A delicious chocolate pudding cake, with a warm, soft centre in a chocolate cake. Serve as individual servings or one big pudding cake.
Chocolate pudding cake is like the little black dress of desserts. It’s always perfect … for any occasion. Bad day and looking slip into a cup of chocolate consolation? It’s perfect. Entertaining a large group and wanting something delicious that everyone will love and can be made ahead and cooked up quickly? It’s perfect. Dessert for two for that special romantic dinner? It’s perfect.
It’s perfect because you can never go wrong when you put the words hot and chocolate together. (And did I mention it’s gluten-free?)
Ingredients and substitutions
A few notes about the key ingredients …
Chocolate – the quality of your chocolate pudding cake will be dictated largely by the quality of your chocolate. So while chocolate chips will work here, a good chocolate that you chop yourself will be rewarded!
Recipe tips!
- As these pudding cakes cool, they will sink in the middle, leaving an obvious spot for a little bit of topping. I’ve served this dessert with both ice cream and whipped cream on top. They are both good. The ice cream is classic, as it melts in with the hot chocolate in a perfect comfort-food sort of way. Vanilla ice cream is great, but if you want to get creative, try a coffee-flavoured ice cream. Top with a little grated chocolate, if you like.
- A whipped cream topping is decadent and a tad bit richer. I like to sprinkle with toasted almonds or pecans when using whipped cream, just to ground it a bit.
- Baking time for these puddings will vary based on what you bake it in. If you use a small/medium ramekin, it may take as little as 10 minutes. My cups took exactly 15 minutes. If using a larger bowl, they may need as much as 20 minutes in the oven. Whichever size, just bake them until a crust forms on top that has some deep cracks and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out with some gooey batter attached.
Making ahead and storing
You can refrigerate the batter before baking. Let sit at room temperature for a bit before baking and note it may take a few minutes longer to bake if the batter is cold. Eating fresh from the oven is best, but if necessary, you can also bake ahead, let cool, cover and keep at room temperature for several hours or cover and refrigerate. Re-heat for a few minutes or microwave to re-warm. Puddings will puff back up a bit when re-heated.
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Get the Recipe: Chocolate Pudding Cake
Ingredients
- 4 oz unsalted butter, cubed (1/2 cup or 1 stick)
- 6 oz semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2/3 cup white sugar
- Pinch salt, omit if using salted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° F. , with rack set in lower third of oven. Set ramekins or baking dishes on a baking sheet. No need to grease.
- Put the butter and chocolate in a medium-sized bowl, then set the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir gently until smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat and set aside.
- Using an electric mixer or by hand with a whisk, whip the eggs, sugar, and salt until the mixture is light and foamy, and just holding its shape (like soft whipped cream). This should take about 5 minutes with an electric mixer, or longer if doing by hand. Fold one-third of the beaten eggs into the chocolate to lighten it, then scrape the lightened chocolate mixture over the beaten eggs, and fold it in just until there are no streaks of eggs visible.
- Divide the batter into the baking dishes, filling them no more then 3/4 full (They will rise). *Note: If you like, you can cover and refrigerate batter in dishes now to bake later. Note that a cold batter will take longer to cook.
- Bake the puddings for about 12 to 20 minutes (depending on size of baking dish) until the puddings are puffed up and the top is crusted and deeply cracked. A toothpick inserted into the centre will come out with some soft chocolate attached.
- Serving and Storage: These can be served immediately, or you can let cool, cover, and keep at room temperature for up to a day. You can also refrigerate the batter before baking and then bring them to room temperature before baking.
Notes
More chocolate recipes to love!
Hi! I’m Jennifer, a home cook schooled by trial and error and almost 40 years of getting dinner on the table! I love to share my favourite recipes, both old and new, together with lots of tips and tricks to hopefully help make your home cooking enjoyable, stress free, rewarding and of course, delicious!
Another simple and great recipe. My family enjoyed it with vanilla ice cream. Thank you so much Jennifer.
Thanks Vildan. One of my favourite chocolate treats :)
I tried these for dessert tonight and my husband and I thought they were rich and delicious. Do you think I could keep the other four to share with friends the day after tomorrow? You mentioned in the directions to keep at room temperature for only a day. I was hoping to keep them in the fridge and warm them up again. One thing is for sure, we don’t want these to go to waste! Thanks so much for sharing. The fact that the recipe is gluten free is a big plus.
Hi Susan and glad you enjoyed them. I honestly don’t know how well they will keep in the fridge for a couple of days (they never last that long around here :) I’d be inclined to freeze them to enjoy yourself sometime later and make a fresh batch for company.
just found your blog im in love i am making this for my birthday this july6 i was looking for something like this. much love from puerto rico!
Thanks so much, Raquel! Happy Birthday and enjoy!
just found your blog im in love i am making this for my birthday this july6 i was looking for something like this. much love from puerto rico
This is both fantastic and one of the easiest recipes ever–what an incredible combination. Everyone adores it. I love your recipes–thank you so much.
Thanks Brandy. So glad you enjoyed it!
Made this for dessert at a friends house – it was soooo amazing!! I baked them in small mason jars and they puffed up and looked so cute! Served with a dollop of fresh whipped cream, they were the perfect ending to a great meal. I found your blog last weekend while looking for a cheese bread recipe – I made your soft cheese bread and it was also incredibly delicious! You’ve got yourself a new follower from Brantford, ON! Can’t wait to see what you make this year!!! :)
Thanks so much, Andrea and so glad you enjoyed the chocolate pudding (and the cheese bread). Hope you’re staying warm inside and out of the snow today. Sounds like we’re in for a dumping (again!).
These look so good, thanks for sharing! I got some lovely new ramekins for Christmas, this seems like the perfect recipe to try them out!! Happy New Year to you.
Sounds like the perfect use for your new ramekins. This is a delicious warm, chocolate dessert. I’m sure you would enjoy it!
Yes please to more chocolate! :) These look like chocolate heaven!
Thanks Laura. They were definitely a satisfying bowl of chocolate.
Oh, these look so good. Chocolate pudding cake is my favourite food group.
Thanks Renee. I just had the last one of these for dessert tonight and darned if it wasn’t just as good as the first one I had a couple of days ago!
How exquisitely decadent :) Love the textures you’re showing! And that they can be chilled and made ahead before baking…. great party trick!
Thanks Sophie. They are perfect chocolate therapy! And I’ve used that party trick :)
How wrong is it that I just want to stuff my face in this for breakfast this morning?!
Chocolate is never wrong, Chung-Ah. At least that’s my motto :)