Reviewed: Feb. 25, 2009

I don't keep instant coffee granules in the house but I do drink coffee, so I just brewed extra this morning for this cake and used it in place of the 1/2 cup hot water called for. For heightened flavor I added 1 teaspoon each of vanilla and chocolate extracts. I backed off a bit on the chocolate chips to maybe 1 cup, and used the mini variety. As for the ganache, I let it cool until I could feel it was cooler than my fingertip temperature, and it proved to work out well that way. I garnished the top with toasted sliced almonds and maraschino cherries. This is certainly moist, as cake mix cakes generally are, and it certainly is rich, chocolatey and delicious. However, this recipe does not set itself apart from any of the other cake mix cakes like it with basically these same ingredients. They're all good, as is this one. It's a dependable, no fail cake that's perfect for even the novice cook and certain to please everyone.

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Reviewer:

naples34102

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Living In: Mequon, Wisconsin, USA

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Reviewed: Jan. 6, 2009

Wow! This cake is so good that my whole family enjoyed it...No big deal right? WRONG - I'm the only member of my family that enjoys chocolate cake! Normally if its' a chocolate cake they will not touch it. This was a beautiful cake and a recipe I plan to hang onto! The only thing I would change is possibly sprucing it up with some fresh red fruit (strawberries or raspberries)...I'm not big on "sprinkles" so my cake looked sort of plain.

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Reviewer:

ohfiddlesticks

Cooking Level: Intermediate

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Reviewed: Jan. 4, 2009

Decadent and Delicious. A hit! Not sure if it was my oven but 1 hour was almost too long, so next time I'll try to leave it in 55 minutes and check on it.

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Nandabear

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

Living In: Round Rock, Texas, USA

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Reviewed: Jan. 4, 2009

I would definately give this more than 5 stars...very moist and flavorful. I used a very dark chocolate cake and used mini chocolate chips. Everyone loved this cake! The ganache glaze was perfect and this is for the real chocolate lover, very rich and delcious! Will most definately make again! Thanks!

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SLJ6

Cooking Level: Expert

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Reviewed: Nov. 10, 2008

I didn't think this was anything special. It wasn't overly moist or anything. I'd rather find a completely homemade recipe.

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NKTAUBE

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Living In: Chicago, Illinois, USA

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Reviewed: Sep. 22, 2008

This cake was almost too easy and so full of chocolaty goodness that I can't stop thinking about it. My husband said it was "almost too chocolaty." But what would a man know about too chocolaty? I would however suggest small pieces of cake and big mugs of coffee or milk.

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michelleballenger

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Portland, Oregon, USA

Living In: Vancouver, Washington, USA

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Reviewed: Sep. 16, 2008

Excellent. I was trying to find a recipe as good as Mocha Cake III with out the liqueur and this is it. I made 2 of these today. Tried to be tricky and make it in a 10" springform the first time and it got overdone (I think this CAN be done, though, I just wasn't watching closely enough). Made another in a tube pan - perfection. Thanks for the recipe!!!

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