Hot Fudge Chocolate Pudding Cake 🍰🍫

This Hot Fudge Chocolate Pudding Cake is the ultimate dessert for chocolate lovers! It's a rich and decadent cake with a gooey fudge center that forms as it bakes, making it the perfect indulgence for any occasion. The beauty of this cake is that it’s a two-in-one dessert—cake and fudge—served warm straight from the oven for an irresistible treat!

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Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1/2 cup milk (whole milk preferred)

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 large egg

For the Fudge Sauce:

• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 1/4 cups hot water

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Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8x8-inch (or similar size) baking dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

2. Prepare the Cake Batter:

• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, granulated sugar, and cocoa powder until well combined.

• In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and egg until smooth and fully incorporated.

• Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until combined. The batter will be thick, and that’s perfectly fine—this will form the cake layer.

3. Prepare the Fudge Sauce:

• In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cocoa powder for the fudge sauce.

• Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the cake batter. Do not stir—it will settle on top of the batter to form the fudge layer during baking.

• Pour the hot water evenly over the top of the cake batter and fudge mixture. Again, do not stir—this will create the gooey sauce as the cake bakes.

4. Bake the Cake:

• Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes. The cake will rise on top, but the bottom will remain fudgy and molten.

• You’ll know it’s done when the top appears set, and the edges are slightly pulling away from the sides of the dish. The center should still be soft and slightly wobbly—that’s where the gooey fudge sauce forms.

5. Serve:

• Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes.

• Serve the cake warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or just enjoy it as-is for a pure chocolate experience.

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Tips for the Perfect Hot Fudge Chocolate Pudding Cake:

• Don’t stir the fudge sauce: It might seem like you should mix the dry ingredients and water together, but the magic of this recipe happens when the fudge sauce forms on its own during baking.

• Use whole milk: For the richest flavor and texture, whole milk works best. You can substitute with almond or oat milk, but the taste and consistency may differ slightly.

• Customize the toppings: While vanilla ice cream is a classic pairing, you can also top it with fresh berries, a drizzle of caramel sauce, or even chopped nuts for added crunch.

• Bake in individual dishes: If you prefer individual servings, you can divide the batter and fudge mixture into smaller ramekins or baking dishes. Adjust the baking time accordingly, usually around 20-25 minutes, depending on the size of the dish.

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Nutritional Information (per serving):

• Calories: 300-350

• Fat: 15g

• Carbs: 45g

• Sugar: 35g

• Protein: 3g