Old-Fashioned Homemade Chocolate Cobbler Recipe

Chocolate Cobbler is an old-fashioned homemade cobbler that magically forms two layers as the cobbler bakes; a fluffy rich chocolate cake on top, and a pudding-like chocolate fudge sauce underneath. It’s similar to a chocolate lava cake (molten lava cake) but much easier to make, dump & bake style, in one dish.

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cobbler (Easy, Gooey Chocolate Dessert)

If you’re craving a rich, chocolate lover dessert that ‘magically’ creates its own chocolate sauce and warm chocolate cake while in the oven, this homemade chocolate cobbler is about to become your new favorite. No cake mixes needed!

Chocolate cobbler is similar to a chocolate pudding cake because it has a moist, fluffy chocolate cake and underneath the cake is a fudgy warm chocolate sauce. It’s a decadent dessert, loaded with chocolate flavor, and the best way to serve it is with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

My family loves vanilla bean ice cream with this dessert ❤︎ Serve up the cobbler warm from the oven and watch it disappear so quick.

How To Make Easy Chocolate Cobbler Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Set a 9×13 baking dish aside for later (no need to spray it).

Make The Chocolate Cake Batter : In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.

Add in the milk and vanilla extract and stir with a spatula until well combined. The mixture will be thick. 

Evenly pour the melted butter into the bottom of the baking dish. Spoon the chocolate cake batter over top of the butter. Try to spread it out as much as you can and drop spoonfuls of it all over the butter. 

Make The Hot Fudge Sauce Topping : In a small bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and cocoa powder until combined. Evenly sprinkle this mixture over the chocolate cake batter inside the baking pan. 

Slowly pour the boiling water evenly over the batter inside the pan. DO NOT STIR!

Bake & Serve : Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the chocolate cake part is set, and lightly browned, and the chocolate fudge sauce is bubbly around it. 

Serve chocolate cobbler warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (we think vanilla bean ice cream is the best!).

Pro Tips From The Test Kitchen

• Yes, it really is 1 TABLESPOON of baking powder. I always get questions like “are you sure?” and yes, it is 1 tablespoon. 
• Once you pour the boiling water over top of everything do not stir it! It will be tempting, but trust me, as the cobbler bakes it magically forms itself into two layers; a chocolate cake on top, and a gooey fudgy chocolate sauce underneath. If you stir it, the cobbler won’t form right in the oven. 
• Whole milk is the best choice of milk.
• If using unsalted butter add a small pinch of salt, about ⅛ teaspoon of salt in with the melted butter. 
• Make sure you are using boiling water from the stove top, a tea kettle, or an electric stove top kettle. The water must be very boiling when you pour it in. Don’t boil the water and let it sit there until you need it, boil the water and immediately pour it into the baking dish over top of everything. Simply using very hot water from the kitchen tap will not be good enough – it needs to be boiling water. Also, measure the 2 cups boiling water after it has boiled because as water boils some of the water will evaporate, which decreases the amount measured.
• You don’t want to serve it straight out of the oven, as it will be too hot. But you also want to serve it while it is still very warm. I recommend letting it cool, and sit at room temperature, for about 5-10 minutes. I don’t recommend letting it cool for to long or else you will lose that gooey, lava-like texture of the fudge sauce.
• The best way to serve chocolate cobbler is with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. However, other serving options are any kind of ice cream, freshly whipped cream, store-bought spray whipped cream, fresh fruit such as raspberries or sliced strawberries, or chopped nuts. 

Recipe FAQs

Are You Sure I Don’t Stir After Adding The Boiling Water?

Yes, do not stir, mix, move, or do anything after you pour the boiling water over top. During the baking process, the ingredients will rise through the water, allowing them to melt into the bottom layer, which is what gives the cobbler that gooey, lava-like texture. If you stir it, the cobbler won’t bake up how it’s supposed to in the two different layers. 

Is This Dessert Really Egg-Free?

Yes, it is a naturally egg-free dessert. Leaving out the egg also helps achieve the gooey texture, otherwise, it would set up more like a cake. 

How Long Should I Let The Cobbler Cool Before Serving?

You don’t want to serve it straight out of the oven, as it will be too hot. But you also want to serve it while it is still very warm. I recommend letting it cool, and sit at room temperature, for about 5-10 minutes. I don’t recommend letting it cool for to long or else you will lose that gooey, lava-like texture of the fudge sauce. 

Could I Add Nuts or Other Toppings?

If you would like to add nuts, I recommend adding them at the time of serving rather than adding the into the chocolate cake batter. Other toppings for serving include chopped nuts of choice, fresh fruit such as raspberries or strawberries, caramel sauce, freshly whipped cream, spray whipped cream from the store, or a scoop of ice cream. 

More Chocolate Dessert Recipes

• Chocolate Brownie Bundt Cake
• White Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe
• Caramel Chocolate Dump Cake
• Chocolate Tres Leches Cake
• German Chocolate Poke Cake
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Layered Pudding Dessert
• Chocolate Reese’s Cookies
• Chocolate Chip Brownies
• Double Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
• Chocolate Icebox Cake