Chocolate Cobbler is the best fix for gooey cake lovers! Rich and chocolatey, warm and melty in the middle, perfect for serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
In the mood for all things chocolate when it comes to dessert? I’ve got your back with these delicious recipes for Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie Bites, Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Salted Caramel Stuffed Double Chocolate Cookies.
Why This Recipe Works
The most perfectly (unexpected) dessert — We discovered a dessert like this on a cruise once a long time ago. They called the dessert a “warm chocolate melting cake.” It’s kinda a lot like chocolate lava cake but slightly different. Regardless, this chocolate cobbler is a chocolate-lovers dream dessert — a moist, chocolatey top half that’s like a brownie and then the bottom half is basically melted fudgy chocolate sauce.
Great for a crew — Since this chocolate pudding cake cooks up in a larger dish, it’s perfect for serving to a group of four or more (depending on how much you want to share). Or, if you’re all family (or close friends) you can just hand everyone a spoon and scoop the chocolate dessert right out of the dish!
Easy — No messing with souffles or individual dessert cups like you might see at restaurants or in other recipes. Go ahead and throw all these ingredients together (prep time is only 15 minutes!) and pop the dish into the oven while you eat dinner. The result is a delicious, warm chocolate cobbler recipe you’ll want to dig into the second it hits the table.
Brownie top — You know how everyone loves the top of muffins? Well this chocolate cobbler is like that but instead of a muffin it has a brownie-like top. The inside has an ooey gooey fudge sauce texture and the top has the taste and texture of the brownie top — a moist and chewy chocolate brownie top!
Recipe Ingredients
Sugar — Any granulated sugar brand works in this chocolate cobbler. What’s a dessert without the sweet you get from sugar? You can use the same sugar you use in the bottom layer for the top.
Flour — Any all-purpose flour brand will work in this chocolate dessert.
Cocoa Powder — Use a good brand of cocoa powder in both layers — you’ll want to taste that chocolatey flavor, trust me.
Baking Powder — Baking powder helps this dish to rise and make the cakey part more, well, cakey.
Salt — Used in both the base and the top layer, just a little salt helps bring all the ingredients together in a baked good.
Milk — Use 2% or whole milk if you have it.
Butter — I use melted unsalted butter in this chocolate cobbler. Then I add salt as the recipe indicates.
Brown Sugar — Light or dark brown sugar works here. I prefer dark but if you only have light you can use it — no need to run to the store.
Boiling Water — You’ll want to add boiling water to this chocolate cobbler because the hot, hot water blooms the cocoa powder and keeps it soft and moist. It also brings out the chocolate flavor and helps keep it flavorful and moist for several days after you make it.
Vanilla Extract — I prefer to use pure vanilla extract, but you can use imitation or use half and half — vanilla and almond for a slightly subtle nutty flavor.
Ice Cream — Optional, but really, you’ll want to go ahead and have the ice cream with this chocolate pudding cake, trust me.
Here’s How You Make It
- First, go ahead and preheat that oven to 350 degrees and grease a 2-quart casserole or baking dish. (not pictured)
- Now it’s time to make the chocolatey base. Take out a medium bowl, and in it combine together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Whisk it all together well. Then, in another bowl (or you can use a liquid measuring cup if you like — easier to pour later) whisk the milk and melted butter. Add wet ingredients to the dry and mix them together until just combined. (A few remaining small lumps are okay.) Spread the whole mixture into the bottom of your prepared dish. (photo 1)
- Now comes that delicious top layer. To make this, take out a small bowl and whisk together the sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Sprinkle this mixture on top of the base you already poured in the baking dish. Stir the vanilla (or vanilla and almond extracts if you’re using both) into the hot water. Slowly pour the water over the sugar mixture. (photos 2-3)
- Bake for 30-45 minutes or until the middle is mostly set. (How to tell if it’s set? Just give it a little shake — if it still moves a lot in the middle, it’s not quite ready.) (photo 4)
- Last but not least — serve this chocolate pudding cake warm with ice cream. (not pictured)
Unless you’re talking about someone who makes shoes, then yes, a cobbler is a baked good. Many people make all sorts of cobblers in the United States and England, where they are most popular. Typically they have some sort of a crumbly or biscuit topping and fruit underneath but for this chocolate cobbler, we bucked all the trends and made the layers all chocolate.
Always great with any flavor of ice cream!
Try topping this dessert with berries for a different texture, flavor, and coloring (I like to use raspberries for nice contrast).
Whipped cream is always a great idea for topping brownie-like desserts like this.
Want more chocolate? Try topping with hot fudge, chocolate chips, and chocolate whipped cream.
Nuts — some of my favorites include chopped pecans, walnuts, and peanuts.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Serve warm, with vanilla ice cream (or another of your favorite ice creams) for the ultimate treat!
- Keep this chocolate cobbler covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for 10 seconds at a time until it reaches the desired temperature.
More Dessert Recipes
Chocolate Cobbler
Ingredients
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 cup flour
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup milk
- 6 tablespoons butter - melted
Top Layer
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¼ cups boiling water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - (or ½ teaspoon vanilla + ½ teaspoon almond extract)
- optional: ice cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 2-quart casserole or baking dish.
- First prepare the base. In a medium bowl combine sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt – whisk well. In another bowl (or liquid measuring cup) whisk milk and melted butter. Add wet ingredients and mix until combined. (A few small lumps are okay) Spread mixture in the bottom of prepared dish.
- Next prepare the top layer. In a small bowl whisk together sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Sprinkle mixture on top of your base in the baking dish. Stir vanilla into hot water. Slowly pour water over the sugar mixture.
- Bake for 30-45 minutes until the middle is mostly set. (Just give it a little shake – if it still moves a lot in the middle, it’s not quite ready) Serve warm with ice cream.
Looks yummy! Could this be made afew hours in advance and re warmed before serving?
I’m not gonna lie, when I made this the other week, I spent all day thinking about it, waiting to get home so I could have another delicious piece! It’s dangerous how easy this is, and how many of the ingredients I keep on hand!
I’m so glad you love this as much as I do! Can’t get enough chocolate cobbler!
How do you take the flour? spoon method or straight from the jar?
I take it straight from the jar and level it.
This was great! a really easy recipe. definitely a keeper. a bit too sweet for me at times, so i’ll reduce the sugar next time i make it! <3
Thanks for your feedback, Ashley!!
We LOVELOVELOVE this dessert! Thanks so much for this fantastic recipe! I’ve been making it for a couple of years now, and every time I make it everyone is blown away on how delicious it is! Thanks again! 🙂
Amie
Super excited to hear that you’ve enjoyed this recipe time and time again!