Grandma Helen Searles Never Fail Chocolate Cake Recipes

GRANDMA'S CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk and hot water, beating well after each addition. , Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack., For frosting, melt chocolate and butter in a saucepan. Add the sugar, water and cream of tartar. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until a candy thermometer reads 240° (soft-ball stage). Remove from the heat. Cool completely, without stirring, about 1 hour. Add vanilla; beat until thickened. Add cream; beat until smooth. Frost cake.

GRANNY'S CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 3 9-inch round cake pans, and line the bottoms with wax or parchment paper. Lightly butter the paper. Dust pans with flour, and shake out excess.
• Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, combine buttermilk and vanilla.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer set at medium-high speed, cream the butter. Slowly add the sugar, and continue beating until well blended and light colored. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk mixture in 2 or 3 additions, beating well after each addition. Beat in the melted chocolate until well blended. Spoon batter into prepared pans, and smooth tops with a rubber spatula.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of a cake layer comes out clean. Let cake layers cool in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes, then invert onto other racks and peel off the paper. Invert again, and let cool completely on the racks. Frost with chocolate frosting.

NO-FAIL MOIST CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Prepare pans (makes one 9x13 sheet cake or two 8- or 9-inch layers) by greasing and flouring (use cocoa powder to avoid white residue).
• In a large bowl, stir Group One ingredients together and set aside.
• In another large bowl, stir Group Two ingredients together.
• Stir Group Two (dry ingredients) into Group One.
• It is quite a liquidy batter, so do not be alarmed!
• Pour batter into prepared pans (fill no more than 2/3 full).
• You may have extra batter, if so make a few cupcakes!
• Rap baking pans sharply on the counter to release air bubbles.
• Bake at 350 until edges are slightly dry, cake springs back when lightly pressed in the center, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs.
• Baking times will vary based on pan size, but check at 40 minutes and continue checking every 5 minutes thereafter.
• For cupcakes, check at 15 minutes.

NEVER FAIL CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Put all ingredients in a bowl (don't mix till last item has been added).
• Pour into greased cake pan (can be made layer or sheet cake).
• Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
• When cooled spread with your favorite frosting.

GRANDMA'S CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
• Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
• Cream sugar and butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Mix in eggs and maple extract. Add flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with coffee, beating batter until smooth after each addition. Pour batter into the prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes.

GRANDMA'S CHOCOLATE TEXAS SHEET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10x15-inch cake pan.
• Combine butter, water, and cocoa powder for cake in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook until butter has melted and mixture comes to a boil. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, mix flour, sugar, and salt together in a large bowl. Beat buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla extract together in a separate bowl.
• Add melted butter mixture to the flour mixture, then add buttermilk-egg mixture and beat until thoroughly combined. Pour into the prepared cake pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Remove cake from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine butter, milk, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract for the frosting in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until butter melts, then stir in powdered sugar. Spread frosting over the warm cake.

NEVER-FAIL BUTTERMILK-CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10x15-inch baking pan.
• Combine flour, sugar, oil, buttermilk, cocoa, eggs, baking soda, vanilla extract, and salt in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add boiling water and mix well. Pour into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue to bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 more minutes.