When you crave a decadent chocolate dessert that’s surprisingly simple to whip up, the Hot Fudge Pudding Cake is your answer. This recipe transforms humble pantry staples into a warm, gooey chocolate cake with an irresistible, rich hot fudge sauce that forms right as it bakes. It’s the perfect treat for any occasion, from a weeknight indulgence to a show-stopping dessert for guests.
Key Ingredients for Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
For the Cake Batter:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice
For the Hot Fudge Sauce:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
How to Make Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
This Hot Fudge Pudding Cake is a marvel of ease and indulgence, taking the guesswork out of creating a deeply satisfying chocolate experience. In under an hour, you’ll have a warm, moist cake crowned with a luscious, bubbling hot fudge sauce that’s formed directly in the baking dish. Its simplicity belies its intensely rich flavor and wonderfully tender texture, making it a go-to for any chocolate lover. Total preparation time is approximately 10-15 minutes, with baking time around 30-35 minutes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8×8 inch baking dish or a similar sized oven-safe dish. This prevents the cake from sticking and ensures easy serving.
- Combine Dry Cake Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined to distribute the leavening agents evenly.
- Combine Wet Cake Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the 1/2 cup of milk, 1/4 cup of vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Combine Wet and Dry Cake Mixtures: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir with a whisk or spatula just until combined. Do not overmix; a few small lumps are okay.
- Activate the “Pudding” Effect: Stir in the 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. This acts with the baking soda to create a more tender cake crumb and contributes to the pudding-like texture that forms underneath.
- Pour Batter into Baking Dish: Pour the cake batter evenly into the prepared baking dish. Spread it out smoothly with your spatula.
- Prepare the Hot Fudge Sauce Topping: In the same large mixing bowl you used for the dry cake ingredients (no need to wash it!), whisk together the 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. This creates the base for your rich sauce.
- Add Liquid to Sauce Mixture: Carefully pour the 1 cup of hot water into the sugar and cocoa mixture. Whisk vigorously until smooth and no lumps remain. This will create a thin, chocolatey liquid.
- Add Remaining Sauce Ingredients: Stir in the 1/2 cup of milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Pour Sauce Over Batter: Gently and evenly pour this chocolate liquid mixture directly over the cake batter in the baking dish. Do not stir it in. The magic happens in the oven! You’ll notice the liquid is on top of the batter.
- Add Butter Pieces: Dot the surface of the liquid topping with the 2 tablespoons of butter, cut into small pieces. The butter will melt and enrich the hot fudge sauce as it bakes.
- Bake the Pudding Cake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cake is set and the edges are firm. The top will look like a bubbling, glossy hot fudge sauce.
- Serve Warm: Remove the Hot Fudge Pudding Cake from the oven. Allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving. The best way to enjoy this is warm, allowing the decadent hot fudge sauce to pool around the moist chocolate cake.
Why You’ll Love This Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
This Hot Fudge Pudding Cake delivers an unparalleled double-layered chocolate experience – a tender cake base crowned with an unbelievably rich, gooey hot fudge sauce that forms right before your eyes. It’s the ultimate in homemade comfort, offering a decadent treat without the high cost of a bakery dessert. The simplicity of whisking it all together, combined with the magical transformation in the oven, makes it a truly rewarding baking adventure.
Unlike a simple chocolate cake, this recipe ingeniously creates its own sauce, transforming it into something truly extraordinary. It’s the perfect answer to those intense chocolate cravings, and with its ease of preparation, you can enjoy this delightful dessert any night of the week. Don’t wait – gather your ingredients and bake up this sensational Hot Fudge Pudding Cake for an unforgettable treat!
Storing and Reheating Tips
This delectable Hot Fudge Pudding Cake is best enjoyed fresh and warm, but leftovers store and reheat beautifully.
- Refrigeration: Once cooled completely, cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or transfer any remaining cake to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The hot fudge sauce will solidify slightly but will regain its luscious texture upon reheating.
- Reheating: To reheat individual portions, spoon the desired amount onto a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on medium power for 30-60 seconds, or until heated through and the sauce is gooey again. For larger portions, you can gently reheat the entire dish (if oven-safe) in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Freezing: While not ideal for the best texture, you can freeze individual portions. Ensure the cake is completely cooled. Wrap portions tightly in plastic wrap, then in foil, or place in freezer-safe containers. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating as directed above.
Final Thoughts
The Hot Fudge Pudding Cake is a testament to how simple ingredients can create something truly spectacular. Its dual-textured delight and intense chocolate flavor make it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Give this recipe a try tonight, and discover your new favorite comfort dessert!
Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8×8 inch baking dish or a similar sized oven-safe dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- In a separate medium bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the 1/2 cup of milk, 1/4 cup of vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.1/2 cup milk, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir with a whisk or spatula just until combined. Do not overmix; a few small lumps are okay.
- Stir in the 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice.1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice
- Pour the cake batter evenly into the prepared baking dish. Spread it out smoothly with your spatula.
- In the same large mixing bowl you used for the dry cake ingredients (no need to wash it!), whisk together the 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.1 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Carefully pour the 1 cup of hot water into the sugar and cocoa mixture. Whisk vigorously until smooth and no lumps remain.1 cup hot water
- Stir in the 1/2 cup of milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.1/2 cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gently and evenly pour this chocolate liquid mixture directly over the cake batter in the baking dish. Do not stir it in.
- Dot the surface of the liquid topping with the 2 tablespoons of butter, cut into small pieces.2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
- Place the baking dish in the preheated oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cake is set and the edges are firm.
- Remove the Hot Fudge Pudding Cake from the oven. Allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving.