Hershey’s Chocolate Cake {traditional and gluten free recipes}

This cake. Hershey’s Chocolate Cake is truly the most versatile and easiest perfect one-bowl chocolate cake recipe I have ever made.

As long as I can remember, I’ve seen the well-known chocolate cake recipe on the side of the Hershey’s cocoa box and I’ve made it countless times. On a whim, I decided to try making a gluten-free version of the Hershey’s Cake a few years ago.

WOW.

It turned out beautifully the very first time and I have made this cake many more times since then. There is nothing quite like having a lightning-fast homemade cake recipe that turns out perfectly every single time. 

The cake is sturdy enough to hold together in layers, as cupcakes or to slice as a bundt cake. I’ve made this as cupcakes and topped them with Fresh Strawberry Frosting.

I’ve made a layer cake filled with the strawberry frosting, a layer of berries and then topped with the chocolate frosting.

I’ve made bundt cakes and simply poured the warm frosting over the cake. Every way I’ve served this cake, it has disappeared in no time at all!

Hershey’s Chocolate Cake

Nothing sparks that warm fuzzy feeling like the aroma of chocolate cake baking in your home. Put something chocolatey in the oven and watch as all the members of your family suddenly flock to the kitchen like moths to an iridescent light.

Don’t get me wrong. I love an adventurous dessert ( hello, Flourless Hot Chocolate Cake) and sometimes you need an elegant showstopper like Chocolate Lava Cakes to wow a table.

But at the end of the day, it’s hard to beat the familiar pleasure of a simple homemade chocolate cake.

The original version of this recipe has been on the side of the Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa box for decades so chances are you grew up eating this cake or something close to it.

There’s something fun and a little magical about recreating a familiar dessert from childhood! And if you didn’t get to experience this deliciously perfect chocolate cake as a kid, now’s your time.

Living without gluten shouldn’t mean having to live without enjoying a classic Hershey’s chocolate cake, which is why I devised this gluten-free version of Hershey’s famous cake.

For an ultra-rich and unforgettable gluten-free chocolate cake, be sure to try The Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake too!

 Chocolate Cupcakes

This recipe makes killer cupcakes as well!

Simply fill two cupcake pans evenly with batter and bake for slightly less time than you would a sheet or bundt cake.

Cake Frosting Recipes

This Hershey’s Perfect One Bowl Chocolate Cake recipe includes directions for making a creamy chocolate icing that you pour over the cake once cooled. It’s an easy way to create a visually appealing cake without a ton of extra fuss.

That said, this cake is an amazing vehicle for all kinds of frostings. Fluffy Chocolate Buttercream Frosting would be a dream on top of this Hershey’s cake, as would Fresh Strawberry Frosting.

Make this one bowl cake over and over again and have fun experimenting with different toppings.

Hershey’s Perfect One Bowl Chocolate Cake is

• Rich and chocolatey
• Easy and quick to make from scratch
• Versatile
• Easily made gluten-free 

Check out all of the Gluten Free Dessert Recipes on this site!

Hershey’s Chocolate Cake Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a bundt pan and lightly flour it with a couple tablespoons of cocoa powder. (Alternatively, grease (2) 9″ round pans or prepare (24) cupcake liners.)
2. Stir together all of the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla and beat with a mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the boiling water and continue stirring to combine. The batter should be very thin and watery. Pour into prepared bundt pan or divide between two round pans or cupcake holders.
3. Bake the bundt cake for 35-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. (2) 9″ rounds will bake in 30-35 minutes and cupcakes will bake in 22-24 minutes. Cool completely.
4. Frosting Directions: Heat the cream on the stove-top over low heat until steaming, or in a medium size glass bowl in the microwave until simmering. (About 2 minutes at high heat was all it took in the microwave.)
5. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate to the hot cream. Let this sit for a few minutes. Stir or whisk to combine, until the chocolate mixture is smooth and glossy.
6. Add the sugar and cocoa powder and stir until completely smooth. Pour the frosting over the cooled cake. Serve immediately or place the cake in the refrigerator to chill until the frosting is set.

Hershey’s Perfect One Bowl Chocolate Cake {traditional and gluten free recipes}

4.84 from 12 votes

Recipe adapted from and with thanks to Hershey’s Cocoa

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Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 40 mins

Total Time: 50 mins

Servings: 16 servings or 24 cupcakes

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Ingredients 

CAKE INGREDIENTS

• ▢ 2 cups sugar
• ▢ 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour *
• ▢ 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ 2 eggs
• ▢ 1 cup milk
• ▢ 1/2 cup light flavored olive oil
• ▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 cup boiling water

FROSTING INGREDIENTS

• ▢ 1 cup heavy cream
• ▢ 1 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips 6 ounces worth
• ▢ 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• ▢ 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a bundt pan and lightly flour it with a couple tablespoons of cocoa powder. (Alternatively, grease (2) 9″ round pans or prepare (24) cupcake liners.)
• Stir together the sugar, flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla and beat with a mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes.
• Slowly pour in the boiling water and continue stirring to combine. The batter should be very thin and watery. Pour into prepared bundt pan or divide between two round pans or cupcake holders.
• Bake the bundt cake for 35-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. (2) 9″ rounds will bake in 30-35 minutes and cupcakes will bake in 22-24 minutes. Cool completely.
• To Make The Frosting: Heat the cream on the stove-top over low heat until steaming, or in a medium size glass bowl in the microwave until simmering. (About 2 minutes at high heat was all it took in the microwave.) Remove from the heat and add the chocolate to the hot cream. Let this sit for a few minutes. Stir or whisk to combine, until the chocolate mixture is smooth and glossy.
• Add the sugar and cocoa powder and whisk or stir until completely smooth. Pour the frosting over the cooled cake. Serve immediately or place the cake in the refrigerator to chill until the frosting is set. Enjoy!

Notes

For a gluten free variation of this recipe, just swap the following ingredients for the all-purpose flour listed above: 1 1/4 cups brown rice flour, 1/2 cup potato starch, 1/4 cup tapioca starch, and 1 teaspoon xanthan gum 

Nutrition

Calories: 389kcal · Carbohydrates: 54g · Protein: 4g · Fat: 18g · Saturated Fat: 7g · Cholesterol: 43mg · Sodium: 281mg · Potassium: 315mg · Fiber: 3g · Sugar: 34g · Vitamin A: 280IU · Vitamin C: 0.2mg · Calcium: 65mg · Iron: 2mg

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{originally published 4/30/14 – recipe notes and photos updated 10/5/20}