My children’s godparents have a BBQ every Sunday in the summertime. One of the best things about BBQ season is Antoinette’s chocolate cake. Let’s be honest, every week I ask, “Is Antoinette going to be there?” If she is unable to attend the BBQ I ask, “Is the cake going to be there? Can she drop it off?!”  If the cake is a missin’…so am I!

But the secret is out…

Antoinette “forked over” the recipe. She actually combines two classics: Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake and Philadelphia Cream Cheese’s Chocolate Philly Frosting. How Antoinette combined these two recipes we have no idea, but it is heavenly. We sassed it up below!

Memorial Day BBQ Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup Hershey’s Cocoa 
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk 
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

Directions

Grease and flour two 9” rounds. Heat oven to 350° F.

In large bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer for two minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. Frost This cake is versatile and can be made as a sheet cake, three layer, bundt or cupcakes as well.

Sass it up: Use Valrhona Unsweetened Cocoa Powder in lieu of Hershey’s Cocoa; King Arthur Flour or Swan’s Down Cake Flour instead of regular flour, and whole milk – though you can always reduce your calories with low fat milk.

Frosting

Ingredients

• 3 oz. cream cheese
• 1 Tbsp. milk
• 2 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 oz. square unsweetened chocolate
• Melted 1 tsp. vanilla
• Dash of salt

Directions

In medium bowl, blend the cream cheese and the milk. Add the sugar gradually, blending it in well. Add the melted chocolate, vanilla, and salt. Mix well.

Sass it up: Use whole milk; try 1 oz. of Callebaut Semi Sweet Chocolate Discs (in lieu of 1 oz. unsweetened chocolate square).

Decorate

The Sugar Mommas always like to gussy up our desserts, especially if we’re going to a party! We suggest decorating this cake with Valrhona Perles Craquantes (dark chocolate covered crunchy cereal) for extra texture or Cacao/Barry® Mini Semi-Sweet Chips. A little chocolate pop never hurts – evil delicious!

Submitted by Antoinette Stella, modified by the Sugar Mommas