Today in American history…our 33rd U.S. President, Harry Truman, was born on May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri.

In the archives of the Harry S. Truman Library is a food questionnaire that President Truman once responded to.

“I like well-done steaks…Mrs. Truman’s chocolate cake, and chicken and dumplings. [My] mother’s custard pie and fried chicken.” When asked how he preferred fried chicken, he wrote, “Ask mamma – she’ll know how. Haven’t seen many who do.”

In honor of President Truman’s birthday – I made a homemade chocolate cake.

Since I could not find a recipe for Mrs. Truman’s chocolate cake, I made a chocolate cake that he surely would have approved of. Nothing is better than a homemade Hershey’s Chocolate Cake with Hershey’s Chocolate Frosting 😋

Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

2 cups sugar

1 – ³/₄ cups all-purpose flour

³/₄ cup Hershey’s Cocoa

1 – ¹/₂ teaspoon of baking powder

1 – ¹/₂ teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon of salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

¹/₂ cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

1 cupboiling water

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Frosting.

“Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients

¹/₂ cup butter or margarine(1 stick)

²/₃ cup Hershey’s Cocoa

3 cups powdered sugar

¹/₃ cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

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

Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla.