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Recipe raises the bar on homemade cake (ELIZABETH PUDWILL, 10/10 2007, Houston Chronicle)

HERSHEY'S BAR CAKE

* 8 ounces Hershey's Milk Chocolate bars, broken into pieces
* ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) butter
* 21/3 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 cups packed light-brown sugar
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 eggs
* ½ cup sour cream
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* Hershey's Icing (recipe follows)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 13-by-9-inch pan. Combine chocolate pieces, butter and 12/3 cups boiling water in medium bowl; stir until chocolate and butter are melted. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in large mixing bowl. Gradually add chocolate mixture, beating until thoroughly blended. Blend in eggs, sour cream and vanilla; beat 1 minute on medium speed.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool completely. Frost with Hershey's Icing.

Hershey's icing:

* 4 ounces Hershey's Milk Chocolate bar, broken into pieces
* ½ cup (1 stick) butter
* 1 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted
* ½ cup Hershey's syrup
* 2 to 3 tablespoons milk

Melt the chocolate-bar pieces in the top of a double boiler or, very carefully, in the microwave. Cream the butter and confectioners sugar in a large mixing bowl. Blend in the chocolate syrup. Add the melted chocolate to the icing. Add the milk as needed, beating to achieve spreading consistency.