With double the chocolate in each bite, this Chocolate Pudding Cake is a soft, gooey treat that no one can refuse. Prepped in just one bowl, the dump cake is made with both cake mix and fudge pudding for the ultimate dessert.
With the rich flavor of chocolate cake and the thick moisture of classic pudding, this pudding cake recipe comes together in just 45 minutes.
This cake uses two kinds of chocolate and easy ingredients to come together, plus the recipe is a “dump and bake” one that requires very little effort in the kitchen, like these cake mix cookies. The result is a rich chocolate flavor with a soft and gooey texture that you can enjoy with a scoop of sprinkles ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: All you need is a handful of pantry staples and prep-packaged cake and pudding mix for this easy pudding cake recipe to come together.
- Bold Chocolate Flavor: In this cake, you have all kinds of chocolate from the cake mix, fudge pudding, and chocolate chips to bring out a purely indulgent taste.
- Minimal Kitchen Time: The pudding cake is made all in one bowl and then poured into a baking pan, which means you need no kitchen experience, and prep is minimal.
Ingredients
This old-fashioned chocolate pudding cake uses simple pantry ingredients, many of which you most likely have on hand, to make it quick to whip up.
- Chocolate Cake Mix: Using a boxed cake mix allows you to skip a lot of effort on prep. Use a regular or double chocolate mix for the best flavor.
- Chocolate Fudge Pudding: Though traditional chocolate pudding will work (as will other flavors to vary the taste), the fudge-based one brings an extra richness to the recipe.
- Chocolate Chips: You’ll want both milk and semi-sweet chocolate chips for the chocolate cake with pudding.
- Whole Milk: The higher fat in the milk helps the cake come together. Make sure your milk is at room temperature or lightly heated, though, so that it mixes in with the pudding and doesn’t harden the butter.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Mix Ins: To customize the chocolate cake with chocolate pudding, you can mix in or top it with bits of candy, white chocolate chips, or even colorful sprinkles.
- Drizzle: Give a bit of extra sweetness to the cake by drizzling on chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, or extra chocolate fudge. White chocolate is stunning as well.
- Bold Espresso: For the coffee lovers in your life, add one to two tablespoons of espresso powder to the mix.
- Peanut Butter: Mix some peanut butter powder into the cake base and finish by drizzling extra peanut butter on top for a classic combo.
How to Make Chocolate Pudding Cake
The steps on how to make pudding cake are pretty simple, and no major skills are required. This makes it a great dessert recipe for beginners in the kitchen.
Step 1: Prep the Dish. Add the butter to your baking dish and use a brush to spread it up over the sides to prevent sticking.
Step 2: Add in the Liquids. Use a whisk to mix in the warm milk and vanilla extract until it’s combined.
Step 3: Sprinkle the Mixes. Add the chocolate cake mix and pudding mix to the liquid mixture.
Step 4: Mix Well. Use a whisk to combine everything in the dish until the chocolate is wet-looking and no clumps remain.
Step 5: Top With Chocolate. Evenly sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the pudding cake.
Step 6: Bake and Serve. Bake the cake in the oven until a toothpick comes out mostly clean. Let it cool for a moment and then serve it with caramel sauce if you desire and a caramel mocha or hot coffee for sipping!
Recipe Tips
- Warm the Milk: The whole milk needs to be room temperature or lightly warmed up before it’s added to the dish so that it doesn’t harden the butter when mixed.
- Check for Doneness: The pudding cake is finished baking when a toothpick is inserted into it, and it comes out mostly clean. A few wet crumbs are alright, as it means you’ll have a gooier cake.
- Mix Well: When you mix the cake and pudding into the wet mixture, really make sure that no dry clumps remain, as it will affect the texture of the end result.
- Topping the Cake: If you plan to use extra sprinkles or chocolate chips on top, let the cake cool slightly before doing so. This ensures your toppings won’t melt when they touch the top.
If you love desserts with chocolate pudding, you’ve got to try this creamy chocolate and strawberry pudding dessert.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Once cooled, leftover cake can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to four days.
- Reheating: To enjoy the cake warm again, reheat slices in the microwave in intervals until warmed through or enjoy at room temperature or chilled.
- Freezing: We don’t recommend freezing the pudding cake as the texture will change when it thaws, thanks to the pudding.
Serving Suggestions
This chocolate cake recipe goes perfectly with something like brownie ice cream. We also love to:
- Drizzle it with butter pecan Syrup to create new flavors.
- Add crushed muddy buddy pretzels for a crunchy texture.
- Crumble cookies like peanut butter M&M cookies on top.
Recipe FAQs
Make sure not to overbake the cake. To make the best pudding cake recipe, you want to remove it while there are still some crumbs coming out on the toothpick. This ensures you have a gooey cake. Dense cakes are often from being in the oven too long.
It doesn’t need to be hot, just warmed. If you mix cold milk into the melted butter, the butter will harden, and it will be difficult to mix. Milk at room temperature or heated for a few seconds in the microwave is perfect.
More Delicious Pudding Desserts
Do you like cooking desserts with pudding? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section, I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Chocolate Pudding Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 ½ cups whole milk heated or room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 box (13.25 oz) chocolate cake mix
- 1 box (3.9 oz) chocolate fudge pudding
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- ¼ cup Caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- To a 9x13 baking dish add the butter. Use a pastry brush to coat the baking dish.
- To the baking dish add the heated milk and vanilla extract. The heated milk needs to be just warm as that will prevent the butter going hard. Whisk.
- Sprinkle the cake mix on top.
- Sprinkle the pudding on top.
- Whisk until just combined.
- Add the chocolate chips to the top.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out almost clean. A few wet crumbs will create a gooier cake.
- Serve immediately, allow it to cool slightly, or cool completely. Serve with caramel sauce if you desire!
Notes
- Do not overbake the cake, as it will come out dry and not gooey. Instead, remove the cake from the oven when the sides are just start to crack.
- Enjoy the pudding cake warm right out of the oven or wait a few minutes for it to cool before topping it with whipped cream and enjoying it warm.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in March 2017. It's been updated with new content and images.
Jossilyn says
This is the most moist cake ever made by me! So easy to make too. I love this cake with ice cream while it’s warm. Yum. It’s the best. TFS ❤️
Karin and Ken says
It is definitely delicious. I love it warm too with ice cream or whipped cream. So good. All the best. Karin