Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
This hot fudge pudding cake is decadent and so satisfying it will send you into chocolate heaven. With a scoop of ice cream, it is perfect!
Even after six years or so, I still find this dessert ridiculously delicious. In fact, if you had to nail me down, I might, under duress, admit that it is probably my favorite chocolate dessert in the whole entire world.
Wow. I feel liberated admitting that. Really.
You should make it.
And perhaps this is where I should say: I’m sorry. I am so very, very sorry.
After all the talk and dedication of New Year’s Resolutions and the somewhat healthy recipes I’ve tried to post so far this year, I should not be this rude, posting this decadent, otherworldly dessert that is so ultimately satisfying it will send you into chocolate heaven.
Right up there with the other fantastic pudding cakes I enjoyed last year, this chocolate version is sinfully delicious and yet so worth it.
Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream? Well, I probably should tell you it was terrible, disgusting and absolutely not worth the calories – just so you won’t splurge and ruin your diet, but I love you all too much to lie to you.
So instead I’ll say this: make this but don’t hate me for it.
After all, you probably have much more self-control than I and can get away with eating a tiny smidgeon instead of the whole pan.
Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup (212 g) sugar
- ½ cup (43 g) cocoa powder
- 1 cup (142 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup milk
- 4 tablespoons (57 g) butter, melted
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup (85 g) semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup boiling water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Whisk ½ cup sugar with ¼ cup cocoa powder and set aside.
- Whisk the flour, remaining ½ cup sugar, remaining ¼ cup cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk milk, butter, egg yolk, and vanilla in medium bowl until smooth. Stir milk mixture into flour mixture until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips (the batter will be stiff).
- Using a rubber spatula, scrape batter into prepared pan and spread into corners. Sprinkle reserved cocoa and sugar mixture evenly over the top. Gently pour boiling water over cocoa. Do not stir.
- Bake until the top of the cake is cracked, sauce is bubbling and a toothpick inserted into cakey area comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 22-24 minutes. Cool on rack for at least 10 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
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Recipe Source: from Cook’s Country
106 Comments on “Hot Fudge Pudding Cake”
Just made this (again) for a Valentine’s treat. An oldie, but a goodie! It’s greater than the sum of its parts, for sure. I love that it tastes so decadent, but is actually easy to toss together from pantry staples, doesn’t require a bajillion eggs and needs only modest quantities butter and sugar. I mean, it’s still DESSERT, but feels moderate, considering how delicious it is. A perfect warm chocolate-y addition to this cold February day! Hope you are having a sweet day!
I love that you love this one, Rebecca – it is easily one of my favorite recipes on the site!
I have a pan with which individual cake bowls (for ice cream, whipped cream, etc.) can be made. Which of your cake recipes might work best for it. The “bowls” are about the size of a large muffin.
Hi Sara – are you wanting to make a cake recipe in muffin form with this specific pan? Will you be baking in the individual cake bowls? I’m struggling a bit to understand.
Hi, I haven’t made your recipe yet. I have made other versions but without the egg yolk.
I’m curious as to the difference the egg yolk makes.
I’m excited to try this recipe, a chocolate lovers dream!!
It adds a rich creaminess. 🙂
Oh. My. Goodness. I made this about half an hour ago, and as I am writing this, am eating a bowlful of this delicious, incredibly incredible, wonderful, spectacular, marvelous, phenomenal creation. It is that good.
I’m glad this recipe doesn’t say “Serves 6” or something like that. Otherwise I’d feel guilty. 🙂
The only thing I changed was, because I didn’t have chocolate chips, I broke up a semi-sweet chocolate bar and mixed it in instead. Absolutely heavenly. Thanks so much for this recipe!
Also, one thing I noticed, in the little side video it says 2 tbsp vanilla, but in the recipe it says 2 teaspoons. I did 2 teaspoons and it was great.
This was super delicious!! I doubled it in a 9 x 13 and everything fit and it worked just fine! I did make a full double batch of the sugar/cocoa topping, but realizing it would not be proportional to the size of the pan, I just guessed what to use and had a lot leftover. I checked it first at 22 min and maybe cooked it for 3-4 min more, so not a huge change from the square pan directions.
I would have liked to have more fudge sauce, but I’m not sure how to go about doing so.
I’m so glad I gave this recipe a try!! I’d made one of these years ago using a different recipe…twice…hoping that maybe I did something wrong the first time around. But, nope! It was still mediocre. I’m so relieved to find your recipe! I even tried it out with company and it was spot on!
This was so amazing! We LOVED it!! I made it for my mom and she went nuts over it! We let my husband and kids have some and they were arguing over who could have the tiny bit that was left. Your recipes have yet to disappoint us. Thanks Mel!
I’m intrigued! What exactly is the difference between Brownie Pudding, Hot Fudge Pudding Cake, and Molten Lava Cakes?
They all have kind of different textures. The Brownie Pudding is probably the richest, fudgiest of them all. The Molten lava cakes are soft and cakey with a pudding center and the hot fudge pudding cake is probably a balance between the two!
Mmm. I was looking for a dessert to make for Valentine’s Day and decided on this one because I had all of the ingredients already. It was so good. I thought it was going to be sickeningly sweet but it wasn’t at all. A scoop of vanilla ice cream is a must, so good!
I looked for the nutrition info for this but couldn’t find it. Would you please post it? I’m on an eating plan and need the calories. Thank you!!
I made this recipe according to the directions (I didn’t have a 8×8 only a 9 x9pan) and all I have to say is I am addicted . I do not bake much at all but this was super easy and when I pulled it out of the oven, I was impressed. Thank you for the recipe its a keeper!!
My favorite dessert!
I make something similar we call self-saucing chocolate pudding (in Aus & UK pudding = cake-y dessert or dessert in general). Have you tried doubling the sugar, cocoa and water sprinkled on top or using brown sugar instead of the white sugar on top? It’s so good. It’s my favourite dessert.
I haven’t tried doubling the topping…sorry!
Our family of 5 loves this cake. We love it at all times of the year but it’s become our tradition to have this cake after our Valentine’s Day dinner. This one has a permanent spot in the recipe box!
I am enjoying so many of your recipes. I made the Hot Fudge Pudding Cake for New Years Eve. Oh my goodness, it was fabulous!!! My husband went crazy over it. It is the perfect chocolate enjoyment, but yet not too rich or too sweet. This will be a family favorite for years to come. One question, can I double the recipe without messing with its perfection?
Hi Vicki – glad you are enjoying the recipes! yes, you can double this as long as you have a pan large enough that it won’t overflow.
Made this about three hours ahead of time. I also doubled it and put it in a round chaffing dish (kept baking time the same). I was a bit worried how it would hold. But I’m happy to say that once I arrived to my party, I put the Sterno under the chaffing dish and by the time dessert came around, it was wonderful. Granted, not quite as wonderful fresh out of the oven, but I had RAVE reviews. So, feel free to make a little bit ahead of time if you’re able to re-heat.
Great! Everyone’s descriptions have me drooling so bad I have to go buy some ice cream so I can serve this amazing sounding treat at our next family get together. But knowing us it will be worth the trip. Anyone have any ideas on how we can ‘doctor’ it for our diabetic that won’t ruin the flavor? I hate when he has to say no to dessert. Or when he has to eat fruit while everyone else is eating cake.
Excited to try this–what kind of cocoa powder is recommended?
I’ve used both Dutch-process and natural, unsweetened with good results.
I made this last night. We all loved it!! I wanted to make it ahead of time, since we were having friends over. I made the cake batter and spread it in the pan. I waited to sprinkle the chocolate and sugar mixture and boiling water until right before I put in in the oven. It came out great!
This is seriously a favorite! My kids often ask for this on their birthdays! Thanks!
Hi, would this work without the chocolate chips?
Feel free to experiment! I haven’t tried it that way.
We are making this for Father’s Day tonight. Loved it last time and I LOVE that I have all the ingredients on hand (since I didn’t plan ahead very well!) Thanks!
Made this last night and it was fantastic! Rich, fudgey, and perfect paired with ice cream! 🙂
Looking forward to trying this tonight! In the pictures, it looks like the cakes were made in individual ramekins, but in the directions, it’s an 8×8 pan. Can you give instructions for baking in the ramekins (I’m worried that with the sprinkling and the boiling water, it might not turn out too great), or did you just cut pieces out and serve them in the ramekins? Thanks so much for being a *great* resource for yummy, yummy recipes!!
The cake isn’t baked in the ramekins – I just used them for serving. Hope that helps!
This was definitely a hit tonight at our house! It’s a keeper!
I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that I’ve made this as a microwave instant dessert (many, many times) and it works wonderfully! 1/8 of the recipe in a ramekin for a single serving (I just omit the egg) and microwave at 30 sec intervals until done. So delicious!! Love this recipe- thanks again!
This was the PERFECT remedy for a crummy day. I desperately wanted something decadent but didn’t have the energy to make something fancy. This totally fit the bill in every way!
I’ve tried many pudding cakes hoping they will taste as good as they sound (and smell and look), but I’ve always been left wanting. Until today, that is! This one is going in my keeper file.
This is so good!! I made a recipe like this for years but it wasn’t chocolaty enough- more milk chocolate. This one is beyond amazing chocolaty! My poor husband couldn’t handle it so I finished off his piece and the rest of the cake solo (in the next few days). Yikes! I’m blaming the whole 8 months pregnant and not being able to eat for the first 5 months. How can I make him like dark chocolate!?
I stumbled across your blog thanks to a key lime bar recipe on Pinterest, and I am hooked! I am nine months pregnant with my first baby, and this looks heavenly. I have gestational diabetes at the moment, but in ten days or less, after baby’s arrival, this will be on my to eat list! Keep up the awesome blog work! Visit me at missnola-ssippi.blogspot.com sometime! Happy blogging! (And cooking!)
This was okay. I found that I still got gritty bits of the sugar/cocoa mixture that’s put on top in the finished product. Next time I might mix the boiling water with the sugar/cocoa mixture first, then top the cake and see if that helps. It was a good ratio of gooey:cakey though. And the leftovers were just fine so next time I’ll be less worried about making it fresh as needed!
This is such a wonderfully gooey mix of cake and sauce , it is undoubtedly my families favorite. Even after 20 years of making it.
Just made this tonight and it is pretty much almost gobbled up by DH and me. I didn’t have the chocolate chips, but it was yummy! I came across a recipe similar to this, passed down from someone’s grandmom. It took reading your review and these comments fro me to give it a try, so glad I did. Will definitely be my go to recipe for easy chocolate desserts.
Just made this tonight after your republish of this awesome recipe. Really easy and really good! Mel, you are a rock star!
Mel, this is a dessert that goes back to my childhood. My mom used to make it for us – she called it Chocolate Pudding Cake. I’ve always loved it and started making it for my own kids. My version doesn’t have chocolate chips…I’m intrigued. I’ll be making it this weekend for sure!
I grew up having this cake for dessert on special occasions at my grandmother’s house. She called this “Nanny’s fudge surprise cake”. I thought we were the only ones who had ever been blessed with this recipe! Now I need to go make it for for my family tonight. Thanks for the memories!
Haha you crack me up! Thank you so much for your glorious recipes and fast replies 🙂
I loved this! However, some of my non dark chocolate loving family members did not. Do you think I could sub milk chocolate chips for semi sweet next time I make this? Thanks so much!
Olivia – sure, you could try it (in the meantime, I’ll cry buckets of tears over those who can’t stomach dark chocolate…)
This is probably a silly question, but I’m pretty sure that I only have 9×9 pans. Is it okay to make in a 9×9? Should I decrease the time slightly? It seems like it should be worth investing in an 8×8, since most recipes I’ve seen call for one, I just have so many other things I’ve prioritized above more kitchen gadgets.
Hi Diane – sure, you could make this in a 9X9 but I would cut the baking time by 5-7 minutes (definitely check and add more if needed) because you don’t want to lose that pudding layer. The entire cake, pudding and all, will be a bit thinner but that shouldn’t matter if it’s baked just right.
LOL, I was just thinking about this recipe today… I really was. I was debating between this and the slow cooker peanut butter one. Hee, I LOVE this and make it often! I’ve also put whipped cream and strawberries with it.
I found your blog a few days ago and have several recipes bookmarked to try! This one I tried last night and it was amazing! We had friends over for dinner and there wasn’t a scrap of it left. Even the bowl was licked clean 😉 We had ice cream and raspberries with it. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I am making this tonught for my birthday and can’t wait. I discovered your blog around Easter while looking for a good carrot cake recipe. Since then, I have made at least ten of your recipes and all have been amazing. My husband thanks you too, as he is eating really well since you revitalized my cooking!
Oh my, chocolate lovers, this is for you. This is a wonderful dessert. It’s so rich and delicious served warm. I will definitely be making this often. Everyone loved it. I am sad I forgot the ice cream (would have done a last minute run but it was Sunday) so we had it with whipped cream. Big fans on this one, Mel. It’s so easy too. I think since there’s not two sticks of butter that means its ok if I have seconds….and thirds. Thanks, Mel, for recommending this one to me. I might not have tried it but I love it…so does my husband. My mom, who is off sugar, was standing nearby, and my husband said, “this is disgusting” as he heaped his plate again with this divine cake. Make this….it’s heavenly!
I should’ve read the introduction to this cake before making it, because it was so addicting! Why did I read the intro after I ate almost most of the cake!? It was so good! My tongue loved it! Haha, but my diet didn’t.. anyways.. Thanks so much! Ever recipe I tried from your website is good! 🙂
I just made this tonight as part of our Super Bowl party. I doubled it and used a 9×13 pan with great results. Everyone LOVED it and this recipe will now replace all my other hfpc recipes.
Sooo yummy! Just had this for dessert and my hubby and I are both trying to leave the rest of the pan untouched lol
I love your website! My question is whether you have doubled this before-or made it in a 9X13-I have a lot of people coming over and dont want to mess this up! Thanks
momof3 – I haven’t doubled this in a 9X13 before but I know others have with good results. The only thing I would keep an eye on is baking time. Make sure it doesn’t overbake and become dry.
Audra – sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I’ve been out of town and by now, I’m sure you’ve eaten the leftovers, but I’ve heated up the leftovers in the microwave for about 1 minute on 50% power. I hope it worked out for you!
I made this tonight and it was amazing! I loved it! I have leftovers that I want to try tomorrow but I’m not sure how it will taste. Maybe if I heat it up? Such a good treat and very easy to make!!
Yummalicious – that made me laugh, Sarah! Thanks for letting me know you (and the kids) liked this! Sounds like a great predinner snack!
One word–Yummalicious!! I am picky about chocolate cake and this was surprisingly good. I made it in the afternoon and ended up eating it before dinner with the kids. We HAD to eat it while it was still warm and it would have cooled off too much after dinner. 😉 Actually ran to the store and got some ice cream just for this. But I have to add that it is really good after it cools too. The chocolate becomes all pudding-like. Good stuff!! Off to the treadmill I go!
Oh wow that looks to die for! I LOVE chocolate anything but add a bit of gooiness and I’m a goner! I have to add that your writing always makes me smile – you’re funny! 🙂
Sonya – glad the second time was better. Thanks for letting me know!
Nate & Jan – Thanks for letting me know that you liked this!
Julianne – love your “ahems.” And so glad you liked this. So glad.
Ahem. I made this last night. And then I cried, it was so good.
Had it today, cold from the fridge. Just as good. I mean, REALLY good.
Great recipe!
you know, I don’t even like chocolate cake, but with all the fudge-like sauce on there, I think I could overlook that small fact. 🙂
Ah! Very rude! This looks like it could become my favorite dessert and I haven’t even made it yet. Mmmmm.
I have this on my blog too. I agree, it is divine! Pudding cakes are the best. We just had the apple cider pudding cake and my husband and I agree it’s one of our favorite desserts of all time. That’s saying a lot for me since it’s not chocolate!
Yummmmmm…. enough said.
perfect timing! I often have my brother and sister in law over for dinner and last time they were here, my brother in law said “there is this kind of cake, that when you cook it, it has this chocolate stuff that forms…can you cook that?”
I told him I would see what I could do!
I will be making this ASAP!
You have to have a free day, right? Right. So this fits perfectly on my free day meal calendar. You’re a peach, thanks!
Where do you store all of your cookbooks? Just read about a site that does it for you http://stephanieklein.com/2010/01/what-your-cookbooks-say-about-you.html
My kids are going to die over this!
Oh my goodness! Hot Fudge, Pudding and Chocolate…..3 of my favorite words all in one! Trying this soon 🙂
ha ha I just love the way you write on your blog. Funny! This looks so good!
You’re wicked.
Self control? What’s that? I’ve been wanting to try to make a cake like this. Definitely bookmarking!
alright, i forgive you, only because i know it’s going to be so good that i won’t even care about calories!
I’ve only ever made my lava cakes (in the pudding cake family) in individual servings. I love the idea of just baking this in a pan. I really want to try it, but it would have to be on a Saturday (after my WW weigh in, tee hee).
OMG, I just made this and I even made a special trip for the forgotten vanilla ice cream. So delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
I have fond memories of making this in college and pulling it out of the oven and having it jump right out of the pan onto the floor. I scrapped it up and we ate it anyway – we were poor college students!
Would it work to double it and cook it in a 9×13 or could I cook two 8×8 pans side by side???
yummy. i have never tried something like this before.
no one would believe you if you said it was gross anyway. there’s just no possibility of that. 🙂
Well, I just logged on to see this a few hours ago. I couldn’t resist…I printed off the recipe and made it already. We had it after lunch. It’s now almost gone! It was soooo good 🙂 Thanks!
Made it….love it! Thanks,
Sylvie
Haven’t tried this but it looks irresitibly good. Love it.
I made this on Friday (along with the fajita’s), but I think I overcooked it because it wasn’t gooey at all. But it still tasted wonderful. I’m going to try again and watch the baking time better.
I made this today and it was not good at all. It was bland and not a strong chocolate flavor like the molten lava cake. Wont make this again. Sorry.
This recipe is a home run! My family LOVE LOVE LOVED it…so did I ofcourse! Everyone has these ingredients around the house and it tastes like it required special ingredients because it is restaurant grade!
This was fantastic. It was so rich and the fudge was so awesome. My husband loved it as well, and it tasted way better than any other type of dessert at any restaurant we’ve eaten at. Referring to the previous comment, I would check your ingredients and make sure you didn’t use any old cocoa powder or miss any ingredients, I cannot see how this recipe could have been anywhere close to bland. Thank you!!
Kristen – I am so glad you liked this! And I definitely think the ice cream was worth the special trip – it definitely takes this cake over the top. Thanks for checking in to let me know!
Jeni – I’m always a fan of trying to double it and make it work in a 9X13 but I’m afraid with this recipe that it might overflow. To be safe, I’d probably bake it in two 8X8’s side by side, like you suggested.
Melissa – I’m glad you liked this and that it was the kind of recipe you had to make NOW. That happens to me all the time!
Sylvie – thanks for checking in, I’m glad you liked it!
Sonya – I’m sorry you didn’t get better results, but I think you are right – if it was lacking “goo” it was probably overbaked a bit. Hope it works out better the next time!
Anonymous – sorry you didn’t like this cake. The end result should be over-the-top chocolatey goodness so I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you.
Phyllis – I agree, isn’t it wonderful when ordinary, everyday ingredients turn into something so delicious? Thanks for your comment! I appreciate it.
The Three Amigos – thanks for weighing in on this dessert. I am glad it was a hit and that you found it completely opposite of bland, too!
Wow…this is dangerous because I always have all of the ingredients to make this! This was fabulous, and I nearly made myself sick just now because I just couldn’t stop eating! The ice cream is a must! I have to agree that the “anonymous” commenter must have done something wrong because this was anything but bland (and I even forgot to add the vanilla!). Thanks for another great recipe!
I made this and it turned out great! Thanks for the recipe!
Aubri – so glad you liked this and I hope you really didn’t get too sick. I am really, really guilty of eating too much of a good thing and then realizing I should have stopped a LONG time ago.
Megan – thanks for letting me know you liked this!
My mouth is watering by the sound of this.
I made this last weekend and everyone loved it. It was so rich, gooey, and extremely easy. Thanks for the recipe! Love your site.
Tried this again tonight and it turned out perfectly. I honestly think last time I didn’t keep out the sugar/coco topping…I don’t remember doing that step last time. Maybe thats why my first try wasn’t gooey. Great quick goto dessert.