Friends Cake (Hershey's Black Magic Cake)

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup Hershey's Cocoa or Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa
• 1 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk (To sour milk: Use 1 tablespoon white vinegar plus milk to equal 1 cup.)
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water (or 1 cup strong black coffee OR 2 teaspoons powdered instant coffee plus 1 cup boiling water)

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round pans or one 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of electric mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water or coffee (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes for round pans, 35 to 40 minutes for rectangular pan or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. (Cake may be left in rectangular pan, if desired.) Frost with One-Bowl Buttercream Frosting. 10 to 12 servings.

Theory of the Dish

I clipped this recipe from a magazine. It is a Hershey's 5-minute recipe. I call it my "Friend's Cake" because it is quick to make if friends drop by unexpectedly.

Hershey's One-Bowl Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
• 2-2/3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup Hershey's Cocoa or Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Beat butter in medium bowl.
2. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency (additional milk may be needed).
3. Stir in vanilla.
4. Makes about 2 cups frosting.