Travel Itinerary
Ask Ohioans about Millersport’s best bite and you’ll get a surprising answer: not the hot dogs, but the chocolate cake.
At Hometown Hot Dogs, the dessert case holds a treat so rich and satisfying it has transformed a simple diner into a statewide destination. Locals whisper about it, visitors rave about it, and loyal fans will tell you it’s not just cake – it’s tradition baked into every layer. Wondering why dessert lovers gas up just to taste it?
Five tempting truths explain why this chocolate wonder keeps people coming back.
1. Secret Family Recipe Dating Back Generations
Whispered through three generations of bakers, Hometown’s chocolate cake recipe remains unchanged since 1963.
The owner’s grandmother initially created it using wartime substitutions that accidentally produced a more moist, rich texture than traditional recipes.
Rumor has it she took the exact measurements to her grave, leaving only her handwritten notes for family to interpret!
2. Made-From-Scratch Ganache Topping
Forget buttercream! Hometown’s sweet secret comes in the form of warm ganache poured over each cake while it’s still cozy from the oven, filling the air with rich cocoa aroma.
That careful chocolate-to-cream blend creates a glossy finish that gives way with a delicate crack when your fork dives in, almost like breaking the shell of fine chocolate.
A drizzle of corn syrup and patient artistry – three silky ganache coats, one after another – deliver that mirror-like shine that makes every slice as dazzling to look at as it is to taste.
3. The Surprise Middle Layer
Cut into this deceivingly simple-looking cake and discover the secret middle layer that changes seasonally.
Summer brings fresh raspberry compote while fall features salted caramel that pools deliciously on your plate.
Winter’s peppermint cream filling has developed such a cult following that fans track the first appearance on social media, sometimes driving hours when it debuts each December!
4. Paired With House-Made Coffee
Though seemingly ordinary, the complimentary coffee served alongside each cake slice completes the experience through careful pairing science.
The beans, roasted weekly by a Columbus micro-roaster, contain hints of cherry and caramel that amplify the cake’s chocolate notes.
Curious about the brewing method? Their 1970s percolator, lovingly maintained despite multiple staff attempts to replace it, apparently makes all the difference!
5. The Thursday-Only Special Version
Locals whisper about Thursdays, when Hometown unleashes its “Double Trouble” delight – twice the height, with an espresso-soaked bottom layer that smells like a fresh brew and chocolate stout baked right into the batter for extra depth.
Only 24 slices appear each week, and the buzz builds so fast they often vanish before the clock strikes noon. Why Thursday? The owner swears the day once dragged with slow sales until this tradition took root a decade ago, turning a sluggish weekday into one of the sweetest success stories on their calendar.