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This Microwave Chocolate Pudding Cake comes together in just 15 minutes with 9 simple ingredients, but looks and tastes like you spent hours on it. It’s a soft, moist, and decadent self-saucing chocolate cake with a rich layer of hot fudge pudding hidden underneath. Served warm with vanilla ice cream, it is pure magic (and doesn’t even have eggs!). So the next time you need dessert in a crunch, this is the one.
If you would rather make the same cake in the oven, try my Hot Fudge Chocolate Pudding Cake recipe instead! And if you would rather have a single serve mug cake, my Viral Chocolate Mug Cake takes only 5 minutes to make.
Why you need this recipe in your life
Let me make you a quick promise: this recipe will surprise you in the best way possible. I’ve made it multiple times now, and I’m still amazed at how insanely good it is. Here’s why you’ll love it:
Ridiculously easy and quick: All you need are 9 pantry-friendly ingredients (including salt and water), one bowl, a hand whisk, and less than 10 minutes of active prep. The microwave takes care of the rest in just 7–8 minutes!
A rich, moist, real chocolate cake. This isn’t your average microwave cake. It’s soft, tender, and deeply chocolatey—none of that dry, rubbery texture you might expect from microwave baking
A built-in fudgy pudding sauce. As it cooks, the cake creates its own thick, luscious chocolate sauce at the bottom. It’s a complete dessert in one dish, but a scoop of ice cream definitely takes it over the top!
Step by step photos
The detailed recipe with ingredient quantities and instructions is in the recipe card below, but let’s go over the steps with photos to help you visualize everything.
In a bowl, quickly whisk together the milk, vegetable oil and sugar.
Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
Gently whisk until the dry ingredients are just combined.
Pour the batter into a microwave safe dish.
Separately, mix cocoa powder, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Spread the mixture on top of the cake batter.
Carefully pour boiling water on top of the cake.
That’s it! Microwave for 7-8 minutes on high, let cool for 5-10 minutes (if you have the patience), and you’re ready to enjoy!
Important note on pan size
The biggest thing to watch out for with this recipe is the dish size. Since the microwave cooks so quickly, using a pan that’s too small can cause the sauce to overflow. I recommend using a microwave safe casserole dish that’s around 7×11 inches or a similar size (e.g., 10×10″ or 8×11″). More importantly, make sure the dish is at least 3 inches deep, and that there’s at least 1.5 inches of space above the batter to prevent overflow. If you want, you can use a larger dish for a thinner cake, but you may need to reduce cooking time slightly.
More tips to perfect this recipe
- Measure your ingredients with a scale, especially the flour! This will ensure you don’t add too much, which can result in a dry cake
- Do not overmix the cake batter after adding the dry ingredients. Only whisk until no more lumps remain
- Watch the cooking time. Every microwave is different, even at 100% power. Depending on your microwave and the pan size you choose, the cooking time can vary significantly. I recommend keeping an eye on the cake and stop cooking it when all the water has sunk to the bottom, the cake has risen to the top, and looks cooked on the surface. You can also gently poke the cake with a finger and if it springs back, it is done. If in doubt, I recommend slightly undercooking vs overcooking, as you can always microwave for 30 more seconds if needed
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Ingredients
Cake batter:
- 1 1/2 cup whole milk (360g)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil (100g)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
- 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour (195g)
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder, Dutch processed preferred (75g)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
Pudding sauce:
- ½ cup white granulated sugar (100g)
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar (50g)
- 1/4 cup Dutch processed cocoa powder (25g)
- 1 cup boiling water (240g)
Instructions
- To make the cake batter, add the milk, oil and granulated sugar to a bowl. Whisk together to combine
- Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Whisk again until the dry ingredients are just combined and no lumps remain; do not overmix
- Pour the cake batter into a microwave-safe deep casserole dish that is 7×11″ or a similar size (e.g., 9×9″, 8×11″) and ideally 3″ deep. No need to line or butter the dish because the cake will be served straight from it
- In another bowl, mix together the cocoa powder, granulated sugar and brown sugar for the pudding sauce. Sprinkle the cocoa mixture on top of the cake batter in the casserole dish
- Bring 1 cup of water to boil, and very carefully and gently pour it on top of the cocoa mix in the casserole dish. This water will help create the hot fudge pudding sauce as the cake cooks in the microwave
- Carefully transfer the dish to the microwave. Microwave on high for 7 to 8 minutes until the cake looks done on top. If in doubt, it is better to slightly undercook than overcook, as overcooking will cause the cake to become dry
- Let the cake cool down for ~10 minutes, then scoop it out along with the fudge sauce underneath and serve with vanilla ice cream!
Here are some more gooey chocolatey recipes you will enjoy:
Comments
Kay
Hi Zoha, I recipe and 1/10 version of it and put it in a mug and made a monkey out of it. I wish I could send you a picture 🙂 thank you.
Zoha Malik
awh, thank you so much! how smart to do a single serve, glad it worked out for you!
Areej Fatima
hey
I would like to ask if I don’t have brown sugar and I only use white sugar would that be fine or do I need it?
Samina
It looks yummy!! Buy this receipt has 1 & 3/4 cup total sugar. I am just checking if it not too sweet. I like sweet cake but not too sweet ☺️
Zoha Malik
Hi Samina! You can reduce the sugar but just keep in mind it also affects the texture and the cake may not feel as moist
Zoha Malik
You can use all white 🙂
Komal Rizwan
Hi zoha thank you for the recipe. Wanted to know what should do if I have take this dessert to someone’s place as in you know I have to make it at home then take it. Should I microwave there then serve and would it be having the same texture as it is being just made? What are the tips to keep it fresh till the serving time
Zoha Malik
Make it at home and then reheat in the microwave for ~30 seconds!
Sam arish
amazing I love the recipes
Zoha Malik
Thank you!
Zahra
Hi Zoha,
Can i try this on the stove? How?
I love ur recipes btw!
Thanks!!
Zoha
Hi Zahra! This recipe is designed specifically for the microwave, so the stove won’t quite replicate it the same way. <3
Megz
hi zoha! planning to make this but my microwave is a smallish size. Can I also bake this? if yes, what temp and time will be ideal?
Sukaina
Easy to make – delicious hot, saucy dessert. Had to make it as soon as we saw the recipe video on instagram! Served with ice cream and strawberries, and thoroughly enjoyed by the family .
Zoha Malik
Yay- thanks so much, Sukaina!
Zoha
Use my regular recipe for the oven! https://bakewithzoha.com/hot-fudge-chocolate-pudding-cake/
Joe
yummy 😋
Sidra
Zoha, my 7 years old and I tried this recipe today and it was delicious. So moist and easy to make.
Beyza
lovely outcome! it was great for satisfying my sweet craving quickly. ooey gooey and fudgy yumm. the only thing id change is cutting down the sugar
Sana Shaheen
it turned out amazing 😍 loved it so easy and quick to bake
Zoha Malik
Yay, thank you!
Zoha
Aww I am glad you liked it!
Filza
I wish I could rate it higher ❤️ simply amazing. I made with 1/4th quantities and enjoyed it as a mug cake. Yum yum yum. Thanks a lot @bakewithzoya for the perfect recipe
Zoha
AWW thank you Filza!
Ayesha
Hi Zoha, I made this and it came out delicious😋👌
Tasneem Gadar
Hi
Thank you so much zoha I m making your red velvet cake for eid dinner and scrolling for some easy chocolate recipe and find this recipe, can we make this in oven isstead if microwave
Shareefah
I just made this today and it tasted like chocolate heaven 😍🤤omgg!.it’s perfect for this cold weather 🥺.Thank you for sharing this recipe 🤗❤️
Urooba
Simple and easy to follow. Awesome and quick fix for my cravings 🍫 (both baking and eating lol)
Zoha Malik
Woop woop!
Zoha Malik
So happy to hear you liked it, Shareefah!
Zoha
Hi Tasneem! I have a version of this recipe for the oven too: https://bakewithzoha.com/hot-fudge-chocolate-pudding-cake/
Neethu Rajan
Hi! The recipe looks so yum and easy. Can’t wait to try it out. How long and at what temperature should I bake it if I’m using an OTG?
Zoha
Try my oven version of this recipe: https://bakewithzoha.com/hot-fudge-chocolate-pudding-cake/
Muhammad Zaman Waheed
looks yummy… since m huge fan of a mug cake this recipe will be helpful in making a large cake for the whole family especially my children, in 1 go. Thanks alot for this.
Inaya
Hiii this recipe looks amazing! I was wondering if you had measurements for a single serving of this dish as I don’t have much self control over my desserts😅❤️
Zoha Malik
Hi! Not a microwave version but a baked version: https://bakewithzoha.com/single-serve-hot-fudge-chocolate-cake/
Ruks
hii!
this looks so good!
question – does it store well, incase i don’t plan to serve it right away?
Ruks
hi again!
how many servings does this recipe give?
Zoha Malik
It’s at least 8 servings!
Zoha Malik
Hi there! Yes, you should be able to keep it at room temp for 1-2 days and microwave to reheat. Just keep it covered so it doesn’t dry out. the fudge sauce does get thicker as it sits, though.
Zoha
I hope you love it 🙂