Description
Rich Hershey’s chocolate cake surprises palates with its luscious cream cheese center, promising pure indulgence. Chocolate and tangy cream cheese create a delightful dance of flavors you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
cake ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot water
cream cheese filling:
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
frosting ingredients:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup hershey’s cocoa powder
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare two 9-inch round cake pans by greasing and lining with parchment paper.
- Sift together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Whisk eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients, mixing until just incorporated, then gradually add hot water while stirring to create a smooth, thin batter.
- Divide batter evenly between prepared cake pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Remove cakes from oven and let cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For cream cheese filling, beat softened cream cheese until fluffy, then gradually mix in powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream until smooth and spreadable.
- Whip softened butter in another bowl until creamy, then gradually incorporate cocoa powder, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and salt to create a rich chocolate frosting.
- Once cakes are completely cooled, slice each layer horizontally to create four thin layers.
- Spread cream cheese filling between cake layers, alternating with layers of cake.
- Frost the entire cake with chocolate frosting, ensuring an even and smooth coating.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow filling and frosting to set.
Notes
- Swap vegetable oil with coconut oil for a subtle tropical twist and added health benefits.
- Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature to promote even mixing and a smoother batter texture.
- Reduce sugar content by using alternative sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit for a lower-calorie version.
- For a gluten-free adaptation, replace all-purpose flour with a blend of almond and coconut flour, maintaining the same measurement proportions.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 40 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg