Description
Rich chocolate layers of Hershey’s chocolate cake envelop a luxurious cream cheese filling that promises pure indulgence. Sweet meets tangy in this classic dessert that will delight chocolate enthusiasts and bring smiles around your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup Hershey’s 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 boiling water
Cream Cheese Filling:
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
Frosting and Topping:
- 1 cup Hershey’s chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: chocolate shavings for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease two 9-inch round cake pans with cooking spray or butter.
- 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.
- Gradually pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture, stirring until a smooth batter forms.
- Slowly incorporate boiling water into the batter, mixing gently until fully integrated and the consistency is thin and uniform.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove cakes from oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack for about 1 hour.
- Prepare cream cheese filling by beating softened cream cheese until fluffy, then gradually mix in powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream until smooth.
- Once cakes are cooled, carefully slice each layer horizontally to create four thin cake layers.
- Spread cream cheese filling between each cake layer, stacking them evenly.
- For the chocolate ganache, heat heavy cream in a saucepan until just simmering, then pour over chocolate chips and butter.
- Whisk the ganache until glossy and smooth, then stir in vanilla extract.
- Pour the warm ganache over the assembled cake, allowing it to drip down the sides.
- Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes to set the ganache, then garnish with chocolate shavings if desired.
- Slice and serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- Adjust cake’s moisture by checking water temperature when mixing, ensuring boiling water helps activate cocoa’s rich flavor without compromising batter texture.
- Prevent dry cake layers by carefully monitoring baking time and using room temperature ingredients for smoother, more even mixing.
- Create gluten-free version by substituting all-purpose flour with almond or gluten-free blend, maintaining cake’s soft, decadent consistency.
- Reduce sugar content by replacing some granulated sugar with natural sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit, keeping the chocolate’s deep, indulgent profile.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg