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The brownies come out of the oven floating on top of a sea of chocolate.
This is similar to a molten lava cake, but less like cake and more like a brownie. What do you think? Yeah or nay – ice cream on top? I say absolutely please put ice cream on my Chocolate Brownie Pudding Cake!
Sometimes cravings have to be satisfied and this did the trick. It doesn’t help that people have been asking if I’m just going to post all happy-good-for-you food now and no more desserts! What? No more desserts? I must be letting you down – so I’m done with vacation photos and happy to be back in the kitchen baking something decadent and delicious and sharing it here with you! Let’s do this 🙂 Whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
Add the milk, oil and vanilla. Stir in the walnuts and spoon into an 8×8 inch baking pan.
This is so cool. Add boiling water to a mixture of brown sugar and cocoa. Slowly pour the hot water mixture over the pan of brownie dough. Now pop it in the oven and bake for 40 minutes. Testing the center with a toothpick won’t work here – just set the timer and forget about it.
Spoon some of the cake into a dessert bowl and drizzle with the warm pudding from the bottom. Served with a scoop of coffee ice cream – this is amazing! It’s not overly sweet but it is richly chocolate. My husband said he was really surprised how much he loved it especially since he’s not a card carrying member of chocoholics anonymous, like me.
I loved the walnut crunch and the way I felt compelled to lick the bowl and get every last bite.
Don’t forget to Pin to your luscious chocolate board!

Chocolate Brownie Pudding Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
For the sauce:
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- 1 ⅓ cups boiling water
- coffee ice cream for serving, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Lightly grease an 8x8 inch baking pan.
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- Using a rubber spatula fold in the milk, oil and vanilla just until combined with the dry ingredients.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and set aside.
- In a small bowl combine the brown sugar and remaining ¼ cup cocoa. Add the boiling water and stir until dissolved.
- Slowly pour the water mixture over the brownie batter. Do not stir!
- Bake for 40 minutes at 350°F.
- Cool on a rack for 45-60 minutes. Spoon the warm brownie into a dessert dish and top with some of the pudding from the bottom. Serve warm with ice cream if desired.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
This may not be the prettiest pan of brownies ever made, but I don’t think it’s meant to be picturesque. I gave up on trying to make it look gorgeous and just went with “dang this is good! Grab a spoon!”
My husband and two crazy dogs are under the house right now on varmint patrol. They haven’t found anything so hopefully that will be the end of that saga! Maybe our visitors are out to dinner right now, maybe the dogs are just crazy. The dogs are probably just crazy. Perhaps our grandson dropped a cookie down the heater vent – who knows. Thank goodness they didn’t kill an opossum or raccoon under the house. Check that off the list!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Stay warm and have a terrific weekend.
Tricia
Skye
This is my go-to recipe when I am craving something sweet & am too lazy to go out & buy a treat. Comes together easily (and I’m not a fan of baking in the first place, so that’s saying something), I always have the ingredients on hand, and it’s a quick cleanup after. Delicious! Thanks!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Skye! So glad you enjoyed it.
Susan
My pudding cake has an after taste not sure what it is maybe you know what it is I think it is bpowder
Tricia Buice
Hi Susan. Make sure you use aluminum free baking powder. If that’s not the issue then I’m not really sure.
mjskitchen
I’m craving this chocolate brownie pudding right now! It’s like a super duper lava cake!
Tricia Buice
It’s so easy and delicious- a dangerous combination!
2 Sisters Recipes.com
This looks so good Tricia- I bet it’s out of this world! LOVE THIS 🙂 And the coffee ice cream – YUM!
Tricia Buice
Thanks ladies! Coffee ice cream on chocolate – MFEO (made for each other) 🙂
Abbe @ This is How I Cook
I’ve been making this for a lot of years, or at least something similar. I use coffee instead of water. I also love it because it doesn’t require eggs. When I yearn for something luscious and there are no eggs, this is what I turn to!
Tricia Buice
Oh with coffee! That sounds wonderful Abbe 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
I could eat this for dinner. I love a tasty pudding cake.
Dom
Oh my word. I’m lying in bed on a cold Saturday morning dreaming of chocolate pudding. This is insanely gorgeous!
Tricia Buice
Sounds like a great morning to me Dom! Hope you had a wonderful weekend.
Susan
Oh, my! What a great idea. I love how the liquid sinks to the bottom while baking. I don’t think you can have too many chocolate desserts 🙂
Tricia Buice
Amen Susan – hope you have a lovely weekend!
Lisa@unitedcakedom
It is in my opinion that most homely looking desserts are the most delicious! Sometimes over dressed desserts seem like they are making up for something! I would definitely serve this with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!!
Lisa@unitedcakedom
It is in my opinion that the mostly homely looking desserts are usually the best! Sometimes when desserts are over dressed I wonder what they are trying to cover up. These molten lava like brownies are right up my alley, they look delicious!! I might have to give them a go this weekend, I would definitely serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Tricia Buice
Yes they are Lisa! Hope you love it as much as we did. Eat while it’s warm – so tasty!
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen
Chocolate Brownie+Pudding sounds & looks like a KILLER combination. 😉 ABSOLUTELY DELISH and full of AWESOMENESS. Loved it so much, would give it a try soon! 🙂
Tricia Buice
Full of awesomeness is a perfect way to describe this dessert. If you love chocolate and want something warm and rich – this will do the trick. Be sure to have someone around to help – because you might eat the whole thing! Have a great weekend.
Betty
You had me at brownies floating on a sea of chocolate. This looks way too easy to make AND to eat. 🙂 Love it! I think I deserve a chocolate treat this weekend. 🙂
Tricia Buice
There is no other way to describe it Betty – easy and delicious! Have a great (chocolate filled) weekend!
michael
Oh wow Tricia, I am drooling over here, love chocolate anything but I have never heard of chocolate brownie pudding cake, it looks delicious! Another one of your recipes I gotta try! 🙂
Tricia Buice
Thanks Michael – you will love it! Take one of those pretty handmade heirloom quality ice cream scoops and put a big dollop on top! We “taste-tested” it with coffee, but chocolate, cherry, vanilla or even dulce de leche ice cream would be amazing! Have a great weekend!
Becky Green
What do you mean, this isn’t “picturesque?” Chocolate is ALWAYS “picturesque!” LOL It looks YUMMY TO ME!!! ANOTHER recipe to try! AND I’m glad your hubby didn’t come nose to nose with a critter down-under, or your dog’s! THANKS TRICIA!!! 😉
Tricia Buice
Becky you are sooo sweet! Nothing under the house when he checked but the dogs are still are not satisfied. I’ll keep you posted if something pops up! Be sure to try this recipe – but have a friend handy to help! Have a blessed weekend!
SallyBR
I’ve always been intrigued by the pudding type cakes, but I think your brownie version would be my favorite
I normally bake sweets and take to our department, but I think this one would be better at home with friends… 😉
Tricia Buice
Thanks for stopping by Sally. This is a great at-home, totally satisfying, richly delicious dessert! I may have to taste test it again with another flavor of ice cream – maybe caramel? Dulce De Leche Ice Cream? Have a great weekend!
Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine
Oh my word! It looks totally amazing. Dangerously amazing and so cool the way the pudding forms right in the pan. It must have been fun to take pictures of this as you really HAD to take a few bites, right? 🙂
Tricia Buice
Dangerously amazing is a good way to describe it. Don’t make it alone – share with a friend! I keep taking another scoop trying to get the photos just right but gave up and just ate it! Haha – it was a nice way to splurge on an otherwise healthy month of good-for-you eating. Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
A really cool recipe and it looks utterly delicious!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Angie – we enjoyed every last bite!
Monica
Are you kidding, Tricia – this *is* totally gorgeous! You managed to get some amazing pics and chocolate is hard to photograph (or is it me?)! I don’t know how long it will take for me to tear myself away from this page! You came back to desserts with a bang. I love the warmth of the brownie/cake with the loose sauce and the cold ice cream alongside. And I miss walnuts in my brownies so much (the little one’s fault)…this would certainly satisfy my dessert craving.
Tricia Buice
Thanks so much Monica! This is a super easy, delicious and satisfying splurge – hope you love it!