That's rich

This recipe courtesy of Hershey's

This cake makes me wonder if Betty Crocker went to a remedial baking school. Alright people, step away from the box mix! This recipe is easy and only uses one bowl.

If you would just try this cake you would understand.

So moist, so decadent, so perfectly chocolate.

Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake

Heat your oven to 350 degrees and while you're at it...grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans (and if you really want to be sure your cake will slide right out then I suggest lining the bottom of your pan with wax paper--you know, just in case).

In a large bowl (or your Kitchen-Aid mixer) stir together:

2 cups sugar

1 3/4 cups flour

3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons each baking powder and baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

Then you will add:

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla

And beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Then stir in:

1 cup boiling water (I use a glass measuring cup in the microwave for 2 minutes while the mixture is beating--two birds, one stone...)

The batter will be thin, it's okay. Pour into your prepared pans, try to get an even amount in each pan while trying to hold off the voracious kids that are trying to snatch the bowl and spatula from you.

*13X9 pan directions* Prepare as above but bake 35-40 minutes.

Pop 'em in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes and remove (hopefully in one piece) from the pan to cool completely on a wire rack.

Prepare the frosting while being careful to guard your cooling cakes from wandering fingers.

Please, you've come this far--do not, I repeat, do not use premade frosting!

"Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting

1 stick of butter, melted

2/3 cup of Hershey's cocoa

3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

In a medium bowl stir the cocoa into the melted butter. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add a tiny bit more milk if needed. Stir in vanilla.

Once your cake is cooled: Place one cake on a plate or cake pedestal and frost the top generously. Place the other cake on top of the frosting, frost the top of that cake and then finish the sides. I find an offset spatula makes the job a little easier.

This cake seems so nostalgic to me, it reminds me of the cakes that are in Pollyanna when she is at the fair and the ones that are involved in the Hayley Mills vs. Hayley Mills fight in The Parent Trap...