DEEP DARK HOT FUDGE PUDDING CAKE

DEEP DARK HOT FUDGE PUDDING CAKE
Magical things happen when you bake this deep, dark hot fudge pudding cake. A rich, gooey cake forms on the top, and a warm, melty, dark, fudgy sauce forms on the bottom. Serve with ice cream and life is complete.

1¼ cups granulated sugar, divided
1 cup all-purpose flour
7 tablespoons Dutch cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips
½ cup milk
⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup light brown sugar, packed
1¼ cups hot water
3 teaspoons instant espresso powder (optional, but highly recommended)

Heat oven to 350 ºF  (180 ºC).
In a medium bowl, mix together ¾ cup of the granulated sugar, flour, 3 tablespoons cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Whisk in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
Spread this batter mixture into an 8″ x 8″ baking pan.
Sprinkle with chocolate chips.
In another medium bowl, stir together the remaining ½ cup granulated sugar, 4 tablespoons cocoa, and brown sugar.
Sprinkle this mixture over the top of the batter.
In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, stir together the espresso powder and the hot water.
Carefully pour the hot water mixture over the top of the cake. Do not stir.
Bake for 40 minutes, or until the center is no longer jiggly.
Spoon cake and sauce into bowls and top with immediately with ice cream or whipped cream.
Recipe posted and adapted by Sa-eeda Daniels
Photo by Sa-eeda Daniels

Note:  I changed it a little bit. Put all the cocoa in with the flour, then chopped up some cadbury dairy milk instead of chocolate chips and then sprinkled 1/2 cup brown sugar and topped with the espresso!!
Sa-eeda Daniels