Fudgy Chocolate Pudding Cake

FoodDessertCakeValentine's DayVanillaFudgePuddingChocolateIce Cream

Feb 4

This is not a “neat slice on a plate” kind of cake.

This is a spoon-in-the-pan, still-warm, ice-cream-melting, chocolate-everywhere kind of dessert. The kind you make when you don’t want to impress anyone - you just want something deeply comforting and unapologetically chocolatey.

This fudgy pudding chocolate cake bakes up with a soft, cake-like top and a rich, glossy chocolate sauce underneath. You don’t frost it. You don’t decorate it. You just scoop it, pour the sauce over the top, and let the ice cream do its thing.

It’s cozy. It’s dramatic. It’s exactly the dessert you make when you want something warm and indulgent without a lot of effort.

And yes - it’s made in one pan.

What Is a Chocolate Pudding Cake?

If you’ve never had a pudding cake before, let me explain it in the best possible way:

You mix a simple chocolate cake batter.
You pour a chocolatey liquid over the top.
You bake it.

Somehow, the cake rises to the top while a rich chocolate sauce forms underneath.

You end up with:

A soft, tender cake layer
A molten, fudgy sauce at the bottom

No stirring halfway. No special tricks. Just trust the process.

It feels like dessert sorcery, but it’s actually very easy.

Ingredients

Cake Batter

Chocolate Sauce Layer

For serving

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat and prep

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 9-inch round baking dish or oven-safe skillet.

Step 2: Make the cake batter

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.

Add the milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir until smooth and well combined.

Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.

Step 3: Add the pudding layer

In a separate bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cocoa powder.

Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the cake batter.

Slowly pour the hot water over the entire surface. Do not stir. This step feels wrong - but it’s essential.

Step 4: Bake

Place the dish in the oven and bake uncovered for 35 minutes.

The top should look set and slightly crackled, while the sauce underneath remains soft and bubbly.

Step 5: Cool slightly and serve

Remove from the oven and let rest for 5–10 minutes.

Scoop warm cake and sauce into bowls, top with vanilla ice cream, and serve immediately.

Why This One Is So Good

This recipe works because it doesn’t try to be fancy.

It’s:

Deeply chocolatey
Not overly sweet
Soft on top, gooey underneath
Best served warm

It’s also incredibly forgiving. You don’t need perfect measurements or baking precision. As long as you don’t overbake it, it’s going to be delicious.

This is the kind of dessert you make when you want people to close their eyes on the first bite.

Ice Cream Is Not Optional

I don’t make the rules - but vanilla ice cream is non-negotiable here.

The cold ice cream melting into the warm chocolate cake and sauce is what turns this from “good” into unforgettable. The contrast is everything.

If you want to get fancy, you can drizzle extra chocolate sauce on top, but honestly… you don’t need to.

The cake already did the work for you.

Make It Your Own

Once you’ve made it once, you’ll start thinking of ways to customize it:

Add chocolate chips to the batter
Sprinkle sea salt on top after baking
Use espresso powder to deepen the chocolate flavor
Serve with whipped cream instead of ice cream

It’s a great base recipe that welcomes experimentation.

Storage & Reheating

If you have leftovers:

Store covered in the fridge for up to 2 days
Reheat gently in the microwave until warm and saucy again

The texture changes slightly, but it’s still very good.

Final Thoughts

This fudgy pudding chocolate cake is one of those desserts that feels like a reward.

It’s warm, rich, and comforting - the kind of dessert you make when you don’t want perfection, you just want something that hits.

This recipe is perfect: minimal prep, one dish, and maximum payoff.

If you’re craving something chocolatey, cozy, and deeply satisfying… this is it

Looking for more dessert recipes? Try my popular recipes below:

Healthy RecipesdessertValentine's DayVanillaIce CreamPuddingCakeFudgeChocolate

Sophia Vincent