Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake

This past weekend, we celebrated my son's 8th birthday with his friends.  As you can see, he had a pirate themed party (which turned out to be a really fun theme to run with).  Quinn wanted me to make him a homemade cake.  Usually when I do homemade cakes, I don't really do homemade cakes.  I just doctor up the boxed mixes.  In the past I have had a hard time finding a cake recipe that was anywhere near as good as the boxed mixes.  Well, I'm so glad I tried this one because it was a total winner.  The recipe was a little odd, calling for 1 c. of boiling water to be added to the batter (making it very thin) but it resulted in a light, moist, delicious cake.  Dare I say, better than the boxed mixes?  Give it a try and be the judge yourself.  

Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake

Ingredients (cake):

2 Cups Granulated Sugar

3/4 Cup Hershey's Cocoa

1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Soda

2 Eggs

1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil

1 Cup Boiling Water

1 3/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder

1 Teaspoon Salt

1 Cup Milk

2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

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Directions (cake):

Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl or mixer. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat until combined evenly. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin) Pour into 2 9-inch round greased and floured cake pans. Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in pans and then remove to wire racks to cool completely. Frost and serve.

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Ingredients (frosting):

1 Stick Butter

2/3 Cup Hershey's Cocoa

3 Cups Confectioners Sugar

1/3 Cup Milk

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

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Directions (frosting):

Melt butter in the microwave or in a saucepan, and then pour into a large bowl. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to a spreadable consistency. If needed, add a small amount of additional milk. Stir in vanilla.

Note: DO NOT use pans smaller than 9 inches or you will end up with a hot mess in your oven.  Just trust me.  

Source: Hershey's