Hershey's Chocolate Cake Frosting Help

[tennisman03110]

I will be making the Hershey's Black Magic Cake from the back on the cocoa container, or here: (http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recip...

)

I am looking for the perfect frosting for the cake using the ingredients I have on hand. These would include cocoa powder, confectioners sugar, semisweet chocolate chips, sour cream and cream cheese. I don't have some common frosting ingredients such as corn syrup, heavy cream or whipping cream. The frosting can be chocolate or not. I was looking at the Hershey's frosting that went along with the cake, does any one have any recommendations for that one? Any recipes of tips would be great. Thanks.

P.S. This cake is mainly going to be served to adults if that makes a difference for the frosting.

[kattyeyes]

I like mine with cream cheese frosting. Here's what's in my recipe file:

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

3 oz. cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
dash salt
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Cream together butter and cream cheese, beat in salt and vanilla. Gradually blend in powdered sugar.

If it makes a difference, I'm a big kid in an adult suit and have loved a variation on this cake recipe (Hershey's Deep Dark) for at least 20 years. :) Also, this cake is fab with whipped cream as its frosting (for another time).

[tcamp]

I prefer that cake with a dusting of powdered sugar rather than frosting. To me, the sweetness of frosting dulls the flavor of the cake.

[chowser]

My favorite is a whipped cream but since you don't have it, I also like this chocolate sour cream one. I use more bittersweet chocolate than milk so it's not as sweet. It's better if you add some instant espresso powder.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/foo...

[tennisman03110]

When you say whipped cream, is that just plain whipping cream or a frosting made from it? If this seems to be the most popular choice here, I could get the ingredients without a problem. Thanks,

[chowser]

I just whip heavy cream and add a little sugar (though I will also do w/out). If you're frosting in advance or doing layers, I'd use a gelatin to stabilize it so it doesn't weep. If I'm using whipped cream, I usually leave it in the 9x13 pan.

[kattyeyes]

And I add a little vanilla to the heavy cream when I whip it. Whip it good. ;)

[chowser]

Rum is good, too.:-)

[kattyeyes]

Ooh, now that I'll have to try! Thanks!

[bluemoon4515]

I've never made the cake recipe, but I have made the frosting recipe from the Hershey's cocoa package. I usually put it on brownies, where it is totally delicious. People at work also love it on cupcakes, but it may be a bit too sweet for most adults.

[bushwickgirl]

I like that frosting recipe as well (the one from the Hershey's can) but I use it sparingly, between layers and top of cake only, as it is a bit sweet. The frosting is smooth, with just the right consistency, and spreads very nicely.

As a less sweet alternative, I'd go with kattyeye's cream cheese frosting, which can be flavored with cocoa, or chowser's chocolate sour cream recipe link; they both seem a bit more sophisticated for the adult crowd.

[javaandjazz]

I always make the recipe from the hershey's can. Every once in awhile it has a mocha taste to it which I really like but can't figure out how the mocha flavor gets in there. I usually whip that frosting for awhile too. That hersheys chocolate cake recipe on the can is an excellent chocolate cake recipe!!!!!!

[tennisman03110]

Thanks for replies so far. I know this has not been mentioned, but do you think a vanilla or chocolate buttercream would work well? Anyone with a light (not too sweet) buttercream recipe that they think would work? Thanks

[chowser]

This is a good buttercream, a little sweet but that's the nature of buttercream, IMO.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/...

For a pretty cake, I've done a thin layer of white, covered by a thin layer of chocolate ganache, on a double layer cake. I make the chocolate ganache with bittersweet chocolate so it's not too sweet.

[sbp]

Do you have evaporated milk?

[tennisman03110]

No, But I do have sweetened condensed milk if that is of any help.

[sbp]

There's a ridiculously simply recipe for "blender" chocolate frosting from Rosie's bakery in Cambridge, MA. It's basically melted chocolate and evap milk in a blender. Comes out glossy and smooth.

6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons evaporated milk, 1 1/2 cups sugar. You whir the sugar with the milk, pour in chocolate, then blend till it noticeably thickens and the blender makes a different sound. Don't refrigerate.

I've made it from memory and mistakenly used semi-sweet chocolate and sweetened condensed milk without as much of the added sugar. Still works, though maybe a bit sweet. The nice thing is it doesn't have that grainy texture that some confectioner or plain sugar based frostings have.