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
Don't Miss Favorite Cake Recipes
Apple Cake
Hot Milk Cake
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2009. It was edited and re-published in 2020.
this cake looks great - so moist and dense.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea and recipe! Thank you for your creative use of sour milk! I can't count the times I've dumped it!! o
ReplyDeleteThis chocolate cake looks so decadent and delicious! Such a creative idea!
ReplyDeleteI'd never have thought it worked to use sour milk, but I guess since it's being cooked, why not. Very creative!
ReplyDeleteSort of like the chocolate version of- if life gives you lemonade :) Great recipe!
ReplyDeleteThis must have a good flavor such as sour cream would give. Looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of chocolate lovers in the house that would LOVE this cake. Maybe this will have to be the next birthday cake for one of them. I'm sure it would be so moist...that sour milk would do the trick for sure.
ReplyDeleteGreat that you save one half for later! It looks like a fabulous chocolate cake---my family will surely love it!
ReplyDeleteI've made sour mild before when I needed buttermilk. I suppose it's the same concept although I've never actually used soured milk before. My mamma was the same way, they grew up during the depression and nothing was ever wasted. Your mamma's chocolate cake looks delicious and a great way to use up that milk.
ReplyDeleteThat is a clever use of sour milk. I make buttermilk for cakes often, I wonder if sour milk and buttermilk are same, perhaps similar. Your mama sounds like my grandma, she always had a way of using things. My mom? not so much.. Saving this for later.
ReplyDeleteIf you didn't lick the beaters as a kid, your childhood was wasted!! :) I'm convinced it's a con that it's unsafe to eat a little bit of raw batter... and I had no clue that you could still use milk past its expiration date! That is really good to know
ReplyDeleteThat's clever idea using sour milk in cake. Yay to no more food wastage! And your cake looks absolutely delicious!
ReplyDeleteThis cake looks so delicious, so moist. I love using sour milk in my baking too in my part of the world we call it buttermilk. Old family recipes are the best. They made the best cakes
ReplyDeleteWhat a creative way to use something you would otherwise just throw out. Your cake looks super moist and delicious.
ReplyDeleteSince the kids are grown, I have a hard time finishing a gallon of milk before it spoils. Now I no longer have to worry about it. I'll make cakes instead of pouring it down the drain!
ReplyDeleteI love how your Mom never threw anything away, I could get better in that department myself. This cake looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteI never used sour milk in cake, but I have used sour cream and buttermilk. I need to give it try,as it is your family recipe it should be delicious.
ReplyDeleteWow, I am all about reducing food waste, but I have literally never thought to use the sour milk in any way. I am so intrigued by this recipe, and cannot wait to try it out!!
ReplyDeleteThat's great idea to use sour milk in a cake. I never tried or heard of this. But now I know what to do with sour milk from my fridge. The cake looks just delicious. Chocolate is my addiction so this is just irresistible to me.
ReplyDeleteI used chunky clabbered rotten milk expired 3 weeks...DELICIOUS!!!
ReplyDeleteBaked this cake last night with expired (April 4) whole milk and it was delicious! Made 6 large unfrosted cupcakes and one two-layer 6" cake that I'll frost/decorate today. Don't ever waste your sour milk!
ReplyDeleteJust made this cake and it's good and moist. Just changed out the sugar to Splenda and it still was great.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this! Followed it to the letter and found it to be brutally salty with half a tsp of salt in, as directed. It was pink salt, if that matters. Just me?
ReplyDeleteElizbeth I am not sure why I haven't heard this issue before. I haven't made this in awhile maybe another reader can answer this for you but I apologize for why your recipe came salty I am at a loss since several have made this and not said that. Thanks for your feedback. Maybe a pinch would do for you?
Delete