Hershey's “Especially Dark” Chocolate Cupcakes

I have been on the hunt for A delicious and moist cake recipe and I think I have found one of the best!

It was a recipe I found on the back of my Hershey's Dark Cocoa Container.

And it was hiding in my cupboard this whole time :/

I made a few changes to the recipe by substituting buttermilk for regular milk and using sunflower oil instead of vegetable/canola oil.

It is the Best chocolate cake recipe in my book!!

Hershey's “Especially Dark” Chocolate Cake

Or In This Case Cupcakes :)

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

1 & 3/4 cups flour

3/4 cup Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1 cup milk (I substituted buttermilk)

1/2 cup vegetable oil or canola oil (I substituted sunflower oil)

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup boiling water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  If making a cake grease and flour two 9-inch cake rounds or one 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the first six ingredients (sugar through salt);

(Tip: Use a large serving fork to pre-mix dry ingredients it works great!)

add eggs,

(My mother gave this cupcake pan to me when we first got married almost 30 years ago!)

buttermilk,

sunflower oil

and vanilla

Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes

Stir in boiling water (batter will be very, very, very, thin); pour into prepared pan(s).

This is what happened when I tried to pour the batter into the cupcake pan due to the fact that it was extremely thin :/

So I poured the batter into my protein drink mixer/shaker and it worked perfect for pouring with absolutely no mess!

Bake for 35-40 minutes (18-25 minutes for cupcakes) or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

“Especially Dark” Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

3 cups powdered sugar

2/3 cup Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Melt butter and pour in mixing bowl, mix in cocoa.  Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.  Add small amounts of additional milk, if needed.  Stir in vanilla.

And frost.

I filled a pastry bag with the frosting and using a large star tip decorated the cupcakes.

Here’s another great tip!

Use your paper towel holder to dry your pastry bag :)

ENJOY!

AND

HAPPY TUESDAY :)