This fudgy, old-fashioned chocolate pudding cake is baked with two delicious layers: a chocolate cake and a gooey pudding-like sauce. If you love the flavor and texture of a good old chocolate pudding, then you’re going to love this cake!
I’ve been invited to a few birthdays lately, which means I had quite a few cakes to make. I took one of my mom’s old recipe notebooks and leafed through the pages to try and find some of our family’s all-time favorite sweets. Almost every recipe consisted of notes added over the years, each in a different pen color. I then came across this pudding cake that I loved as a kid. There were no notes for this recipe, and I like to believe that’s because it’s perfect.
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What is pudding cake?
Pudding cakes offer two treats in one and consist of two layers – a comforting, gooey chocolate cake and a thick chocolaty sauce that tastes just like an old-fashioned chocolate pudding. This cake goes by many names: chocolate upside down cake, hot fudge pudding cake, brownie pudding cake, or self-saucing pudding cake.
How to make chocolate pudding cake
The process of making chocolate pudding cake is a bit different than other desserts, but I promise you’ll have amazing results.
The first layer is the cake batter and the second layer consists of a “dry” mixture of cocoa and sugar. We then pour hot water evenly on top and while baking (I know, it feels so wrong, but it’s what makes this cake so good), the water sinks to the bottom and creates a chocolate sauce. The cake then rises to the top creating this deliciously warm and gooey chocolate pudding cake.
Make the chocolate cake batter
- Whisk together the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Add sugar and mix.
- Combine the wet ingredients. Mix together milk, butter, and vanilla until combined.
- Combine the two. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Scrape the batter into prepared 8×8-inch pan and smooth the top.
Make the pudding sauce and bake
- In a small bowl, mix together cocoa powder, brown sugar and granulated sugar until combined. Sprinkle mixture on top of batter, making sure it coats the entire surface evenly.
- Pour the hot water evenly on top. Leave as-is and do not stir (I know it sounds strange, but bear with me).
- Bake at 350°F/180°C for 25-30 minutes, until the top is set and the cake is cracked and just beginning to pull away from the sides of the pan. Do not over bake or the cake will be dry.
- Allow cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes on a wire rack. Serve warm.
Tip: This cake is perfect for baking in individual 6-ounce ramekins, too. For each ramekin, pour about ¼ cup cake batter, 2 tablespoons cocoa-sugar mixture, and 3 tablespoons hot water. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
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Tips for making chocolate pudding cake
- Use Dutch-processed cocoa powder: While you can use natural cocoa powder for this recipe, too, Dutch-processed cocoa powder has a richer, more complex flavor and makes the pudding cake taste much better.
- Don’t overbake the pudding cake. Overbaking will make the cake dry. You’ll know it’s ready when the top is set and the cake is cracked and just beginning to pull away from the sides of the pan
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. This pudding cake tastes incredible on it’s own, but tastes even better served with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. I highly recommend!
How to store
You can store the cake in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 3 days. To serve, reheat in microwave and top with ice cream. 🙂
More of my favorite chocolate desserts
- Chocolate Peanut Batter Mousse Cake: With a crunchy chocolate cookie crust, this layered mousse cake is irresistible.
- No-Bake Chocolate Tart: Made with Oreo cookie crust and creamy, rich chocolate ganache filling.
- Flourless Chocolate Almond Torte: Rich and fudgy with ground almonds for added texture.
- Baked Chocolate Donuts: Moist and cakey chocolate donuts glazed with chocolate ganache.
- Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse: Made with silky milk chocolate mousse, crunchy toasted hazelnuts and chocolate hazelnut ganache.
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Chocolate Pudding Cake
This easy chocolate pudding cake is made of rich chocolate cake layered with warm and gooey chocolate pudding sauce. It's rich, indulgent and a guaranteed crowd pleaser!
Ingredients
Cake:
- ¾ cup (105g) all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons (20g) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk
- ¼ cup (½ stick or 56g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Pudding Sauce:
- ¼ cup (25g) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- ⅓ cup (65g) light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup (65g) granulated sugar
- 1 ½ (360 ml) cups boiling water
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Grease an 8-inch square pan.*
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To make the cake: In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Add sugar and mix.
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In a small bowl, mix together milk, butter, and vanilla until combined. Pour into flour mixture and mix just until combined. Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.
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To make the pudding: In a small bowl, toss together cocoa powder, brown sugar and granulated sugar until combined. Sprinkle mixture on top of batter, making sure it coats the entire surface evenly. Pour the hot water evenly on top. Leave as-is and do not stir.
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If baking in an 8×8-inch pan, bake for 25-30 minutes. If baking in individual ramekins, bake for 15-20 minutes. Bake until the top is set and the cake is cracked and just beginning to pull away from the sides of the pan. Do not over bake or the cake will be dry. Allow cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes on a wire rack.
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Serve cake warm, with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if you like. Serve each slice upside-down and drizzle with pudding sauce.
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Cake can be kept in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 3 days. Reheat in microwave.
Recipe Notes
*This cake is perfect for baking in individual 6-ounce ramekins, too. It should make enough batter for 8-9 individual portions. For each ramekin, pour about ¼ cup cake batter, 2 tablespoons cocoa-sugar mixture, and 3 tablespoons hot water. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
This pudding cake looks amazing and absolutely perfect for chocoholics! Love it! 😀
Shiran says
Thank you Jess!
Winnie says
אין כמו מתכונ ים של אמא וסבתא – יש בהם משהו מיוחד 🙂
וספרי לי על ימי הולדת – שיש כל כך הרבה אחיינים אז כמעט כל הזמן יש ימי הולדת 🙂
אוהבת את העוגה הזאת!!
Shiran says
Thank you Winnie! Your doughnuts are now on my to-do list, by the way 🙂
Aarav Shah says
Where is the video?
Terri C. says
Thank you for the recipe. The pudding part is too bitter from too much cocoa powder. I’ll just use half that amount next time. I used half the vanilla and it was enough. I like the combination of white and brown sugar in the pudding. The amount of cocoa and salt in the cake is perfect. I’ll make this again with some adjustments.
Faye says
Hi,
Did you use Dutch cocoa? I would like to make this recipe but don’t know if your review is accurately based on the correct cocoa.
Thanks for your help.
Faye
Nona says
Could I use chocolate fudge pudding mix instead of the pudding sauce?
Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says
Hi Nona, pudding mix wouldn’t work as well because you want to use a runny sort of sauce, and pudding mix contains gelatin.
magda says
what kind of nuts and why it is not listed in the ingredients?
Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says
Hi Magda, sorry about this – it’s a typo. There are no nuts in this recipe
Wendi says
Wonderful recipe. I used buttermilk. It makes everything better in baking. Did I see somewhere baking in separate ramekins.? That would change the baking time. I seem to remember 15 minutes . Is that correct?
Alicia says
Just curious…i’ll be dealing with time restrictions to make this a warm dessert but would really like to try your version. It looks absolutely delish!! Can i make this with a chocolate cake mix and then use your pudding part over that? TIA 😋
Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says
Hi Alicia, yes this will work too!
Orange says
Yummy, this is one of my favorite desserts. I’m glad I found this recipe. Didn’t have whole milk so I used canned milk. That’s the only change I made. All other directions were followed an everything came out great.
Joy says
This cake is ABSOLUTELY delicious.!!!!! I loved it when I lived in the Midwest and now introduced it to my Northeastern husband! I used vanilla bean pasted instead of vanilla extract and increased the amount from 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon. I backed it for 25 minutes but I’m going to increase baking time to30 minutes in the future. I’m also going to try this recipe with gluten-free flour for a friend who has gluten sensitivity.
Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says
Thank you, Joy! I’m so glad you and your husband enjoyed the recipe 🙂 Would love to hear how the gluten free version turns out!
patty Gwin says
Absolutely delicious. Didn’t change a thing. Be sure to use Dutch chocolate, a bit expensive but worth it.
Janis says
We loved this cake! I didn’t have any whole milk so I used Half & Half and a little bit of water. I also used Hershey’s special dark cocoa powder. This was a quick and easy dessert to make and so delicious, and don’t forget the ice cream!
Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says
Thank you, Janis! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Alison says
Please can anyone give me a hint what ‘Dutch processed cocoa’ is?
I’ve never heard of it – maybe I live in the wrong country.?
Is it just cocoa from The Netherlands? Or is it a specific type of cocoa? Or a brand name?
Thanks.
Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says
Hi Alison, Dutch-processed cocoa powder has a more intense chocolatey flavor than natural cocoa powder, which is what you typically find in grocery stores. Dutch-processed cocoa powder is made with cocoa beans that have been neutralized, meaning it won’t react with baking soda. I prefer Dutch-processed for it’s flavor, but you can use natural cocoa powder for this recipe, too 🙂
Alison says
Thank you, I’ve leaned something new!
I haven’t seen ‘Dutch processed’ on the tins or packets of any cocoa that I can buy on the shelves where I live (UK), but if I read the ingredients, I see that any cocoa intended for drinking cocoa contains the acidity regulator, Potassium Carbonate. I think most of the well known brand names of cocoa I can buy seem to ‘dutch processed’ (Cadbury’s, Green and Black’s, Hotel Chocolate) – it seems I need to make a special effort to seek out ‘Organic cocoa powder’ or ‘pure cocoa’ to get something that isn’t neutralised with an acidity regulated.
I never knew that!
Nicole Rae says
I just made this tonight and it was delicious! It definitely took care of my chocolate craving! I added 1 tblsp instant espresso to the cake mix and the cake came out perfect! I did cook for the full 30 minutes. Thanks for the recipe!
Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says
Hi Nicole, espresso is a great addition ! So glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Alina S. says
I’ve got a troubleshooting question: what happens if the sauce is too thin to be “pudding” consistency after it’s done baking? I baked mine for 27 minutes, and it was still cracked on the top and pulling away from the side. I wasn’t sure if my the two changes I made: an 8” round pan, or 2% milk, made a difference. It is a delicious recipe, thank you!
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
Hi Alina, likely it was the 8″ round pan that was the culprit. The surface area on an 8″ circle is less than an 8″ square, so your cake likely needed more baking time due to the extra concentration of batter.
Caroline says
Hi. I would like to try this cake but I have a question: can you make it with skim milk? We don’t drink or have whole milk on hand. Will it affect the consistency or baking time?
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
Hi Caroline, you should be able to substitute skim milk 1 for 1 and add an additional teaspoon of butter just to make up for the fat content. Hope this helps!
Charlie Garalis says
Can you substitute self rising flour for the all-purpose, baking powder and salt?
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
Hi Charlie, I have not tried that, but it should work okay.
carol says
This is a wonderful recipe. i’ve used a different recipe before but this was just as good. I’ve also made one similar in a crockpot which left my oven free for other things.
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
Hi Carol, Thank you for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed this cake!
Kalpana Sundaram says
How cone this recipe doesn’t contain eggs? Can you please give me a version of this recipe that contains eggs?
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
Hi Kalpana, from a food safety perspective, it is best that this cake doesn’t contain eggs because it creates a gooey middle that we wouldn’t want to have raw or undercooked egg in.
Marilee Kay Salfelder says
What chocolate sauce do you pour over the top? I only see the sauce that hies on top of the batter.
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
Hi Marilee, You don’t need to add a chocolate sauce to the top after it is baked. Once you dig in to the cake, you’ll experience the fudgy, gooey, chocolatey center as pictured.
Pearl says
Hi – can I double recipe? Just found out there will be more people at the gathering.
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
Hi Pearl, yes, I’d use a 9×13 pan instead!
Wendy says
My mom used to make this and it was always my favorite. She passed away and I lost the recipe. I just thought about it today so googled ‘Chocolate Pudding cake’ and this came up…and this is exactly it! Thanks so much–I’m so happy you posted this…and yes it is a scrumptious dessert!
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
Hi Wendy! Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m sorry to hear about your mom’s passing. May the comfort of memories & food keep her alive in your heart forever.
nina says
Haven’t made this in years and couldn’t find my recipe. I was looking for it because my 4yr old grand son told me he wanted to make “cholate soup cale” I thought this might fit the bill. haven’t done it yet because he has been unable to come to my house for a while
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
Hi Nina, this would be the perfect cake to make with your grandson! I hope he enjoys it.
Kathryn says
I use to make this cake years ago. A few days ago I made it to share with dinner at my daughters home, needless to say it was a HIT! However, I would like to try making a Vanilla version. Any pointers for success?
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
Hi Kathryn, thank you so much for your kind words and review! You bring up a great point- I should definitely do some recipe testing to come up with a vanilla pudding cake. I’d probably substitute the cocoa powder with cornstarch and add at least 1 Tablespoon of quality vanilla (possibly vanilla bean paste) in with the pudding mixture for added flavor.
Mary Taylor says
Very similar to a lava cake. My mother used to make this all the time. I can’t find her recipe but I made this in Florida and it was delicious! I added walnuts!! Yummy!
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
So glad you loved this recipe, Mary! That sounds delicious.
Kalyn Griffin says
Can you assemble the cake up to adding hot coffee the day before, then when I get there add boiling coffee and bake?
I’m making this for a birthday.
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
Hi Kalyn, I have not left a raw cake sit for a day before baking, so I don’t have a good answer for you. The batter will likely loose quite a bit of moisture from natural dehydration. The butter consistency will harden, changing the composition of the batter as well. I wouldn’t recommend it.
Lynn says
This is so good. Everyone in my family is addicted to it. It’s like we used to have for dessert up north but it was from a box. But still this is way BETTER THAN A BOX RECIPE , 1 to 100. THIS IS 💯
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
Thank you so much, Lynn! Your comment made my day. So glad this recipe brought back some proper nostalgia too!
Mary Ann says
I want to thank you for a wonderful dessert. Years ago I had a similar recipe and I think this one is even better then I remember!! I didn’t change a single thing and highly recommend all chocolate lovers to give this recipe a try. You won’t be disappointed.
Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says
Thank you for your kind words, Mary Ann!