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This is a homemade version of the classic Hostess Ho Hos and Swiss Rolls. Made with layers of moist chocolate cake, fluffy vanilla cream filling, and rich chocolate fudge frosting, this from-scratch Ho Ho dessert delivers nostalgic flavor with a bakery-style finish

Old Fashioned Ho-Ho Cake (Gluten-Free Option)

Old Fashioned Ho Ho Cake is a rich, nostalgic chocolate cake layered with fluffy vanilla cream filling and topped with fudgy chocolate frosting. Includes an easy gluten-free option for the same classic flavor.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 12

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • cups white sugar
  • teaspoons vanilla
  • 3 large eggs
  • cups all purpose flour
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • teaspoons baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1⅓ cups milk
  • Filling:
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 1 cup cold milk
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup butter softened
  • Icing:
  • ½ cup melted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 oz package unsweetened chocolate baking bar
  • 2.5 tbs hot water
  • 1.5 cups powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • SHORTCUT - Use a Devil's Food Cake box mix instead of making cake from scratch
  • CAKE
  • Grease a 9X9 inch baking pan
  • In a medium sized bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt together and set aside
  • In a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, and then add the vanilla
  • Mix in the dry ingredients and milk alternating between each one(two additions each)
  • Beat for 1-2 minutes
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan
  • Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center
  • Allow the cake to completely cool before adding the cream filling
  • CREAM FILLING
  • Meanwhile, start the filling. Whisk together the flour and cold milk in a saucepan over low-medium heat. Continuously whisk, until it just starts to thicken up. You want to watch it closely and continuing whisking. If it starts to become lumpy you've cooked it too long. Quickly remove from the heat, transfer to a bowl and set aside until fully cooled.
  • Add butter, sugar and vanilla to a stand mixer with the whisk attachment and, and beat 2-3 minutes until fully combined. Add the cooled flour mixture and beat for additional or 4 minutes until smooth and fluffy.
  • Spread onto the cooled cake and refrigerate for 1-2 hours
  • Icing
  • In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter, remove from heat and allow to slightly cool. Add remaining ingredients and pour over the top of the cake, and refrigerate
  • Gluten-Free Option:To make this Old Fashioned Ho Ho Cake gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour in the cake with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour (such as Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour).For the cream filling, use ¼ cup gluten-free flour or 3 tablespoons cornstarch in place of the all-purpose flour.No changes are needed for the frosting.

Notes

Shortcut - use a devil food cake box mix like Betty Crocker if you don't have time to make the cake
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