Home » Dessert Recipes » Hot Fudge Cake

Hot Fudge Cake

Gooey and filled with chocolate, this homemade Hot Fudge Cake has a nice crusty top and a hot fudgy center. Easy to make too!

A FUDGY CAKE RECIPE

This Hot Fudge Chocolate Cake is absolutely amazing, with a crispy topping that covers a hot fudge filling. The two textures together create for a crispy and gooey cake that you just cannot resist. Top with some ice cream and you have yourself one heck of a dessert. If you are a chocolate lover like I am, then this Hot Fudge Chocolate Cake recipe is just for you!

Overhead of Hot Fudge Chocolate Cake with ice cream on top.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What is the taste and texture of this cake?

This has a rich chocolate flavor with a crispy topping and a hot fudge/pudding sauce that is underneath.

Do I have to use the chocolate chips?

No, it is not an integral part of the recipe. I like what it adds to the cake butyou can omit them if you’d like.

Can I change the flavor of this?

Yes, you can add different extracts to change up the flavor slightly. Some other extracts might be: almond, coffee, peppermint and strawberry

What can I top this with?

Our favorite is to top it with a scoop of ice cream. Some other toppings you can use are whipped cream, homemade vanilla sauce, hot fudge (if you really want to amp up the chocolate flavor) and caramel sauce.

Do I have to use buttermilk?

I always make this with buttermilk, it helps with the consistency of the cake itself and it contributes to the moistness because of the fat content in buttermilk.

Should I let this sit before serving?

You can let this sit before serving. The longer it sits the more it sets up.

How do I store leftovers?

This can be stored in the pan covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator where it will keep for up to 5 days. This can also be frozen. I recommend placing in a freezer container and it will keep for up to 3 months. To defrost, remove to refrigerator overnight. Scoop out your portions and reheat in the microwave until heated through.

Pinterest image of Hot Fudge Chocolate Cake with ice cream.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)

  • all-purpose flour
  • unsweetened cocoa powder
  • granulated sugar
  • light brown sugar, packed
  • baking powder
  • salt
  • buttermilk
  • vegetable oil
  • vanilla extract
  • mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • boiling water
Ingredients needed: all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, baking powder, fine sea salt, buttermilk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, semi-sweet chocolate chips and boiling water.

HOW TO MAKE A HOT FUDGE CAKE:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9-inch baking dish with baking spray, set aside. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Whisked together dry ingredients in bowl.

Add the buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.

Buttermilk, oil and vanilla added to dry ingredients.

Stir together until combined with no dry patches.

Cake batter mixed together in bowl.

Add the batter to the baking dish and smooth it out in the bottom of the dish.

Cake batter spread into bottom of baking pan.

In a separate bowl make the sauce by stirring together the sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips. 

Sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips stirred together in bowl.

Sprinkle this mixture over the batter.

Sauce topping sprinkled on top of batter in baking pan.

Pour the boiling water over the top, do not mix it in. Bake for 28-32 minutes until the top looks set and cracked and the sides and starting to pull away from the dish.

Water being poured over cake in baking dish.

Let the cake cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before serving.

Finished cake on wire rack.
Hot Fudge Chocolate Cake on pink plate topped with ice cream.

WANT MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES?

Close up square image of Hot Fudge Chocolate Cake on pink plate with ice cream.

Hot Fudge Cake

Gooey and filled with chocolate, this homemade Hot Fudge Chocolate Cake has a nice crusty top and a hot fudgy center. Easy to make too!
5 from 9 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 32 minutes
Total Time: 42 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

For the sauce:

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9-inch baking dish with baking spray, set aside.
  • In a large bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  • Add the buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
  • Stir together until combined with no dry patches.
  • Add the batter to the baking dish and smooth it out in the bottom of the dish.
  • In a separate bowl make the sauce by stirring together the sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips.
  • Sprinkle this mixture over the batter.
  • Pour the boiling water over the top, do not mix it in. Bake for 28-32 minutes until the top looks set and cracked and the sides and starting to pull away from the dish.
  • Let the cake cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • The chocolate chips are optional in this cake.
  • This is a really rich chocolate cake, so perfect for chocolate lovers.
  • Let sit 15 minutes to set up.
  • This can be frozen, see tips above on how to do that.
  • Other extracts can be added to change the flavor, some ideas are included above.
  • Top with some of your favorite toppings, see above for suggestions.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 516kcal | Carbohydrates: 92g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 17g | Sodium: 435mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 67g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did you make this recipe?Share it on Instagram @thecountrycook and mention us #thecountrycook!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating