4.43 from 136 votes

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.

A pan of hot fudge pudding cake with a serving spoon in it.

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 find out how simple it is to make. 

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 are 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.

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    I made this recipe recently and shared it with a few friends that came over for a visit. It received rave reviews which made me very happy. I love making recipes and have people actually eat it. Cough, picky kids.

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    Why You’ll Love Hot Fudge Chocolate Pudding Cake

    • 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
    Ingredients to make hot fudge pudding cake.

    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 casserole dish.
    • Step Three: In bowl, add butter and ¼ cup of cocoa powder and stir together until smooth. 
    Steps to make hot fudge pudding cake.
    • Step Four: Add to baking dish along with ½ cup milk and vanilla. Stir well with a fork.
    • Step Five: In a small bowl, stir together remaining sugar and cocoa.
    Steps to make hot fudge pudding cake.
    • Step Six: Sprinkle over the batter. Pour the 2 ½ cups hot milk over top. Do not stir.
    • Step Seven: Bake for 40 minutes or until sauce bubbles and cake begins to pull away from the side. Let cool. Serve warm.
    Steps to make hot fudge pudding cake.

    Equipment Needed

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    What to Serve with Chocolate Fudge Pudding Cake

    A scoop of hot fudge pudding cake.

    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.
    Hot Fudge Pudding Cake in a pan with a piece cut out.

    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 in the microwave before serving to soften the cake and warm the rich chocolate fudge sauce.

    Can I Freeze?

    Yes, you can freeze hot fudge pudding cake! It’s important to first let the cake cool completely. 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 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 the sauce to start to bubble.
    • Allow the cake to cool down so you don’t burn your mouth on the fudge sauce. It’s best served warm.
    A bowl of hot fudge pudding cake in a bowl.

    Other Names for Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

    • Chocolate brownie pudding cake
    • Chocolate pudding cake
    • Molten chocolate cake
    • Hot chocolate cake
    • Chocolate surprise cake

    FAQ

    What is hot fudge pudding cake?

    Hot fudge pudding cake is a decadent chocolate cake with a gooey fudge sauce that forms underneath as it bakes in the oven. The hot liquid ingredients sink to the bottom of the dish to create a warm fudge sauce that you can drizzle over top of the cake.

    What is the difference between hot fudge pudding cake and chocolate lava cake?

    Though these two cakes are quite similar in many ways, there are a couple key differences. Hot fudge pudding cake is a moist chocolate cake with a fudge sauce that forms beneath the cake as it bakes. It’s similar in texture to a brownie.
    Chocolate lava cake is a chocolate dessert with a rich gooey fudgy center. 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.

    Hot Fudge Pudding Cake in a bowl topped with vanilla ice cream.

    Chocolate Cake Recipes

    Craving more chocolate cake? I got you covered.

    • Banana Chocolate Cake: Rich, luscious and fully of yummy chocolate flavour. You won’t be able to stop at just one piece.
    • Chocoholics Chocolate Mousse Cake: Luscious and rich, this Chocoholics Chocolate Mousse Cake will satisfy your sweet tooth!
    • Earthquake Cake: Feel the earth move with this luscious dessert! It may not be the prettiest dessert, but it sure tastes delicious.
    • Wacky Cake: Moist, chocolatey and easy to make! This vintage cake was popular in the Depression era and contains no butter, milk or eggs.
    • Reese Lava Cake: If you love sinfully rich chocolate with a hint of peanut butter, this recipe is for you. 

    You might also like Cracker Pudding, Fruit Cocktail Cake, Pineapple Cake, Tornado Cake, Butterscotch Pudding, Chocolate Cake Batter Fudge, Earthquake Cake, Cake Mix Cobbler or Mayonnaise Cake.

    Follow me on Instagram @simplystacieblog, Facebook at Simply Stacie, TikTok @simplystacierecipes or Pinterest at @simplystacie and let me know how you liked this recipe and my other recipes.

    4.43 from 136 votes

    Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

    Created by Stacie Vaughan
    Servings 8
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 40 minutes
    Total Time 55 minutes
    So sinfully rich! Luscious chocolate cake bakes right with a creamy, chocolatey pudding sauce.

    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

    Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 350kcal | Carbohydrates: 57.8g | Protein: 5.8g | Fat: 12.4g | Saturated Fat: 7.7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4.1g | Cholesterol: 32.3mg | Sodium: 115.7mg | Fiber: 2.1g | Sugar: 42.3g

    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.

    Course Desserts
    Cuisine American
    Keyword hot fudge pudding cake

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    Recipe Rating




    27 Comments

    1. 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

    2. This must be the most decadently delicious looking pudding I ever seen. I can just imagine digging in a bowl, or two 😉 of this.

    3. Oh my, this looks so rich and decadent….my kind of dessert 🙂 Thanks for sharing your dessert recipe on MM.

    4. Erika Henderson says:

      I made the mistake of 1 cup butter instead of 1/2. Still came good. Very forgiving recipe and tastes wow. Chocolaty goodness

    5. Pam miles says:

      Can you do this in a crockpot 

      1. I’m sure it could be done in a crockpot, but I’ve never tried it that way!

    6. Marsha slade says:

      Can I use self rising flour?

      1. 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.

    7. Patricia Oneal says:

      Would you be able to reheat this? Maybe microwave on low?

      1. 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.

    8. Could you use buttermilk?

      1. 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.

    9. Angela Howie says:

      I’ve got 2 pans in the oven as I type this! I know it’s gonna be delightful!!

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