Grandma’s Hot Fudge Sundae Cake is an easy chocolate pudding cake that makes its own hot fudge sauce as it bakes! Perfect with a generous scoop of ice cream on top.
Need more chocolate in your life? Curb those chocolate cravings with a Mocha Chocolate Mug Cake, Flourless Chocolate Lava Cakes, and The Best Homemade Brownies Ever!
Table of Contents
- Why we love this Hot Fudge Sundae Cake recipe:
- See what people are saying
- Ingredients for this easy chocolate dessert:
- How to make old-fashioned Chocolate Pudding Cake:
- Variations and Substitutions:
- Tips and Notes:
- How to store:
- Can I freeze:
- Make-ahead option:
- Can I make this recipe in the crockpot?
- Serving suggestions:
- More brownie recipes you’ll love:
- Grandma’s Hot Fudge Sundae Cake Recipe
Grandma’s Hot Fudge Sundae Cake is a rich chocolate cake overflowing with a gooey hot fudge sauce that develops as the cake bakes. It’s like a hot fudge sundae in cake form!
This recipe is super easy to throw together. Once you mix the ingredients together and make the cocoa and brown sugar layer, you’ll pour hot water over it before the cake bakes. This helps create that super gooey fudge sauce!
This cake has a chewy, almost brownie-like layer on the top and a thick, hot, rich chocolate sauce on the bottom. It’s divine. Grab a tub of your favorite ice cream and dig in!
Why we love this Hot Fudge Sundae Cake recipe:
- Make-ahead friendly: If you’ve got company coming over, you can prep this cake ahead of time, bake, and serve!
- Chocolate lover’s delight: The warm brownie and gooey rich fudge sauce will curb those chocolate cravings in a snap!
- Easy: Grandma liked to keep things easy, and so do I. This recipe is super easy to make with simple ingredients and a tried-and-true result.
See what people are saying
“I made this and we all thought it was great! I love how when you scoop it out the chocolate sauce comes pouring. Yummmm!” Lindsay
Ingredients for this easy chocolate dessert:
- All-purpose flour: This provides structure and helps thicken the fudge sauce as the cake bakes. You can substitute for 100% whole wheat flour and no one will know the difference.
- Sugar: because it’s cake!
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: I use unsweetened cocoa powder, but you could use Dutch-processed cocoa powder for a richer flavor.
- Baking powder: This acts as a leavening agent to help the cake rise while baking.
- Milk: Gives the cake a fluffy crumb. Any kind works great!
- Oil: Adds moisture and creates a tender crumb. Use a neutral cooking oil like canola, vegetable, or avocado oil.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a depth of flavor. You could also use vanilla bean paste if you prefer a more intense vanilla flavor!
- Brown sugar: This is combined with some of the cocoa powder to make the hot fudge sauce.
- Hot water: This is poured over top of the cake and is a key component in our hot fudge sauce.
How to make old-fashioned Chocolate Pudding Cake:
Grandma liked to keep things simple, so this recipe is a breeze! For the full list of recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, milk, oil, and vanilla in a medium bowl until a thick batter forms.
- Spread batter into a greased pie plate or a square pan with tall sides.
- Mix brown sugar and cocoa powder, then sprinkle over the batter.
- Pour water over the top (don’t stir).
- Bake until the top is dry and puffed.
- Serve the warm cake with a scoop of ice cream and maraschino cherries for a classic sundae feel!
Variations and Substitutions:
- Spices: Add s pinch of cinnamon or a dash of espresso powder to the batter or cocoa mixture to enhance the chocolate flavor!
- Toppings: Try adding crushed nuts (like walnuts or pecans), chocolate chips, or a drizzle of caramel or peanut butter sauce for an extra layer of indulgence.
- Extract: Replace the vanilla with mint extract for mint chocolatey goodness!
Tips and Notes:
- The fudge sauce will set as the cake cools. If you want more of a gooey chocolate cake and less of a chocolate cake with chocolate fudge sauce, reduce the boiling water to 1 and ¼ cups.
- Want to make a double batch? Double the ingredients and pour everything into a 9×13-inch pan. Bake as directed!
How to store:
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to warm it up!
Can I freeze:
Yes! This cake freezes very well. Scoop out individual servings and pop them into airtight containers. They will last in the freezer for up to 3 months! Make sure to let the cake thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating in the microwave.
Make-ahead option:
You could make the batter, spread it in the pan, top it with the brown sugar mixture, and then cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Then just pour the hot water on top and bake as directed!
Can I make this recipe in the crockpot?
Absolutely! To make a crock pot Hot Fudge Sundae Cake, you’ll need to use the following instructions:
- Make the recipe as directed and set your slow cooker to high for 2-4 hours. Note: All slow cookers are different, so I suggest checking the cake at 2 hours with a toothpick and adding more time as needed.
- Let the cake cool slightly to allow the fudge sauce to set. Serve warm!
Serving suggestions:
It wouldn’t be a Hot Fudge Sundae Cake without a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top! Add some whipped cream and cherries on top for a decadent dessert.
More brownie recipes you’ll love:
Grandma’s Hot Fudge Sundae Cake
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Hot Fudge Sauce
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1½ cup hot water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, milk, cocoa, oil, baking powder, vanilla and salt. Batter will be very thick — don't fear. You might need to stir with a metal spoon.
- Spread batter into a greased 9″ pie plate or square pan (*Note: make sure your pan has tall sides, otherwise your cake might run over a bit.)
Hot Fudge Sauce
- Combine brown sugar and ¼ cup cocoa. Spread over batter.
- Top with hot water. Bake for about 30-35 minutes until top is dry and puffed. (*Note: put a cookie sheet underneath your pan in the oven, just in case a little spills over).
- Serve warm with ice cream.
Notes
Nutrition Information
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Owen Sandra says
Mine tastes really funny like the cocoa was powdery and not properly cooked
Ashley Fehr says
I’m sorry, I’ve never had that happen before.