1 3/4 c  Unbleached Flour, Unsifted          2 lg Eggs
     1 ts Baking Powder                       1 ts Vanilla Extract
     1 ts Baking Soda                       2/3 c  Cocoa (Less if using Dutch
   1/2 ts Salt                                     Process)
   1/2 c  Vegetable Shortening Or           1/4 c  PLUS 2 to 3 Tbls Hot Water
          Vegetable Oil                       1 c  Milk Mixed With 1 Tbls
 1 1/2 c  Sugar                                    Water (To Make Sour Milk)
 This has been one of the most popular cakes Hershey has ever introduced. I
 have made it since the 1950’s so I would consider it a classic. Grease the
 bottoms and sides of two 9 X 1 1/2-inch layer cake pans and preheat the
 oven to 350 degrees F.
 Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, blending well, and
 set aside.  Cream the shortening and sugar, with an electric mixer set on
 high, and beat in the eggs and vanilla extract and continue beating until
 light and fluffy.  Blend the cocoa into the hot water to make a smooth
 paste.  Gradually add the cocoa mixture to the creamed mixture, stirring to
 blend well.  Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk to the creamed
 mixture, beating well after each addition. Pour the batter into the
 prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until
 the tops spring back when lightly pressed. Cool on racks for 10 minutes and
 remove from the pans to cool completely.  Frost with Chocolate-Buttercream
 Frosting (Next Recipe).
 From The Food Fare Section Rocky Mountain News September 3, 1986
                
                 Yields       
                1 servings                
