershey’s Chocolate Cake
- Don’t overmix – When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix until just incorporated. Overmixing can result in a dense cake.
- Use room temperature ingredients – Make sure your eggs, milk, and sour cream are at room temperature. This helps everything blend together more easily.
- Check for doneness – Keep an eye on the cake while baking. If the top starts to get too brown, cover it loosely with foil to prevent burning.
- Cool completely before frosting – If you frost the cake while it’s still warm, the frosting might melt off. Wait until the cake is completely cool before adding your frosting.
Fun Variations to Try
If you’re looking to get creative with this cake, here are a few variations to try:
- Add chocolate chips – Stir in a cup of chocolate chips to the batter before baking for an extra chocolatey texture.
- Mocha twist – Add a teaspoon of instant coffee granules to the batter for a mocha-flavored cake.
- Use milk chocolate cocoa – For a slightly sweeter, milder chocolate flavor, use milk chocolate cocoa powder instead of unsweetened cocoa powder.
A Classic That Never Fails
This Hershey’s Chocolate Cake is the ultimate chocolate dessert. It’s rich, moist, and so full of chocolate flavor that it’ll satisfy any chocolate lover’s craving. Whether you’re baking for a celebration or simply because you want to indulge in something sweet, this cake is always a winner.
Once you make it, you’ll understand why it’s a timeless favorite in so many homes. So go ahead, bake this cake, and treat yourself and your loved ones to a slice of chocolate heaven.
Hershey’s Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder Hershey’s, of course!
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- ½ cup sour cream for extra moisture
- Optional: Powdered sugar for dusting or chocolate frosting for topping
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans, or use a 9×13-inch baking dish. Line the bottom with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt.
- Add the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix with a hand mixer or whisk until smooth. Don’t overmix—just combine until incorporated.
- Stir in the boiling water. The batter will be thin, but that’s normal.
- Mix in the sour cream to make the cake extra soft and moist.
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared 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.
- Once the cakes are cool, frost with your favorite frosting. Hershey’s chocolate frosting is a classic choice, but you can also use vanilla frosting, whipped cream, or powdered sugar.
