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Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

The magic of the chocolate-oozing molten cake — also known as chocolate lava cake — is a rich chocolate cake with an oozing molten center. The original recipe was created by master chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten fortuitously when he pulled a chocolate cake out of the oven before it was done and discovered the center to be wonderfully warm and pudding-like. Surprisingly, it’s easy enough for even the novice baker to make at home. What’s more, it can be prepared ahead of time, stored in the fridge or baked, and heated at the last minute.

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

Preheat oven to 350°

Measure out individual ingredients:

  • 1 Cup Flour
  • ¾ Cup granulated sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • ½ Cup milk
  • 2 Tablespoons butter (melted)
  • 1 Cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 Cup brown sugar
  • ¼ Cup cocoa powder
  • 2 Cups boiling water

Directions:

  1. In a medium-size bowl, mix dry ingredients.
  2. Pour in ½ Cup milk, 2 Tablespoons melted butter, and 1 Cup chopped walnuts. Mix well, the batter will be very thick. Spread batter into a lightly greased 9x9x2” baking pan. Cover and refrigerate to bake later, or proceed to the next step.
  3. Before baking, sprinkle 1 Cup brown sugar and ¼ Cup cocoa powder on top of the batter. Slowly pour 2 Cups of boiling water to the top of the unbaked cake. Do not mix!
  4. Bake for 45 minutes. Immediately spoon out serving pieces topping each with generous chocolate pudding scooped from the baking dish. Top with whipped cream, and serve while hot and steamy. Fresh strawberries or raspberries on top make a beautiful Valentine's Day dessert. 
  • photo by Carole Davenport
  • photo by Carole Davenport
  • photo by Carole Davenport
  • photo by Carole Davenport
about the author...Carole Davenport is a Montana travel writer-photographer and content specialist on her blog https://divineviewtraveler.wordpress.com. She is co-authoring a soon-to-be-released cookbook #bitterrootfresh with her two daughters, filled with their original recipes and photographs.