Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate... Everything

Forgive me, bloggers, for I have sinned. It has been 35 days since my last cupcake post.

On June 17th, I admitted to a friend that I was over cupcakes. I told her I was tired of them and that they were, frankly, getting on my nerves. Her response: "So what are you going to blog about?"

Not that... I didn't know.

But look at me now! Over a month's worth of blog posts. None of them with a cutesy cupcake gumming up the works! And... you know what? I have a cupcake for you today and it's a good one. And I enjoyed making them and I think all me and cupcakes needed was a little time apart.

Without further ado, I present Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Cupcakes with Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Frosting.


You can find the recipes for both the cake and frosting on the back of Hershey's Cocoa Powder containers, but since I'm just too good to you guys... and since I haven't shown you my cupcakes in a while... I'll post the full recipes at the end of this post.


Now, I must warn you that these cupcakes are not for those ambivalent about chocolate. These cupcakes are unabashedly chocolate through and through.


The cake is basic and very devil's food in flavor. Rich but not too rich to be enjoyed comfortably. I used this chocolate cake for the Course II finale cake and it was excellent paired with the Wilton buttercream icing that is lightly flavored with vanilla and almond.

The Perfectly Chocolate Frosting is the stuff that really puts the cupcake over the edge. With a whopping 2/3 cup of cocoa powder in about 2 cups of frosting, I should have seen this coming. The overall flavor here is clearly Hershey's chocolate. And that's a good thing, but be sure to have some milk handy when tackling these cupcakes.

Aaaah... I must admit. It feels good to be back.

Now the recipes:

Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake

2 c sugar
1-3/4 c AP flour
3/4 c Hershey's cocoa
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1-1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 c milk
1/2 c vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 c boiling water

1. Heat oven to 350F. Ready pans or cupcake tins.
2. Combine dry ingredients in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour into pans.
3. Bake 22-25 minutes.

Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting

1 stick (1/2 c) butter or margarine
2/3 c Hershey's cocoa
3 c powdered sugar
1/3 c milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Melt butter. Stir in cocoa.
2. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating on medium speed to spreading consistency. Add more milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups. [This is the yield... not the vanilla measurement. For a second there, I was looking at the cocoa tub with this face: (o_0)]

16 comments:

Amber said...

i hope you are not over cupcakes for our wedding! and that i'm not either! but if we are, we could make petit fours or pies or tarts. Or all of the above.

Evan said...

I've missed your cupcake post. Glad they're back.

Grace said...

Oh. My. Goodness. They look SO yummy - you can put a couple of those in a bag for me anytime.

Amanda said...

Don't worry, Amber! Cupcakes are still my go-to goodies for a number of reasons. I really think that I just needed to branch out a bit though. Now I know exactly why cupcakes are the best. :)

Grace: Funny thing about that: I put two in a container for my grandparents last night and accidentally left them at home on the piano. I didn't realize I left them until my grandfather jokingly said, "You could have at least brought us some cupcakes!" and I responded with "I did! Wait... didn't I?" Ugh. They're still on the piano if anyone's interested. (-_-)

kmari03 said...

wow! worth the wait. and i will definitely be by to grab those cupcakes off the piano. in...ten...hours...

Liesl said...

I love cupcakes! And I am not sick of them yet, so keep 'em coming!

Casey's Wifey said...

It's like a pms-ing girl's dream come true!

Anita said...

I'll take the two on the piano if they're still there...:) See ya in a few Manda!

Amanda said...

kmari03 & Anita: FYI, the piano cupcakes went to two jokers who stopped by last night. One of them just so happened to be the very girl to which I made the original confession. It's all coming together now... *Roll credits*

Jenn@slim-shoppin said...

My kids were walking by my computer and they saw the cupcake and they were like "what is that and can you make that for us today!"

Great picture!!

Ash said...

I'm lovin this hershey chocolate delight!! I will have to try that icing!

Anonymous said...

Yay for cupcakes! They look damn good!

Mat said...

OMG those cupcakes look SO good! I'm gaining 5 pounds just by looking at the pictures, but hey, totally worth it :D

Chanelle said...

Hey! In addition to loving your cupcake posts, I have a random request:

I have a friend (Addilynn) who's starting into the wedding coordinator business. We like your cupcakes a bunch, and were thinking maybe we could list you as a specialty caterer, especially with the knowledge that Amber has hired you for her wedding. Addy lives in the Hampton Roads area, and any events would be limited to this region.

Are you interested in doing cupcakes for weddings or events? Do you have contact info she can pass along?

Email me (chanelleno5@gmail.com) if you get a chance!

Sandi Oh said...

wanna make those cupcakes better? sub 1 cup of the sugar to brown sugar and when you add the boiling water, make it half water, half coffee.....I use the Hershey's recipe all the time...sometimes even adding Baileys or kahlua in with the milk.

Florence said...

ahahahha, you know, when I read the vanilla part, i burst out laughing. lovely pictures!