Apparently, I am very open to suggestion. Show me an elaborate dessert, the kind that requires shopping trips, and chilling times and multiple bowls, and I’ll look at it lustily for a few moments and file it away for a special occasion. I might come back to it in a year or two, or even four, or it may just sit there, taking up space in my mind that should really be dedicated to this. Show me, however, a dessert I can make in 15 minutes, with things I have in my pantry,* and chances are I’ll squeeze it in, tonight, right between my plans for Spaghetti Bolognese and a shower.
Which brings us to Ashley’s Hot Fudge Pudding Cake: one glance at that title (and those photos!) and I was making it in my own kitchen less than 24 hours later.
It begins rather innocently: you whisk together the dry ingredients, and then stir in the wet. You spread this out in your cake pan, sprinkling it with chocolate chips followed by a dusting of brown sugar and cocoa. And then it gets exciting: you combine espresso powder with hot water, and pour it all over the batter, drowning it in a pool of midnight black. Bubbly, with puffs of cocoa, and little islands of chocolate, it now looks like a pre-school science project. Without stirring, you lower it gingerly into the oven. While baking, the sauce seeps to the bottom of the pan creating a thick, rich pudding, and leaving a layer of moist chocolate cake in its wake. Served warm, and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it is seriously ooh-inducing.
*Let’s be honest, I didn’t have chocolate chips, because I eat them like the candy that they are, so I picked up a chocolate bar along with a pint of vanilla ice cream on my way home.
P.S. I’m giving away a copy of Joy the Baker’s cookbook! (Ends 5/6).
Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
The cake batter is topped with a pool of warm espresso, which slowly seeps to the bottom of the cake as it bakes, creating a bottom layer of rich, thick pudding. Served warm, and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it makes for a party of contrasts: warm chocolate cake, gooey pudding and cold ice cream providing bite after bite of pleasure. Bonus points for minimal prep time and heavy reliance on pantry staples (ie: I bet you could make this right now).
from Not Without Salt
prep: 20 minutes/ baking time: 40 minutes
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
1 cup hot water
1. Preheat your oven to 350F/180C. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, 1/4 cup cocoa, and 1/2 cup sugar. Whisk to combine. Stir in the milk, vanilla extract, egg yolk and melted butter. Spread the batter into a buttered 8 or 9-inch square cake pan, and sprinkle with chocolate chips.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/4 cup cocoa and 1/2 cup brown sugar, breaking up clumps. Sprinkle mixture over cake.
3. Combine the espresso powder with the hot water and pour all over the top of the cake, but do not stir. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the edges are set, but the middle still jiggles; as the sauce has now settled to the bottom creating a rich pudding. Let cool in pan for about 15-20 minutes. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
I was looking for a good chocolate cake receipe for my little one’s first birthday cake (Sasha is turning one next week) and now, not only i found it but i can’t wait until next Thursday to make it ;-))
Love, Sarah
I love Not Without Salt’s website.. but I love your post even more xoxo Excellent pictures, great writing and a contest!! I’m making a mental note of this one too!! xo Smidge
I feel bad that I had never come across your awesome site before but like i tell the love of my life who i just celebrated another anniversary with, ‘better late than never’. :) This recipe looks so good and so easy therefore I must make it tonite since dinner is being made by the slow cooker as we speak. Easy dinner & easy dessert = good tuesday night. Great job on the site.
Did someone drink one of the espressos in between photos? ;) Maybe sneaked a little cake too? This looks too good!
Haha! I couldn’t resist pouring the espresso onto the cake affogato-style ;)
chocolate + coffee is my favorite combo – this looks incredible. I’m with you and simple recipes that can be thrown together asap. Although I love more obscure recipes and ingredients, I always come back to the simple onces, especially when having friends over. I love the idea that you stick what looks like a chocolate soup in the oven and it comes out a pudding. Incredible. Beautiful photos.
Hi Talley! Chocolate + coffee are my favorite too- alone or together ;) In fact, I’m drinking a coffee and snacking on some chocolate chips right now… I find simple recipes to be soothing in a way intricate recipes aren’t (though I do like an occasional challenge)…
OMG !!! can’t believe I missed this one!!!! xoxo
you’re too cute!!!
oh my goodness its like my dream comes true my favorite cake forever……………….love u thanks
Reblogged this on bevsfoodhaven and commented:
Yummy :)