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.

Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

This Southern Chocolate Cobbler is what happens when your grandma’s best-kept secret meets pure, molten indulgence. It’s rich, it’s messy in the best way, and it’ll make you wonder why anyone bothers with regular cake when they can have this in less than 15 minutes!

First posted Sept 12, 2014. Last updated with editorial corrections and more helpful information on February 22, 2025.

Chocolate cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.

Table of Contents

🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
🔪 Step-by-step guide: How to make Southern chocolate cobbler
🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat this dish
💭 Insider tips: things to know
📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
👩‍🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose
📖 Recipe
Southern Chocolate Cobbler
💬 Comments

This old-fashioned favorite is pure Southern magic—crispy on top, molten in the middle, and downright scandalous with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. No mixing required; the oven does all the work, like a Southern belle sipping sweet tea while everyone else sweats. One bite, and you’ll wonder why cake even exists. Grab a spoon, y'all—this cobbler is about to wreck your self-control.

🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite

Rich, fudgy, saucy, and downright decadent—basically, the dessert equivalent of a Mardi Gras parade, but with more chocolate.
No oven? No problem! The microwave version whips up in under 20 minutes, because sometimes patience is overrated.
Made with simple ingredients and even simpler effort—just mix, bake, and prepare to swoon.
It’s like molten lava cake, chocolate pudding cake, and hot water cake had a delicious little love child.
The way the cake rises to the top while the fudgy sauce settles below? I don’t know if it’s science or sorcery, but let’s just call it magic and grab a spoon.

🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need

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.

🔪 Step-by-step guide: How to make Southern chocolate cobbler

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.

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!

🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat this dish

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!

Freezer instructions

Bless your heart for thinking Southern Chocolate Cobbler would ever last long enough to freeze. Technically, yes—you can freeze it, but the gooey, magical sauce might not be quite the same after thawing.

If you must, wrap it up tight and freeze for up to three months, then reheat gently in the oven or microwave. But honestly, just grab a spoon and handle it the right way—fresh and warm, like the chocolate gods intended.

💭 Insider tips: things to know

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.

Marye's Tip o' the day

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.

📖 Make it your own: yummy 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.

Chocolate cobbler in a glass baking pan.

🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up

Dust the top with powdered sugar just before serving for a pretty presentation.

zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive

Spoonful of chocolate cobbler being served.

👩‍🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs

Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!

Can I bake this easy chocolate cobbler recipe in the oven?

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.

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.

🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose

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.

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.

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

📖 Recipe

Don't lose this recipe!