CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup stick margarine or butter, softened

2 tsp. vanilla

3 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate, melted & cooled

2 to 3 Tbsp. milk

Mix all ingredients except milk in medium bowl.  Stir in milk until smooth and spreadable.  Frosts one 9 x 13 inch cake generously or fills and frosts one 8- or 9-inch two layer cake.

CREAMY COCOA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

            Substitute 1/3 cup baking cocoa for the chocolate.

WHITE CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

            Substitute 3/4 cup (3 oz.) white baking chips, melted and cooled, for the chocolate.

HERSHEY'S "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE CAKE

2 cups sugar

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup cocoa

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil (or canola)

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

Preheat oven to 350º.  Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, soda, and salt in a large bowl.  Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla.  Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.  Stir in water.  (Batter will be thin.)  Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.

Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool 10 minutes.  Remove from pans to wire racks.  Cool completely.

Frost using Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Frosting.

HERSHEY'S "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" FROSTING

1/2 cup butter

2/3 cup cocoa

3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Melt butter.  Stir in cocoa.  Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.

Add vanilla.  Add small amount of milk if needed to the right consistency.

FIVE-STAR BROWNIES

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup shortening, melted

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup baking cocoa

1 1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup chopped nuts, optional

In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, sugar and vanilla until well mixed.  Add butter and shortening.  Combine flour, cocoa and salt; stir into egg mixture and mix well.  Add nuts if desired.

Pour into a well greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Bake at 350º for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.  Cool in pan.

CHEWY BROWNIE MIX IN A JAR

1 2/3 cups sugar                                   

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips   

3/4 cup cocoa                          

3/4 cup melted butter or margarine     

1 1/3 cup all purpose flour        

2 large eggs

2 Tbsp. water

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and stir well.  Spread in a greased 9 x 13 baking dish.  Bake at 350º for 18-25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out slightly sticky.

Cool completely on wire rack.  Dust with powdered sugar.