Skip to main content

Chocolatetown Special Cake

Details

Timing
Timing
Total:
Bake:
35 Min.
Prep:
45 Min.
Skill Level:
Beginner
Yields:
1 cake

This homemade Chocolatetown Special Cake recipe has been loved by many since it first appeared on the back of HERSHEY'S Cocoa tins in the 1960s. Cocoa, shortening, buttermilk and other baking ingredients blend together to give the cake its delicious and deep flavor. After tasting this moist chocolate cake, you'll wonder where it's been all your life.  Dress it up with chocolate twirls and strawberries and you've got a crowd-pleasing dessert for any celebration. Frost your Chocolatetown Special Cake with our 5-minute One-Bowl Buttercream Frosting—it's decidedly the "icing on the cake" for this delicious dessert!

Ingredients & Directions

Prep Time
45 minutes
Bake Time
35 minutes
Cool Time
1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup
    HERSHEY'S Cocoa or HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
  • 1/2 cup
    boiling water
  • 2/3 cup
    shortening
  • 1 3/4 cups
    sugar
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla extract
  • 2
    eggs
  • 2 1/4 cups
    all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsps
    baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp
    salt
  • 1 1/3 cups
    buttermilk or sour milk*
READY TO MAKE THIS?
add a garnish Add a Garnish

Make our One-Bowl Buttercream Frosting to complete the recipe as shown in the image.

Directions

Equipment Needed 
Oven Oven
Round Baking Pans 9-inch Round Baking Pans
Bowls Bowls
Rubber Scraper Rubber Scraper
Measuring Cups Measuring Cups
Mixer Mixer
Wire Racks Wire Racks
1

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

2

Stir together cocoa and water in small bowl until smooth. Beat shortening, sugar and vanilla in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add to shortening mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating until well blended. Add cocoa mixture; beat well. Pour batter into prepared pans.

3

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with One-Bowl Buttercream Frosting.

* To make Sour Milk:  Use 4 teaspoons white vinegar plus milk to equal 1-1/3 cups.

Additional questions?