Prize Mahogany Chocolate Cake is a luscious tender chocolate cake that is easy to make and easy to eat. It definitely deserves its place among family favorites.
Digging through the beautiful recipe box that my Mother-In-Law (MIL) gifted me with, I came across a card titled just “Prize Mahogany”.
I wasn’t sure what it was for and certainly never would I have guessed that it was this Chocolate Cake!
As I described when I made the Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup Cake.
I called my MIL, and asked her what was a Prize Mahogany?
She stated that this was a chocolate cake that was her mother’s “go-to” recipe, and one that she’s made several times.
That would make this recipe at least 80 years old!
I was intrigued, but missing in the instructions was:
- the size of the pan
- the baking temperature
- what kind of chocolate she used
- what in the world is sweetened milk? I thought it was like the Eagle Brand milk, but she stated it’s just milk.
She also stated that they always baked cakes in two 8 or 9 inch round pans and layered the cake, and the flour was something that resembled cake flour today.
Don’t have time to make it now? Pin it for later!
I was up for a challenge and decided to give it a go. I had two 9-inch round pans and it worked well. I believe 8-inch pans would have been better. This is not a very tall cake even with two layers.
The ingredients are very simple and the cake is very easy to make. I believe that you could use semi-sweet or dark chocolate in this cake too.
This cake was so good. I was so glad that I made it as closely as I could to the original recipe.
The crumb was chocolatey and moist, and I think it was a great choice to frost it with a simple chocolate buttercream.
The steps are all my own. They weren’t listed on the recipe, but I use this same method for almost every cake that I make.
Here are a few cake recipes I think you’ll enjoy
- Spice Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting
- Black Russian Cake
- Bananas Foster Cake with Praline Glaze
- Peanut Butter Coffee Cake
- Lemon Pudding Poke Cake
- Chocolate Raspberry Pound Cake
- Peach Rum Cake
Prize Mahogany Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup grated chocolate I used unsweetened baking chocolate
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups cake flour
- 2 eggs beaten
Instructions
- Grease and flour two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans. I also recommend lining with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a small saucepan, cook chocolate and milk together until thickened. Stir frequently. Set aside and allow to cool.
- Combine butter and sugar in an electric stand mixer. Beat until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, and beat until combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine baking soda and cake flour. Mix together, and add to sugar/butter mixture. Beat to combine.
- Stir in cooled chocolate mixture.
- Pour into baking pans and bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes and then remove from pan.
Nutrition
What’s popular
- Homemade Muffins
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- Pear Pie Filling
- Swedish Apple Pie
- Peach Sauce
- Chocolate Trifle
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Jennifer A Stewart says
I have seen so many of these on Pinterest lately and I’m totally intrigued! I can’t wait to make this and see what all the Prize fuss is about!
Dini @ The Flavor Bender says
Julie! This cake looks magnificent! There’s nothing quite like a beautiful chocolate cake and I’m in half a mind to go and make it for myself right now! There’s a reason why classic recipes last through the ages 😀
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Dini! I agree with you on the classics. I hope you are enjoying your Mother’s Day and just want to thank you again for brining our support team together. I’t a great group.
Sandi (@fearless_dining) says
This Prize Mahogany cake sounds like a chocolaty dream. I love when family pass down recipes that our memories are built on.
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says
I just adore old recipes, you KNOW they’re good if they’ve stayed in rotation that long. And I can totally see why this one lasted, so much chocolately goodness! yum!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Michelle!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
I just can’t believe a chocolate cake that pretty can be this easy!! I am sooooo gonna try this soon! I love easy and simple recipes!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Shadi! It is very easy! Please let me know if you try it what you think.
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
That is so cool that you have your Mother in Law’s old recipe box, I bet it is a treasure trove! This cake just looks like one of those old fashioned, right on the money chocolate cakes, I would love a big slice of it right now!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Meghan! I love that some of John’s Italian grandma has a few recipes in there. I just love the darned thing!
Christine | Mid-Life Croissant says
I really hope to be the kind of baker one day that can decipher incomplete recipes and make them delicious. You’re like Chris and Bridget from America’s Test Kitchen podcast. Walking encyclopedia’s of culinary knowledge. I need the full recipe and even then I can definitely go wrong. I’m beginning to understand that this is because I’m an infrequent baker who is too cheap to throw out baking soda and flour when it’s past it’s use by date.
Julie Menghini says
You are way to kind! I think I like baking because I love eating it! I would love to visit Americas Test Kitchen!
Tina Marie says
I personally love old family recipes. They’re my favorite things to make. I have some oldies from my great grandmother that are still in her original writing. Your Prize Mahogany Chocolate Cake sounds wonderfully simple and delicious.
Julie Menghini says
This went into my spam Tina! Thank you so much for your sweet comments. That cake is so easy and has such a light crumb. I appreciate you stopping by!
Tracy says
Oh my gosh this looks so decadent and delicious! Prized, for sure!!!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Tracy!
Liz says
Very addictive, indeed!
Take Two Tapas says
I love old recipes like that! I always wonder how they came up with these cool names!
Julie Menghini says
I agree! I really wonder how they came about so many years ago. Still good today. Have a great evening!
Shari says
I don’t know how I missed this recipe, Julie, but I just noticed I hadn’t seen it. That is so great you are going through old family recipes. I have some like that, and I appreciate them so much. This sounds and looks delicious, chocolaty, and moist. You were brave to try it without very specific instructions. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Shari! I had my 89 yr old MIL on speed dial. I don’t know how I would have interpreted it had she not been available! Surely it wouldn’t have been a prize at all! 🙂
Lily says
You had me at Prize and I’m so honoured that you have shared such a gem of a recipe with all of us. I find these types of recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation are the absolute best! Pinned for later.
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Lily! I just treasure these recipes, and can imagine that they were so special when served back in the day. I would think some of those ingredients would have been hard to get. Have a great weekend!
cookingwithauntjuju.com says
Wow Julie, another scrumptious looking cake – chocolate is always a favorite. Fun that you are going through your MIL’s recipes – I wish I had more of my MIL and other family members. Amazing that a recipe as old as this is still good! Be sure to pass it on… Happy FF and Happy weekend!
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Judi! I wish I had my grandmother’s recipe box. I don’t know what happened to it and that makes me sad. I love that you share my thoughts on the value of these recipes in our family history! Have a great day and a fabulous weekend!
Jhuls says
Despite the missing details, you have made an amazing cake, Julie! Bravo! Can you pass me a slice? 😀 Happy FF and have an awesome weekend. xx
Julie Menghini says
Thank you Jhuls! It was fun investigating the details and just imagining Johns grandmother making it. I hope you enjoy your weekend too!