This week, Ree’s in Orlando, ditching the boots for a pair of flip flops. Right now, she’s either lost in Wally World, hiding in the bathroom, or clutching the bars of some insane ride and crying for her mommy. So we have another special guest filling in for this week’s Tasty Recipe post! Today, missamy takes over with a decadent chocolate dessert that looks almost too good to be true. If you remember Amy from her feature some months back, then you know you’re in for a wild and delicious ride. It’s all yours, Amy!
When I was invited to guest post here I was filled with glee and honored to have been asked to fulfill such a task. Ree rocks the recipe rundown like no other. To try to fill her shoes (or boots) is an undertaking for sure. But I’ll do my best. And today, chocolate is involved, so how can I go wrong? Chocolate always covers a multitude of shortcomings in the kitchen. Burn a roast? Serve a chocolate pie and no one will remember. Running late and all you have on hand is sandwich fixings? Chocolate brownies will make it all better. You get the picture.
So when I saw this recipe, My Granny’s Chocolate Cobbler submitted by Tasty Kitchen member Susan Hawkins, I knew I had to give it a try. Ya know, for y’all. I’m a trooper like that. You can thank me later. Or rather, thank Susan and her Granny for the recipe.
This cobbler reminds of a Molten Chocolate Lava Cake, like the one Ree once shared. But I think it’s a little more ooey gooey with a crispy and crunchy top concealing a moist cake and rich chocolate syrup. Let’s get started and you can see for yourself!
The ingredients are simple. You’ll need flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, sugar, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, brown sugar and hot tap water.
Begin with the flour in a mixing bowl.
Next add the baking powder, salt, 3 tablespoons of the cocoa powder and 3/4 of the sugar.
Side note here: I used dark cocoa powder for this recipe, which can be found in most local groceries. I’m a dark chocolate fan. You can certainly use regular cocoa powder, but if you can find it, the dark cocoa powder gives it an extra kick of richness that would make Ree’s skirt fly up. I don’t wear many skirts but I felt a distinct breeze up my pant legs.
Okay, back to the recipe. Mix ingredients well.
Next add the milk, melted butter and vanilla extract.
Combine well until you have a smooth batter. At this point it looks much like a brownie batter. I suppose, if you wanted, you could stop here and call it day. But Granny has bigger plans for us, so hold your horses.
In an 8 x 8″ or equivalent size casserole or baking dish, evenly spread the chocolate batter and set aside.
Moving right along, in a bowl place the remaining white sugar, the brown sugar and remaining 4 tablespoons of cocoa powder.
Combine well. The mixture was a little lumpy due to my brown sugar clumping but I just broke apart any large clumps and didn’t worry about the others.
Evenly distribute dry mixture over the chocolate batter.
Now here’s where it gets a little wonky. You may wonder what was Granny thinkin’? I even checked the recipe, concerned I had missed a step. Pour 1 1/2 cups of hot tap water over the whole thing and don’t stir.
Again, don’t stir. Just let it be. It looks kinda wrong, I know, but some kind of Granny magic happens. Trust me. Or rather trust Granny. She knew what she was doing.
Bake in a 350° F oven for approximately 40 minutes or until the center is set.
And here ’tis!
A yummy, chocolatey goodness awaits below that crunchy shell.
All I can say is have some vanilla ice cream on hand because it’s the perfect accompaniment. The cobbler is rich and decadent but not too sweet. Ice cream, whipped cream or a tall glass of milk balances out the richness just fine. Mighty fine indeed.
Just so you know, while I don’t normally cook gluten-free, I did try a gluten-free version just by substituting Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour for the same amount of flour called for in this recipe. It turned out delightful. I took it to a get-together and it was gobbled up by kids and adults alike.
A big thanks to Susan for sharing her granny’s recipe with us all. It’s a keeper for sure!
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Description
This cobbler brings back childhood memories of summer time at my granny’s house. She would make this decadent dessert to go with the homemade vanilla ice cream. I don’t know of anything that melts ice cream better.
Ingredients
- 1 cup All-purpose Flour
- 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
- ¼ teaspoons Salt
- 7 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder, Divided
- 1-¼ cup Sugar, Divided
- ½ cups Milk
- ⅓ cups Melted Butter
- 1-½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ½ cups Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 1-½ cup Hot Tap Water
Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
First stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, 3 tablespoons of the cocoa, and 3/4 cup of the white sugar. Reserve the remaining cocoa and sugar.
Stir in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla to the flour mixture. Mix until smooth.
Pour the mixture into an ungreased 8-inch baking dish. I prefer my small oval Corning Ware glass dish.
In a separate small bowl, mix the remaining white sugar (it should be 1/2 cup), the brown sugar, and remaining 4 tablespoons of cocoa. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the batter.
Pour the hot tap water over all. DO NOT STIR!
Bake for about 40 minutes or until the center is set.
Let stand for a few minutes if you can hold yourself back. Serve with homemade ice cream using the gooey sauce to spoon over all.
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Amy Johnson is a blogger who writes about food, travel, the home (both inside and out), and various observations and random musings about anything and everything. Visit her blog She Wears Many Hats for a dose of deliciousness, practicality, hilarity, or just plain fun. She and her husband have two children, and in his eyes, everything she does is perfect. We kinda think so too.
205 Comments
Comments are closed for this recipe.
hooloovoo on 5.12.2010
Wow that looks tasty. Thanks for including that you tried it gluten-free, it’s great to know if a recipe will work with just a flour substitution.
Maureen on 5.12.2010
We made a recipe like this when I was a child only subbed coffee for the water – we called it Mocha Upside down cake.
melinda sue on 5.12.2010
oh my. i am making this tonight.
Helen on 5.12.2010
The official name is Hot Fudge Pudding Cake. I’ve never heard it called Chocolate Cobbler, but that would be a good alternate. Anyway, the idea is that the cake rises to the top while the hot fudge sauce sinks to the bottom. Must be served with ice cream!
cara on 5.12.2010
This is brownie pudding! It’s best eaten straight out of the fridge, in pajamas, with a spoon. Trust me on this.
Once upon a time I had a similar recipe for a yellow cake with chocolate sauce, made in a cast-iron skillet. Man I wish I had that recipe now.
Georgia Pellegrini on 5.12.2010
Amy, you rocked the recipe post! Thanks for sharing!
Meredith on 5.12.2010
This looks insanely good!
Sally K on 5.12.2010
That looks delicious and reminds me of a chocolate pudding cake I had years ago. I also have a recipe for a lemon pudding cake. I’m generally not a fan of ice cream with desserts, but it looks like just the right finishing touch for this.
Miss-Chievous on 5.12.2010
I Love it!! I am a ridiculously rubbish cook and stumbled upon this recipe while at work and throught i would redeem myself in the kitchen by making it. So easy to make and tastes like it was made by a pro.. Had to convince my boyfriend it wasn’t store bought!!
Joey on 5.12.2010
wow! Looks like i’ll be trying this on Friday. It’s like Chocolate Lava Cake. Betty Crocker has a microwave version of this similar cake.
Erika (TK) on 5.12.2010
Dion, the link to the recipe as submitted by member Susan Hawkins can be found at the bottom of the post. You can follow the link to print the recipe.
Is it wrong that we just posted a theme post on healthy breakfast and here I am, seriously considering having this to start my day?
Joanne on 5.12.2010
It bakes much like the old fashioned gingerbread, with the hot water just poured on top.
I can’t wait to try it.
dineanddish on 5.12.2010
Chocolate cobbler? You’ve gotta be kidding me. Oh my gosh! Yum!
Jill @ All Things Chocolate on 5.12.2010
Oh my this look delicious and I really need to try this now! Its time to hit the shops for the ingredients, my kids are going to love me for this lol.
vikki15 on 5.12.2010
Yum! Over here, (in New Zealand) that’s a staple dessert that you have to know how to cook before you’re 18, but we call it self saucing pudding. I’ve been making it since i was about 7! It’s also great if you add a little coffee powder to the batter, or replace the hot water with coffe, for a moccachino pudding. Thanks heaps for posting this!
Dion Dion on 5.11.2010
Is it possible to have just the recipe without all the pictures? That’s a lost to print out. Thanks, Dion
Diana Windley on 5.11.2010
Oh wow…I wonder if I can wait until Sunday afternoon to make this heavenly dessert!?!?!
Emily Sandidge on 5.11.2010
I had all the ingredients in my pantry for this so I thought I would try it this afternoon and it was absolutely delicious!!!
shari on 5.11.2010
My goodness, but there are a lot of different names for this fabulous concoction. We always called it chocolate pudding cake, but no matter what you call it, everyone always loves it. My Mom made a lemon version of this also.
Rachel L on 5.11.2010
Oh, how I wish I had some cocoa.
Debbi Does Dinner Healthy on 5.11.2010
This looks fantastic! I can’t wait to make it, thanks!
Alice on 5.11.2010
Great job, Amy!!
Alice on 5.11.2010
Great job, Amy!
Katie on 5.11.2010
Oh my goodness. That has to be the perfect food. Yumm!
Food for My Family on 5.11.2010
We call that Hot Fudge Cake ’round these parts as well. I like chocolate cobbler better, though. And I like your granny. She was one smart cookie.
cruisinmom on 5.11.2010
Looks delicious!!!!!!! Can’t wait to make it!
annie56 on 5.11.2010
this would be the same as my hot fudge cake. how clever to call it chocolate cobbler.
3bakingsheets on 5.11.2010
How am I just now finding out about this after 29 years?
cookincanuck on 5.11.2010
This is so right in more ways than I can count!
Melanie on 5.11.2010
This is the Hershey’s Hot Fudge Pudding Cake recipe from the back of their cocoa container. Very good and very easy!
sprucehill on 5.11.2010
Oh my dear! I just need to make this it looks like heaven!!!!!!!!
Good job on the post Amy!!!!!
http://sprucehill.typepad.com/
Angie B. on 5.11.2010
“Granny magic” indeed! This looks soooo decadent–shame on you for posting it right here at bathing suit season! Oh well, guess I’ll just have to add a couple hours on the treadmill…it looks worth it!
Adrianna from A Cozy Kitchen on 5.11.2010
Amy, your pictures are beautiful! And this Chocolate Cobbler…my oh my, does it look amazing!
bttrflybabydoll on 5.11.2010
Oh.My.Goodness! I will make this soon!
Andrea on 5.11.2010
My goodness that looks amazing!! You did a wonderful job~!
Starving Student Survivor on 5.11.2010
This is really the wrong time of the month for me to be looking at this much chocolate!
Christy on 5.11.2010
My mom had a similar recipe when I was a kid, except the cake was white and it had chocolate pudding. I can’t find the recipe and haven’t seen one on-line. Anyone have one?
Erica on 5.11.2010
Hmmm. This is my favorite dessert, seriously. But in my family, it’s called Hot Fudge Sundae Cake. Brings back memories:) Definitely a good one, everyone should have this in their recipe book/box.
Judy on 5.11.2010
My 11 DD prints out recipes on notebook paper and puts them in her cookbook binder. This one went in before she even made it
phsccml on 5.11.2010
Oh my goodness. I gasped when I saw the gooey molten loveliness in your pictures. I am afraid the South Beach diet is out the wind0w. I must try this. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
TerriAb on 5.11.2010
Is this ok served at room temperature? I’d like to make it this weekend to take someplace. Yum!
Carole T. on 5.11.2010
Oh my! looks incredible…awesome pictures. I can almost smell the chocolate now. Trying this recipe tomorrow.
Robyn on 5.11.2010
Yummy, Yummy, Yummy!!
Great job Amy!!
EG on 5.11.2010
Oh my. I need to be invited somewhere so I can bring this. Or I could invite people over but then I’d have to clean.
Sandy on 5.11.2010
I’ve made this many times and it’s a HIT. But … what’s there not to love about chocolate?
Delicious and great post, Amy!
Love ya girlfriend!
Caroline Clunk on 5.11.2010
This is IDENTICAL to something called “Hot Fudge Cake” that my family has made for many years. It’s always a favorite to whip up if “company” unexpectedly pops in. Of course, if they know we’ll make cake if they come by, that might be why they stop by in the first place!
Yum, yum. It makes me nostalgic to see this — and serves as a reminder to get this recipe from my dad.
Betty on 5.11.2010
A chocolate lover’s dream come true!!!! Great presentation, Amy, I felt like I was right there with you while you were cooking it.
Twinks on 5.11.2010
My mom made a recipe very similar and we called it Devil’s Float. It is one of my all time favorites!
Wenderly on 5.11.2010
I. Can’t. Even. Speak….
and for those of you who know me, that’s unheard of!!!!
…and I think that I just felt my skirt fly up! ( and I have on spandex workout pants! hhmmmm
Anyhoo, bless your cottin pickin little ole heart Amy! It’s gorgeous and I can’t wait to try it!
Sara Z. on 5.11.2010
I have a recipe very similar to this called Hot Fudge Cake. Its one of my favorites! I’ve never heard it called a cobbler before but its a good name for it