A magical, old-fashioned dessert where the cake bakes on top and a rich chocolate sauce forms underneath. Perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
📋 Ingredients
For the Cake Batter:
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1 cup all-purpose flour
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¾ cup granulated sugar
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2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
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2 tsp baking powder
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¼ tsp salt
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½ cup milk
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⅓ cup melted butter
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1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Topping:
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1 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
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¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
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1 ¾ cups hot water
🧁 Instructions
1. Preheat Oven
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Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Grease an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) baking dish.
2. Make the Batter
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In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
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Stir in milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
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Pour batter into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
3. Add the Topping
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In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cocoa powder.
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Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the batter without mixing.
4. Pour Hot Water
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Slowly and carefully pour 1 ¾ cups of hot water over the top.
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Do not stir. This creates the pudding-like sauce as it bakes.
5. Bake
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Bake for 35–40 minutes, until the top is set and the bottom is bubbling with thick chocolate sauce.
6. Serve
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Let cool for 5–10 minutes.
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Spoon into bowls and serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
🍴 Tips & Tricks
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Use boiling water for best results.
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The cake will look soft in the center — that’s the molten sauce!
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Add a pinch of espresso powder for a deeper chocolate flavor.