Moist chocolate cake on the top with a layer of warm gooey chocolate pudding hidden underneath. Best when served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
To start, preheat the oven to 350°F (or 175°C). Coat a 9" -inch square or rectangular pan with non-stick spray.
Next, sift together the dry ingredients. Mix well and set aside.
Melt the butter and then add it to the dry ingredients, along with the milk and vanilla. Mix just until fully combined. Spread an even layer over the bottom of the pan.
Mix together the topping ingredients.
Evenly distribute the topping over the cake batter.
Now here comes the fun part!
Carefully pour the warm water over the entire cake and topping mixture.
This may look and feel wrong but don’t worry! The bottom cake will magically rise up through the water.
Place the cake into the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the top cake layer is cooked through.
If you like a more doughy cake, 30 minutes should be just fine. If you like the cake to be just a tiny bit crunchy, let it cook for about 35 minutes.
Once the cake is done, let it rest for at least 10 minutes so the pudding can set a bit.
Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.
This may not be the fanciest cake in the world, but it sure is fun to make – especially with kids because it’s kind of like a science project that goes terribly right!