Savory Stiletto

If you live in the Chicago-land area, you have to be familiar with Portillos. They are most famously known for their Italian Beef sandwiches, dripping in au jus so the bread is nothing but a spongy mess of absolute deliciousness…mmmmm, one of the best hangover cures, hands down (although that burger in Napa was pretty close!). Not to mention their super yummy, grease running down your chin, slippery, cheese burgers. Uh-huh! Awe-some!

In my family, that was THE place to go for important events like birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc. Why Portillos you may ask? Because there was always something for everyone to eat! I have to say though, beyond the Italian beef and the OMG cheeseburger, there was chocolate cake. Really?!?!?! This chocolate cake blows every other dessert I have EVER had in my life out of the water. I think truly deep down, this is why we always ended up at Portillos to celebrate. Because of the cake. Because really, an amazing chocolate cake can be better than sex. Seriously! If you take a bite of something and say, oooooooh, mmmmm, then why do you go somewhere else? Exactly!

I was super fortunate to discover the super secret recipe to Portillos chocolate cake. Thanks to my awesome aunt!! So apparently, mayonnaise makes food taste better. It makes things more moist, more yummy, more delicious. Yup…mayonnaise makes things everything better. Just like butter! So one night, over dinner, my aunt spills the beans…apparently, Portillos uses DUNCAN HINES CAKE MIX with MAYONNAISE to make their amazing, phenomenal, incredible, unreal chocolate cake! Seriously? Are you even kidding me right now???? Mayo and BOXED chocolate cake mix??? Yeah, you know I had to try it.

I’ve been making this exact cake ever since my aunt told me that was the ‘super secret recipe’. Every time I make this cake, it is a huge hit. Everyone loves it. Everyone raves about how moist the cake it. Everyone says how amazing it is. Everyone begs for the recipe. Like a lot of things..I didn’t give the recipe up;). Until now. I’m sharing the super secret recipe with everyone now!

Hands down, best savored with either a cold glass of milk or a cup of coffee with some Baileys, depending on your mood!

Portillos Chocolate Cake

• 1 box Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Cake Mix
• 3 Eggs
• 1 1/3 cup water
• ½ cup mayonnaise (I use mayo enhanced with olive oil, just a little healthier)
• 2 containers chocolate icing

Pre-heat the oven to 350 F

Mix the cake mix, eggs, water, and oil on low speed until combine and wet (about 30 seconds). Beat on medium speed for another 2 minutes.

Bake in 2 8-inch round cake pans for 30 minutes. Remove from oven with a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let sit for about 5 minutes, then remove and let the cakes cool complete on a cooling rack.

When the cakes are completely cool, take about ¾ of one container of icing and ice the top of one cake (it’s thick, I know!). Place the second layer on top of the first iced layer, and take the remaining icing and coat the rest of the cake.

My thoughts: Better than Portillo’s! I took this cake to birthday party, where it was up against cakes from a really well known and well respected bakery and know what??? Everyone loved mine! Haha! It is really moist, super easy, and if you don’t tell people, they never have to know it came from a box! Enjoy!