Southern Chocolate Cobbler

Name: Southern Chocolate Cobbler
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups sugar; 1/3 cup dark cocoa powder (I use Hershey’s Special Dark ); 2 1/2 cups coffee (very strong (or water), boiling); 1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick); 1 pinch nutmeg (freshly grated); 1/4 ground ancho chile (more to taste); 1 teaspoon roasted cinnamon (or regular cinnamon); 1 pinch Pinch of salt; 1 cup flour; 3/4 cup sugar; 1/4 cup dark cocoa powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 cup milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 1 cup milk chocolate chips; 1/2 cup toasted pecans (chopped, optional)

If you love the southern chocolate cobbler at Cracker Barrel you'll love this easy microwave pudding cake that's done in 10 minutes! Add the optional spices for a Mexican chocolate vibe.

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If you love chocolate as much as I do you'll love this quick and easy microwave recipe.

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Chocolate cobbler in a glass baking pan.

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❤️ Why you'll love it
🧾 Ingredients
🔪 Instructions
🥫 Storage
📖 Variations
💭 Things to know
👩‍🍳 FAQs
📚 Related recipes
🍽️ Serve with...
🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends
📞 The last word
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

A rich, fudgy, saucy, warm, decadent dessert (I can go on, and on...)
No-bake dessert option cooks in the microwave in under 10 minutes
An easy recipe made with simple ingredients and hardly any fuss at all

Southern chocolate cobbler is kind of like a delicious cross between molten lava cake, chocolate pudding cake, and hot water cake.

The way the moist chocolate cake rises to the top and reveals a rich fudge sauce on the bottom, I don't know whether to call it a chocolate lover's dream—or magic!

Let's just go with magic.

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Step by step images showing how to make this dessert.

In a medium bowl, combine the sugar, cocoa, spices, and coffee. Add the butter, then microwave until bubbling.
Whisk the dry ingredients together in the bottom of the baking dish.
Stir the milk and vanilla extract into the dry mixture, spreading it evenly.
Pour the fudgy chocolate sauce from the mixing bowl over the top of the batter in the dish. Don't stir—just microwave and enjoy!

🥫 Storage

Hot chocolate cobbler is a family favorite, so we usually scarf down the entire thing in minutes. However, this comforting dessert makes great leftovers!

Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or spoon leftovers into an airtight container. Keep the chocolate cobbler in the refrigerator and it'll last for about three days.

Reheating this southern classic couldn't be easier. Simply pop your portion into the microwave for thirty seconds or so and enjoy. Don't forget a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Spoonful of chocolate cobbler being served.

📖 Variations

The coffee flavor isn't too strong, but if you're really not a fan (or don't have any) swap it with hot water.
Milk chocolate chips add a nice, mellow flavor, but you can experiment with your favorite variety. Dark would be good, and so would white!
For the hot fudge sauce, use white or brown sugar—whatever you have.
If you don't like pecans, you can omit them, or swap them for something else, like peanuts, crushed candy, or shredded coconut.
Feel free to amp up the heat by increasing the chile powder measurement. It tastes just like a Mexican hot chocolate cobbler twist!
If you're out of vanilla, use a splash of bourbon or rum—yum.
Like your cobbler cake extra creamy? Microwave it for a minute or two less than the instructions say to do so.

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: Let the hot chocolate cobbler set and cool for about five minutes. I know it's tempting to dig in when the whole house smells like brownie batter but trust me! Waiting creates the perfect end result.

Use a 2 quart dish—this is important. Too small and you'll make a mess in the microwave. Too large and the cake batter will overcook.
Please make sure your bowl and baking dish are microwave safe—and, use pot holders to handle them. They'll be super hot!
There are quite a few types of cocoa powder out there, but this recipe needs dark cocoa powder—it's really the best!
Simply pour the fudgy cocoa mix over top of the cake batter. No mixing! The cake will float to the top leaving a rich sauce underneath.
Don't make coffee at home? No worries! Ask for a small black coffee on your morning drive-through run and store it in the fridge until later!
The best way to serve hot chocolate cobbler (if you ask the kids) is with a scoop of ice cream on top. However, it's also good with just some whipped cream and an extra sprinkle of cinnamon.

Love chocolate? Definitely try this old fashioned chocolate pie recipe from scratch!

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Can I bake this easy chocolate cobbler recipe?

Sure thing! Bake it in the oven at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes. Keep in mind, it'll set a bit more as it cools, and you do want it to remain fudgy.

What the heck is chocolate cobbler cake?

It's only the best thing known to man since sliced bread—and, maybe even better! I like to call it hot fudge cake because it's super moist and, well, fudgy. Basically, it's a gooey cake with chocolate sauce (think chocolate lava cake) all baked together as one delicious recipe.

Why is it called cobbler cake?

Like most easy cobbler recipes, you simply toss everything into a baking dish, and out comes the magic! However, unlike your typical fruit cobblers, this one is all chocolatey goodness.

How do I know when it's done cooking?

The center of the cake portion shouldn't look fully raw anymore. However, don't confuse the delicious fudge sauce with batter. Like a molten cake, you'll want to grab a spoon to enjoy chocolate cobbler! Follow the cooking instructions closely and you'll be good to go.

A baking dish with several servings of cobbler gone.

Blackberry Cobbler is an easy, summery treat that tastes like an afternoon on Grandma's porch—plus, you can use any type of berries!
Inspired by a delicious, taste bud-tingling Mexican treat, Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes are a spiced surprise no one can resist!
With chunks of fragrant, juicy peaches and tender biscuity cobbler dough, Southern Peach Cobbler is a must-try for any lover of sweets.
Chocolate-Spiced Devil's Food Cake is decadent and warm—and not just from the oven! A Southern blend of spice gives it unbeatable flavor.

🍽️ Serve with...

Light and fluffy Homemade Cool Whip is the perfect topping to contrast a rich and decadent cobbler. Plus, it doesn't use any gelatin!
Keep the impressive desserts going with Homemade Chocolate Chocolate Chip Ice Cream—it's better than from an ice cream truck!
Wash down your delectable chocolate treat with a few refreshing gulps of Southern Coffee Punch—great for parties and family gatherings!

🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends

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Overhead view of two dishes of chocolate cobbler with ice cream on top.

If you love that spicy Mexican chocolate flavor try these Cinnamon Crackle Cookies dipped in Mexican chocolate!

📞 The last word

If you've had the hot chocolate cobbler at Cracker Barrel you are going to love this! Call this easy dessert a pudding cake, call it a hot chocolate cake, call it a chocolate cobbler - it really doesn't matter.

This stuff is good. And it's microwaved.

Y'all know I like spice with my chocolate. If you don't then just leave out the spices, one or all, and it will still be unbelievable chocolaty goodness on a spoon.

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

First posted Sept 12, 2014. Last updated with new images plus editorial corrections and more helpful information on March 17, 2023.