Description
A stunningly simple treat that delivers a warm, saucy chocolate center beneath a tender cake layer—no extra sauce required!
Ingredients
- Granulated sugar: 1¼ cups, divided
- All-purpose flour: 1 cup
- Unsweetened Hershey’s cocoa powder: ½ cup, divided
- Baking powder: 2 tsp
- Salt: ¼ tsp
- Milk: ½ cup
- Unsalted butter: ⅓ cup (melted)
- Vanilla extract: 1½ tsp
- Packed brown sugar: ½ cup
- Hot water: 1¼ cups
- Vanilla ice cream (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Prep & Preheat
- Set your oven to 350°F.
- Bring a small saucepan of water to a near-boil on the stove—just under a rolling simmer.
- Mix the Cake Batter
- In your stand mixer (or with a handheld mixer), combine ¾ cup of the granulated sugar, flour, ¼ cup of cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Beat until you have a smooth, lump-free batter.
- Bake the Base
- Grease a 2-quart ovenproof dish (ceramic or glass) or use an ungreased 9×9″ metal pan.
- Spread the batter evenly in the prepared dish.
- Create the Fudge Layer
- In a separate bowl, stir together the remaining ½ cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, and the other ¼ cup of cocoa until uniform.
- Evenly sprinkle this chocolatey sugar mix atop the batter—resist the urge to swirl it in!
- Gently pour the hot water over the sugar layer; do not stir.
- Bake & Rest
- For a glass or ceramic dish, bake 35–40 minutes; for a metal pan, bake 30–35 minutes. You’re aiming for a cake top that’s set but still springy in the center.
- Remove from the oven and let the dessert sit 15 minutes; this pause gives the pudding layer time to thicken.
- Serve
- Scoop portions into bowls, making sure to ladle plenty of the warm, gooey sauce from the bottom over each serving.
- Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if you like. Dig in immediately!
Notes
Chef’s Notes:
- That standing time is crucial—skip it, and your “pudding” may stay too runny.
- Feel free to swap in almond or coconut milk for a dairy twist.
- For extra crunch, sprinkle chopped nuts over the hot cake just before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
Nutrition
- Calories: 448
- Sodium: 121.7mg
- Fat: 17.2g
- Carbohydrates: 72.5g
- Protein: 5.1g
- Cholesterol: 69.8mg