Description
Moist chocolate cake with a rich, gooey fudge sauce. Easy to make and perfect for any occasion!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 ¼ cups boiling water
- 4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whipped cream
- Chopped nuts
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish well.
- Combine Dry Ingredients (Cake): In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add Wet Ingredients (Cake): Add milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Beat until just combined.
- Boiling Water (Cake): Carefully pour 1 cup of boiling water into the batter and stir until smooth. The batter will be thin.
- Combine Brown Sugar and Cocoa (Sauce): In a separate bowl, whisk together brown sugar and cocoa powder for the fudge sauce.
- Sprinkle Over Batter: Evenly sprinkle the brown sugar and cocoa mixture over the top of the cake batter in the prepared baking dish.
- Pour Boiling Water (Sauce): Gently pour 2 ¼ cups of boiling water over the brown sugar and cocoa mixture. Do not stir.
- Dot with Butter: Dot the surface with the pieces of unsalted butter.
- Bake: Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cake is set around the edges but still slightly soft in the center. A toothpick inserted into the cake portion should come out with moist crumbs, but not wet batter.
- Cool Slightly: Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for about 15-20 minutes before serving.
- Add Vanilla Extract and Salt to Sauce: While the cake is cooling, gently stir in the 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt into the fudge sauce on top of the cake.
- Serve Warm: Serve warm, straight from the baking dish.
- Optional Toppings: Top with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and/or chopped nuts.
Notes
- Don’t overmix the cake batter.
- Use good quality cocoa powder for a richer flavor. Dutch-processed is recommended.
- Baking times may vary; check for doneness after 30 minutes.
- You can prepare the cake batter and fudge sauce mixture ahead of time and store them separately in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, simply pour the boiling water over the mixture and bake as directed.
- Store leftover cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes