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chocolate pudding cake recipe

chocolate pudding cake recipe

Prep 15 minutes
Cook 33 minutes
Total 48 minutes
With warm chocolate cake and gooey pudding center! So rich, so indulgent. A self-saucing dessert that melts in every bite!
5 stars (1 ratings)
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Ingredients
  

For the cake layer:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the pudding layer:
  • ¾ cup brown sugar , packed
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1½ cups hot water

Substitution options:

  • - For a dairy-free version , substitute almond or oat milk
  • - Replace all-purpose flour with 1:1 gluten-free flour blend if needed
  • - Dark cocoa powder can replace regular for a more intense flavor
  • - Coffee can substitute for half the hot water for deeper chocolate notes

Instructions

  • Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Dish
    Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8x8-inch baking dish or a 2-quart casserole dish. The size matters here—too large a dish will result in a thin cake with minimal pudding, while too small might cause overflow during baking.
    Step 2: Mix the Dry Cake Ingredients
    In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Whisking these ingredients thoroughly promotes even distribution of the leavening agents, ensuring your cake rises uniformly.
    Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients to Form Cake Batter
    Stir in milk, oil, and vanilla to the dry mixture until just combined. The batter will be relatively thick—this is exactly what you want for the perfect cake-to-pudding ratio. Avoid overmixing, which can develop gluten and make your cake tough rather than tender.
    Step 4: Transfer Batter to Baking Dish
    Spread the cake batter evenly in your prepared baking dish. Use a spatula to ensure it's level, as this will help create an even pudding layer beneath.
    Step 5: Create the Pudding Layer
    In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar and ¼ cup cocoa powder. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the cake batter—don't stir it in! This creates the foundation for your pudding layer.
    Step 6: Add Hot Water
    Carefully pour the hot water over the entire surface. Again, resist the urge to stir—what seems like a mistake is actually the magic of this recipe! The hot water activates the cocoa and sugar, which will sink during baking to create your pudding layer.
    Step 7: Bake to Perfection
    Bake for 35-40 minutes until the top is set but the center still jiggles slightly. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the cake portion (not all the way to the bottom) comes out with moist crumbs but not wet batter.
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