The Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake is a scrumptious chocolate cake. It’s chocolately, rich, moist, and delicious. Perfect for beginners. It’s nearly as easy to make as a box cake and it tastes so much better than a cake mix cake. You’ll wonder why you haven’t made it before. I know I did.
Some of the best recipes are on the back of boxes. Quaker has a great oatmeal cookie recipe on the back of their box. Libby’s has their famous pumpkin pie recipe on the back of their can. So of course you’d expect Hershey’s to have a fabulous chocolate cake recipe on the back of their box and they do.
In my Queso Bacon Burger post, I mentioned I was hosting a BBQ/birthday party, and every birthday party needs a perfect birthday cake. I needed two cakes for our crowd. I made a Tropical Carrot Cake, and for those who don’t like veggies in their cake, I decided to make chocolate cake. But not just any chocolate cake, the Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake that I’ve seen posted dozens of times with rave reviews.
How to Make the Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake
I was a bit surprised when I read the instructions. After the batter is mixed, you add 1 cup of boiling water, which creates a really runny batter. After baking though, it has a perfect texture—not too heavy and not too light. The layers bake up flat and even, so it’s an easy cake to layer.
If you haven’t baked very many layers cakes before, be sure and check out my Baking Tips For Layer Cakes post.
I made a couple of high altitude changes to the recipe because cakes can be temperamental at my altitude (5,000 ft). Generally, I use this great guide from Bonnie, City Home / Country Home, to modify recipes for high altitude. Just a few simple tweaks can make a big difference when baking cakes at altitude.
Easy Cake Decoration
After baking and frosting, the cake is decorated simply with chocolate curls. The chocolate curls are easy to make. You just use a vegetable peeler and a chocolate bar. You could also decorate the cake with sprinkles if you prefer.
The cake got great reviews from my crowd at the party! I’ve made this back-of-the-box cake many times since that party. In fact, this Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake has become my go-to chocolate cake whenever I want to make a quick homemade cake. I hope you’ll give it a try too!
Do you have a favorite recipe you got from the back of a box?
Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake and Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Frosting
Equipment
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons sugar*
- 1-¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup Hershey's cocoa
- 1-¼ teaspoons baking powder*
- 1-¼ teaspoons baking soda*
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk*
- ½ cup canola oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Frosting:
- ½ cup 1 stick butter or margarine
- ⅔ cup Hershey's Cocoa
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ⅓ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. Set aside.
- Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; With a mixer, beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Carefully, stir in boiling water. The batter will be very thin. Pour batter into prepared cake pans.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with chocolate frosting.
- *Before high altitude changes: 2 cups sugar, 1-½ teaspoons baking powder, 1-½ teaspoons baking soda, 1 cup milk
- Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate FrostingMelt 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.
Notes
Nutrition
More Chocolate Cake Recipes You Might Like:
If you love chocolate and caramel, you’ll want to make my Chocolate Dulce De Leche Triple Layer Cake. If you prefer a cake with a chocolate ganache (a thick, rich chocolate frosting), you’ll want to make my Triple Chocolate Layer Cake. If you’re following a keto diet, check out this Keto Sugar-Free Mini German Chocolate Cake from All Day I Dream About Food. Or, perhaps you’re looking for an easy one bowl chocolate cake recipe or a Chocolate Mug Cake for Two.
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Cindy Stamus
My niece makes this cake, and instead of making it with boiling water, she uses coffee! I tried it, and it is wonderful!!
Barbara Schieving
Thanks for sharing that tip Cindy!
Lucila Booth
Hi. I live at 7000ft and was wondering if there were more adjustments for high altitude I should make or if it’d be the same as at 5000ft?
Barbara Schieving
Hi Lucila – yes, you will need to make additional changes. Here’s a helpful guide https://cityhomecountryhome.blogspot.com/2010/08/high-altitude-baking-and-candy-making.html
Clarissa
How many cups of batter does one mix make?
Barbara Schieving
Hi Clarissa – I’ve never measured, but here’s a guide that can help you estimate https://www.wilton.com/wedding-cake-guide/cms-wedding-cake-data.html
Wendy
It was about 6 cups for me, when I was doing my layers, I measured out the amount and it was just shy of 6 cups.
Elizabeth Quiroz
I don’t have any round cake pans. If I use a 9×13, how long would you recommend baking?
Barbara Schieving
Hi Elizabeth – probably about 30 minutes, until the cake starts to pull away from the sides of the pan, a toothpick comes out clean and about 210°F on an instant-read thermometer.
Laura Turner
Hi! I’ve made this cake twice and its sunk in the middle both times. I came across your blog searching for answers. I’ve never used high altitude adjustments, but will try yours next time. I’m curious though, I use 8 or 6 inch rounds, but you say 9 inch. Does that really matter? I am dying for something to actually be pretty just once! (Its chocolate, so taste is never an issue!)
Barbara Schieving
Hi Laura – if you use 8 inch rounds your cook time will be longer because they’ll be thicker but shouldn’t need additional high altitude adjustments. You’ll probably need 3 6 inch rounds.
Brenda
Well Hello Gorgeous! This DOES look perfect!! – – Thank you for featuring my chocolate mug cake recipe!
shelley
THE only chocolate cake I make…my youngest daughter too…..even when making a “german” chocolate cake with homemade coconut pecan frosting….
Verna A.
This is my go-to chocolate cake recipe! I usually substitute applesauce for half of the oil.
chris brinkman
my cakes seem to rise and cook in the center first, leaving a “blossom” in the middle. they taste fine but dont look pretty. have used regular and convection ovens to make this cake with the same results. any suggestions?
Barbara Schieving
Hi Chris – my cakes get a little bubbly in the middle as well. Here’s a video https://www.barbarabakes.com/triple-chocolate-layer-cake/ where you can see how it looks. It doesn’t affect the final product and you get a much flatter even top than traditional cakes.
Kelly
Hi! I live in Colorado Springs, where the altitude is 6000. I haven’t made the cake yet, but I’m worried how it will turn out. How should i adapt my cake to fit my altitude? Thanks!
Barbara Schieving
Hi Kelly – it would be similar to Denver https://www.barbarabakes.com/hersheys-perfectly-chocolate-chocolate-cake-and-perfectly-chocolate-chocolate-frosting/comment-page-4/#comment-55343