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March 5, 2019Updated: March 3, 2020

Mocha Pudding Cake for Two

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This mocha pudding cake for two is so easy to make. You only need a baking dish, a few simple ingredients, and the patience to wait for it to bake. As it bakes it becomes two desserts in one: chocolate cake and mocha pudding. When you dig in you get spoonfuls of warm pudding in every bite. Top it with ice cream, share it with someone you really love or keep it all to yourself as a special treat.

Overhead photo of a mocha pudding cake with two spoons

Mocha Pudding Cake

I’m afflicted with sudden onset chocolate cravings that most often strike on cold nights deep in winter. Or, maybe I’m just more susceptible to them when it’s frigid outside. It’s easy to enjoy a dessert guilt-free when one is swathed in many layers of clothing and therefore shielded from the effects of indulging in something rich and chocolaty. I’ll deal with the consequences when the weather warms up, I tell myself.

And in the last few weeks, pudding cake has been the culprit of my cold-night-cravings. It’s a simple dessert that you can make in one baking dish (no bowl required) in about 30 minutes start to finish with most of the time spent hovering around the oven to wait for it to bake (and to keep warm).

I discovered this self-saucing decadent dessert a few years ago after my friend Rosemary shared a recipe for it on her blog An Italian in My Kitchen. I printed the recipe, spent all of ten minutes preparing it, and waited impatiently for it to bake. One bite of the rich chocolate cake sauced with creamy pudding and I was hooked. I have not stopped thinking about it since.

The only problem is that when you live alone and you make an 8 x 8 chocolate cake with warm pudding you want to eat the entire thing. So, here I am today to share my scaled-down pudding cake that serves two. I also added a coffee twist taking what was a chocolate pudding cake and turning it into a mocha version.

How to Make a Pudding Cake for Two

This cake is so ridiculously easy to make but the process is a little different from a standard cake which can trigger “Am I doing this right?” anxiety, so I captured the step-by-step photos to help ease any potential worries.

collage photo showing the steps for making the pudding cake
  • (1 ) First, whisk the flour, granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder, but you can use regular cocoa powder), and baking soda. I used a 16-oz baking dish, which is a great size for small-scale desserts. You can mix all of the ingredients in it so you don’t need to worry about using another bowl.
  • (2) Once you’ve whisked the dry ingredients, add the milk and oil and stir until it’s well combined. I like to smooth the batter into an even layer. This is the cake part of the dessert and the next two steps are all about the pudding part.
  • (3) Sprinkle brown sugar, some more unsweetened cocoa powder, and dark chocolate chips over the top of the cake batter.
  • (4) The last step and perhaps the most important one is to pour hot coffee over the top. It will look weird. You will wonder how this will all turn out right. You will want to stir it, but if you do the magic that is the pudding part won’t work. Just pour it over the top and have faith. It will work, I promise.
  • I like to use brewed decaf coffee because it does two things: first, it makes the chocolate taste more chocolatey, and it adds a note of bitterness that really works with the rich and sweet pudding and cake. That said, you can pour hot water over the batter for a chocolate-only pudding cake. I’ve tested it both ways and enjoy both.
  • Bake the pudding cake at 350°F for approximately 15 minutes. You know it’s done when the center is jiggly, but the edges of the cake will have started to pull away from the sides of the baking dish. I like to let the cake stand for a few minutes before digging in.
Overhead photo of a mocha pudding cake in a baking dish

It is at this point when you first dig your spoon into the chocolate cake that the wonder is released. While the cake baked a rich and decadent pudding was created on the bottom. Serve it as is or top it with some vanilla ice cream.

Save this one for that next chocolate craving which, if you’re like me, will probably be tonight.

Happy small-batch baking,

close-up photo of a mocha pudding cake topped with ice cream

More Dessert Recipes

Inspired by a restaurant dessert these peanut butter pots de creme are an old favorite. The peanut butter creme is topped with chocolate ganache and I like to serve them in individual ramekins for a très sophistiqué dessert experience.

Molten Chocolate Mug Cake

For a quickie solo dessert my 5-minute molten chocolate mug cake is so easy you’ll want to hide your mugs to keep from making all the time!

One of my guest-worthy go-to chocolate desserts is a flourless chocolate cake that I’ve made many times over the years. You only need a few simple ingredients and I share all my best tips for making it.

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Mocha Pudding Cake for Two

mocha pudding cake
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★★★★★

4.7 from 3 reviews

This easy-to-make mocha pudding cake is a perfect dessert for two. As the cake bakes a pudding is created on the bottom so when you dig in you get warm and creamy pudding with every bite of cake. 

  • Author: April @ Girl Gone Gourmet
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3 tablespoons 2% milk
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup hot decaf coffee (see note)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. In 16-oz baking dish, whisk the flour, granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, and baking powder. Add the milk and oil and stir until well combined. Smooth the batter into an even layer.
  3. Sprinkle the brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, and the chocolate chips over the top of the batter. Pour the hot coffee over the top (don’t stir otherwise you won’t get the pudding).
  4. Bake the pudding cake for 15-20 minutes or until the edges of the cake start to pull away from the pan. The cake will still be jiggly in the center. Let the cake stand for a few minutes before serving. Serve warm as is or top it with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Notes

  • If you don’t love coffee you can make a chocolate only version by using the same amount of hot water instead. I’ve tested it both ways and enjoy both.
  • Recipe adapted from An Italian in My Kitchen

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/2 of the cake
  • Calories: 405
  • Sugar: 38.6g
  • Fat: 20.3g
  • Carbohydrates: 59.2g
  • Fiber: 5.7g
  • Protein: 6.4g

Keywords: pudding cake, chocolate pudding cake, warm chocolate cake recipe

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7 Comments

About April Anderson

I’m a passionate home cook, cookbook author, recipe developer, freelance writer, food photographer, and dog mom ❤ I garnish (almost) everything with parsley and believe you can make deliciously amazing dishes with everyday ingredients.

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Comments

  1. nerissa cayabyab says

    August 17, 2021 at 10:14 pm

    The fams loved it! One serving was shared by 3 people.
    I’m sure it would be even better with the dark chocolate chips and vanilla ice cream as noted. I used what I had – semi sweet and salted caramel cookie ice cream.

    Will make again.

    Thanks for a great recipe

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • April Anderson says

      August 18, 2021 at 2:19 pm

      The salted caramel ice cream is a great idea! So glad you enjoyed the recipe.

      Reply
  2. Lorie says

    April 28, 2021 at 6:47 pm

    So good! Thanks for this recipe it’s perfect for us singles!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. Cynthia B says

    September 6, 2020 at 6:53 pm

    Can you double or triple this recipe … I know it’s for two but you don’t how much my husband loves chocolate !!
    All jokes aside, I don’t have a small enough baking dish and wondered if the recipe could just be increased and If do do I need to also increase baking time ? It sounds and looks so delicious and seems easy 🙂

    Reply
    • April Anderson says

      September 7, 2020 at 10:50 am

      Hi Cynthia -I recommend that you use the recipe I adapted: https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/chocolate-pudding-cake/ I haven’t tested my version doubled or tripled. I hope this helps!

      Reply
  4. Rosemary says

    March 7, 2019 at 1:05 pm

    Thanks so much April, it looks delicious, and I can’t wait to make your version.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • April says

      March 8, 2019 at 10:29 am

      You’re welcome! Love your recipe 🙂

      Reply

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