Mom would never throw away food, back in the 1940s things were tight for money and nothing went in the garbage, she always found a way to use it.
The cake was a simply delicious treat we would all look forward to and secretly happy the milk went bad.
As the years went on sometimes we would change it up with a filling or whipped cream topping, but it tasted great plain.
Chocolate cake from scratch can be intimidating but seriously this sour milk cake is super simple and perfect every time.
If you love homemade scratch cakes also try her Vintage Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake Recipe, it's fabulous.
Scroll down to the recipe card for this easy cake recipe and it's printable, read my other suggestions I have to make these different each time.
Mom said Waste Nothing!
When I was growing up, mom threw out nothing.
If milk was sour, she found a way to make fantastic uses for it.
Sour milk can be used in several baked goods.
It's a terrific substitute for buttermilk or sour cream, which will keep the taste will be fine so don't worry.
It's really the best used in baked bread and dessert recipes.
Since it is acidic in nature, it works terrific with baking soda and makes the cakes and bread, fluffy.
Mom's Tips
- mom always added 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the milk if we didn't already have sour milk
- always preheat the oven
- fluff and level the flour
- keep the cake covered after baking in the refrigerator with any leftovers
- gourmet style buttermilk from the grocery store is a great substitute for the sour milk in this recipe
- this cake can be split and filled with peanut butter filling, chocolate pudding for a richer dessert
Tools
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- spatula
- round cake pan
- electric beater
- spoon
- cake carrier or container for storing
Ingredients You Will Need
- sour milk or buttermilk
- flour
- sugar
- butter
- cinnamon
- vanilla
- eggs
- baking powder
- baking soda
- cocoa powder unsweetened
Sour Cream Milk Chocolate Cake Pin for Later
More Homemade Cake Recipes:
Peach Dump Cake
Italian Cannoli Cupcakes
Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Cupcakes
Coconut Poke Cake
Spanish Bar Cake
1940 Something
Mom is a cook from the 1940 era when again things were never wasted when it came to food.
When I see bananas getting dark I did what she did use them in a Banana Cake or a Banana Chocolate Chip Biscotti Cookie recipe.
Her great teachings live on in the kitchen and I always carry on her tips and frugal ways.
This Sour Milk Chocolate Cake is a great reason to make something like sour milk that was going in the garbage, into spectacular!
The cake in the above photo has the hot fudge sauce and Peanut Butter Filling so don't miss trying this cake that way, enjoy!
Sour Cream Chocolate Cake
Yield: 10
Prep time: 6 MinCook time: 40 MinTotal time: 46 Min
This cake is super easy made with sour milk so never throw it out, this is a perfect way to use it up.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups sour milk or buttermilk (you can make sour milk by adding 1 tablespoon of red wine or apple cider vinegar to regular milk)
- 2/3 cup butter
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- Optional Topping:
- Hot Fudge Ice Cream Topping and Caramel topping heated see recipes below
- Note: this cake can be split filled with pudding and topped with whipped cream also
Instructions
- Grease 2 - 9 inch round pans. ( I freeze one for later for just two people here). Or use a 13 x 9 pan greased.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.Cream the sugar and butter for around 2 minutes. Add the eggs beating till light in color. Add all the rest of the ingredients beating for around 4 more minutes.
- Bake at 350 degrees preheated oven for around 35 to 40 minutes or when a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
- Note: Don't over bake to prevent a dried-out cake.
- Option Toppings Use A Frosting or Drizzle: My recommendation is to drizzle caramel first then hot fudge sauce or a ganache (or ice cream toppings) over the top of the cake with whipped cream.
- Other alternatives: Frost with your favorite frosting and split the cakes first and fill with any kind of pudding. or use fresh fruits and whipped cream.
- If using 13 x 9 then garnish with sauce then whipped cream.
- Homemade Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- Bring to boil. Add vanilla. Cool several hours in the refrigerator. Drizzle over cake.
- Homemade Fudge Sauce
- 2 cups of sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups dark cocoa powder
- 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter
- Combine everything in a small saucepan until melted together evenly.
- Store in mason jars.
Calories
488.86Fat (grams)
18.68Sat. Fat (grams)
10.28Carbs (grams)
73.31Fiber (grams)
1.75Net carbs
71.56Sugar (grams)
47.73Protein (grams)
8.45Sodium (milligrams)
638.02Cholesterol (grams)
102.70Sour Cream Milk Chocolate Cake Pin for Later
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Apple Cake
Hot Milk Cake
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2009. It was edited and re-published in 2020.