Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
This Hot Fudge Pudding Cake is so sinfully rich! A luscious chocolate cake bakes right with a creamy, chocolatey pudding sauce. Each bite is pure chocolate heaven.
Growing up, my mom would often make Sauce n Cake for dessert. It’s a box mix where the cake bakes right into the chocolate sauce. They are yummy, but the homemade version is so much better. Chocolate lovers will be in heaven with this easy dessert recipe, especially when they discover how simple it is to prepare.
I think that’s like anything you make. Baking from scratch just has a more homemade feel to it that comes across in the taste. It’s also rewarding to know that you made a recipe entirely from scratch.
This hot fudge pudding cake recipe is easy to make and requires little effort. It has the perfect amount of sweetness. Next time you’re craving those Sauce n ‘Cake mixes, give this gooey chocolate cake recipe a try instead. SOOOOO much better! I add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to my chocolate cobbler, and it’s incredible.
I made this recipe recently and shared it with a few friends who came over for a visit. It received rave reviews, which made me very happy. I love creating recipes and have actually people eat it. Cough, picky kids.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Made with simple ingredients
- A family favorite fudgy dessert
- Twice as decadent as a simple chocolate cake
- Rich chocolate cake bakes in its own fudge sauce
- One of the best chocolate desserts
- Ready in under an hour
- Easy to prepare
Ingredients
The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Melted butter
- Milk
- Sugar
- Salt
- Unsweetened cocoa powder (I like Hershey’s cocoa)
- Vanilla extract
How to Make Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
- Step One: Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Step Two: Stir together flour, ¾ cup sugar, baking powder, and salt in an ungreased 9×13-inch casserole dish.
- Step Three: In a bowl, combine butter and ¼ cup of cocoa powder, stirring until smooth.
- Step Four: Add to the baking dish along with ½ cup milk and vanilla. Stir well with a fork.
- Step Five: In a small bowl, stir together the remaining sugar and cocoa.
- Step Six: Sprinkle over the batter evenly. Pour the 2 ½ cups of hot milk over the top. Do not stir.
- Step Seven: Bake for 40 minutes or until the sauce bubbles and the cake begins to pull away from the side. Let cool. Serve warm.
What to Serve with It
- Hot coffee or tea
- A scoop of ice cream, like my homemade vanilla ice cream
- Stabilized whipped cream
- Hot fudge sauce
Variations and Substitutions
- Use whole milk or half-and-half for extra richness.
- Use vegetable oil instead of melted butter
- If using salted butter, you can omit the salt.
- Use brown sugar instead of white sugar, or you can use a combination of the two.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover hot fudge pudding cake in an airtight container or tightly cover the pan in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend reheating the cake in the microwave before serving to soften it and warm the rich chocolate fudge sauce.
Can I Freeze?
Yes, you can freeze hot fudge pudding cake! It’s essential to let the cake cool completely first. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. You can also place it in a freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When you’re ready to enjoy your delicious chocolate cake again, thaw it in the fridge overnight. You can reheat it in the microwave or warm it up in the oven at a low temperature for a few minutes.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- You don’t need to grease the pan for this recipe.
- Don’t overmix the cake batter. Mix until just combined.
- Pour the hot milk slowly and evenly over the batter.
- Don’t overbake. Watch for the cake to pull away from the sides of the pan and for the sauce to start bubbling.
- Allow the cake to cool down so you don’t burn your mouth on the fudge sauce. It’s best served warm.
FAQ
Though these two cakes are quite similar in many ways, there are a couple of key differences. Hot fudge pudding cake is a moist chocolate cake with a fudge sauce that forms beneath the cake as it bakes. It has a similar texture to a brownie.
Chocolate lava cake is a rich, gooey, and fudgy chocolate dessert. When you cut the cake open, thick fudge sauce will ooze out just like lava. The cake is usually less dense than a hot fudge pudding cake.
Chocolate Cake Recipes
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Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
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Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup melted unsalted butter
- ½ cup milk
- 1 ½ cup sugar divided
- 2 ½ cup hot milk
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup cocoa powder divided
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Stir together flour, ¾ cup sugar, baking powder, and salt in an ungreased 9×13 casserole dish.
- In bowl, add butter and ¼ cup of cocoa powder and stir together until smooth. Add to baking dish along with ½ cup milk and vanilla. Stir well with a fork.
- In a small bowl, stir together remaining sugar and cocoa and sprinkle over the batter. Pour the 2 ½ cups hot milk over top. Do not stir.
- Bake for 40 minutes or until sauce bubbles and cake begins to pull away from the side. Let cool. Serve warm.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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AMAZING!!! I sprinkled cinnamon and chopped pecans on top just before putting in the oven. Total hit! Will make again (and again, and again)! So easy too! Thank you!
Sooooo chocolatey!!! Great combination of cake and pudding. Easy to make.
The ingredients are so pure & simple—I expected more than the end result gave. Thought it would be similar to molten lava cakes. The chocolate got kinda lost. It didn’t have a strong chocolate flavor. It bubbled out over the edges of my 9×13 Pyrex and onto the bottom of the oven.
I am looking for a sauce & cake recipe like the chocolate one BUT….Lemon sauce and cake, as simple as your chocolate one, maybe with water.
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Hot Fudge Pudding Cake .
Hello in the recipe I only see 1/2 cup milk in the ingredient section. I read in another comment that it is 2 1/2 cups total? So is it 1/2 cup to mix the ingredients and 2 cups of warm milk poured over the top?
Thank you.
Stacey
It’s listed in the ingredients as 2 1/2 cups hot milk. Both sets of milk are added in steps 3 and 4.
3. In bowl, add butter and 1/4 cup of cocoa powder and stir together until smooth. Add to baking dish along with ½ cup milk and vanilla. Stir well with a fork.
4. In a small bowl, stir together remaining sugar and cocoa and sprinkle over the batter. Pour the 2 ½ cups hot milk over top. Do not stir.
So 1/2 cup hot milk + 2 1/2 cups hot milk would be 3 cups hot milk.or should it be 1/2 + 2 = 2 1/2?
1/2 cup of regular cold milk and 2 and 1/2 cups of hot milk. In total there will be 3 cups of milk.
Hi it looks divine – just wondering if you think a sugar substitute could work ?? Being diabetic I can’t obv have the sugar itself but do use sugar substitutes
I think a sugar substitute would work. Let me know if you end up trying it and how it turns out.
Is 2 1/2 cups milk a typo? All other recipes I’ve seen calls for 1 to 1 1/4 Cup. It caught my interest because it calls for milk and not water but that much milk seems too much?
Hi Debbie,
Nope, that’s correct! Thanks for asking. I hope you like it if you end up trying it.
Very tasty but not enuff pudding. Did I bake it too long?
I’ve got 2 pans in the oven as I type this! I know it’s gonna be delightful!!
Could you use buttermilk?
I’ve never tried it with buttermilk so I’m not sure! I think it would be ok. If you do try it, let me know how it turns out.
Would you be able to reheat this? Maybe microwave on low?
Hi Patricia,
Yes, you can definitely reheat in the microwave. I would start at low for 2 minutes and then see where it’s at for temperature and if it needs more time.
Can I use self rising flour?
Hi Marsha,
I’ve only made it with all-purpose flour so I’m not sure! If you do try it, let me know how it turned out.
Can you do this in a crockpot
I’m sure it could be done in a crockpot, but I’ve never tried it that way!
I made the mistake of 1 cup butter instead of 1/2. Still came good. Very forgiving recipe and tastes wow. Chocolaty goodness
My mouth is watering! Yummo! Thank you for sharing at Celebrate It!
Oh my, this looks so rich and decadent….my kind of dessert 🙂 Thanks for sharing your dessert recipe on MM.
This must be the most decadently delicious looking pudding I ever seen. I can just imagine digging in a bowl, or two 😉 of this.
Oh my goodness Stacie,
This Hot Fudge Pudding Cake is sure calling me! Hope you are enjoying your week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen