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Cakes

Black Magic Cake

Skip the boxed cake mix and make this beginner-friendly chocolate cake! This black magic cake recipe will have your friends wanting seconds. Flavored by rich HERSHEY'S Cocoa and kept moist with the addition of vegetable oil and buttermilk, the Black Magic Cake has a secret ingredient: coffee! Coffee boosts the flavor of chocolate, and you can use freshly brewed coffee or instant coffee, whichever you have on hand. Customize this chocolate cake with different pans and flavors of icing, like buttercream or vanilla bean.  Love the addition of coffee in this cake? Try the Espresso-Filled Mini Cakes for another flavorful treat.

Ingredients & Directions

Prep:
15 Min.
Bake:
39 Min.
Total:

BAKE MODE:

Prevent your screen from going dark while you bake.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups
    sugar
  • 1-3/4 cups
    all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsps
    baking soda
  • 1 tsp
    baking powder
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 2
    eggs
  • 1 cup
    buttermilk or sour milk*
  • 1 cup
    Coffee strong black or 2 teaspoons powdered instant coffee plus 1 cup boiling water
  • 1/2 cup
    vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla extract
READY TO MAKE THIS?

Make our Quick Cocoa Glaze to complete this recipe as shown in the image.

You'll Need 
oven
mixing bowl
mixer
baking pan
measuring cups
wire rack
rubber scraper
fluted tube pan

Step-By-Step Directions

Tip

To sour milk: Use 1 tablespoon white vinegar plus milk to equal 1 cup.

Additional questions?