CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE FROM MIX RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Prepare a 10 – 12 cup (9 – 10 inch) bundt pan by greasing it very well with oil or butter. Set aside.
• In a large bowl combine the sour cream, oil, and milk.
• Beat in the eggs.
• Add the cake mix and pudding mix and gently mix until fully incorporated. Do not overmix.
• Pour the batter into the greased bundt pan. Smooth the top into an even layer.
• Bake for 40 – 45 minutes until a toothpick inserted deeply in the center comes out clean, then again on the opposite side.
• Cool in pan 20 minutes then remove by placing a large plate over the top and flipping it right side up. If cake doesn’t fall out right away, give the pan a few light taps until it does.
• Let cake cool completely for about an hour or at least until no longer piping hot before decorating.
• Top with frosting, glaze, or ganache of choice, or dust with powdered sugar.

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan.
• Sift the flour and salt into a medium bowl. Whisk together the eggs, sour cream and vanilla in a small bowl.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. Gradually add the sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, to cream and lighten the butter.
• Continue to beat the butter mixture until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Scrape down the bowl as needed.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low. Beat in the flour, 1/4 cup at a time, then beat the batter for 30 seconds. Gradually beat in the egg mixture. (Take care not to overmix.)
• Transfer about 1/3 of the batter to a medium bowl, and stir in the hot chocolate mix. Spoon 1/2 the remaining vanilla batter into the prepared loaf pan, and smooth over the top with a spatula. Using 1/2 the hot chocolate batter, drop spoonfuls on top of the vanilla batter. Repeat with the remaining vanilla and hot chocolate batters. Run a skewer through the loaf pan to help swirl the 2 batters together. Tap the pan on the counter.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top springs back when lightly pressed, 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Let the cake cool in the pan for a few minutes, then invert and let cool completely on a rack.