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.
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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 7x11 inches or a similar size (e.g., 10x10" or 8x11"). 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
15 Minute Microwave Chocolate Pudding Cake Recipe
Description
A rich, gooey and delicious chocolate cake ready in just 15 minutes - no eggs, no oven, and shockingly delicious with a warm fudge sauce baked right in!
Ingredients
Cake batter:
- 1 ½ cup whole milk (360g)
- ½ cup vegetable oil (100g)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
- 1 ½ cup all purpose flour (195g)
- ¾ cup cocoa powder, Dutch processed preferred (75g)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ¾ tsp salt
Pudding sauce:
- ½ cup white granulated sugar (100g)
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar (50g)
- ¼ 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 7x11" or a similar size (e.g., 9x9", 8x11") 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!
Related recipes
Here are some more gooey chocolatey recipes you will enjoy:
Neethu Rajan says
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 says
Try my oven version of this recipe: https://bakewithzoha.com/hot-fudge-chocolate-pudding-cake/
Muhammad Zaman Waheed says
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.
Zoha says
I hope you love it 🙂
Tasneem Gadar says
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
Zoha says
Hi Tasneem! I have a version of this recipe for the oven too: https://bakewithzoha.com/hot-fudge-chocolate-pudding-cake/
Filza says
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 says
AWW thank you Filza!