Description
This Hot Fudge Chocolate Pudding Cake is a decadent, self-saucing dessert featuring a moist chocolate cake with a rich, fudgy sauce beneath. It’s easy to prepare and perfect served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, delivering a comforting and indulgent treat for chocolate lovers.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Topping and Sauce
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/4 cups hot water
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Stir in the milk, melted unsalted butter, and vanilla extract into the dry mixture, mixing until smooth and well incorporated.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: If using, gently fold the semisweet chocolate chips into the batter for added texture and chocolate bursts.
- Assemble the Cake Batter: Spread the batter evenly in the prepared baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Prepare Topping Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the packed brown sugar and 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, mixing well.
- Sprinkle Topping: Evenly sprinkle the cocoa and brown sugar mixture over the surface of the cake batter.
- Add Hot Water: Slowly pour the hot water carefully over the top of the mixture without stirring; this will create the pudding sauce beneath as it bakes.
- Bake the Cake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35–40 minutes. The top should be set and slightly firm while the bottom remains gooey and sauce-like.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cake to cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Spoon out portions to reveal the luscious, fudgy sauce beneath the cake layer.
Notes
- Best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to complement the rich chocolate flavors.
- You can substitute the chocolate chips with chopped nuts for added crunch or omit them for a simpler version.
- This cake naturally creates its own hot fudge sauce during baking, so no additional sauce is needed.
