If you love chocolate as much as I do you'll love this quick and easy microwave recipe.
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❤️ 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.
- 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!
📖 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
📚 Related recipes
- 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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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! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Southern Chocolate Cobbler
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
Ingredients
Fudge Sauce
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- ⅓ cup dark cocoa powder, I use Hershey’s Special Dark
- 2 ½ cups coffee, very strong (or water), boiling
- ¼ cup butter, ½ stick
- 1 pinch nutmeg, freshly grated
- ¼ ground ancho chile, more to taste
- 1 teaspoon roasted cinnamon, or regular cinnamon
- 1 pinch Pinch of salt
Cake Batter
- 1 cup flour
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¼ cup dark cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- ½ cup toasted pecans, chopped, optional
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Instructions
Sauce
- Mix sugar, cocoa, spices, and coffee in a large microwave safe bowl.
- Add the butter, and microwave on high for 5 minutes, or until it is bubbling.
- Whisk to blend.
Cake
- Stir together the dry ingredients in a two quart casserole dish.
- Add the milk and vanilla and stir until smooth.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and pecans, if using
- Spread the batter in the casserole dish.
- Pour the boiling hot sauce over the batter but do not stir it!
- Microwave for 8-10 minutes. The sauce will be on the bottom but the cake will be on the top. If you like it very creamy microwave it for less time.
- Serve warm topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Notes
- Let the hot chocolate cobbler set and cool for about five minutes.
- Use a 2 ½ 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
Nutrition Facts
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We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.First posted Sept 12, 2014. Last updated with new images plus editorial corrections and more helpful information on March 17, 2023.
Sarah
Oh, I am so sorry Marye!
I totally misread your reply. Thanks for the answer to both question.
Sarah
Hi again Marye:
Thanks for the answer to my cinnamon question but I also need to know the answer to the ground ancho chile. Is the measurement is teaspoons, tablespoons or cups. Thank you in advance.
Sarah
Hello Marye: Two questions please for the Mexican Hot Chocolate Cobbler. First of all, I live in Canada and we do not have access to Roasted Cinnamon. What can I substitute for this spice. Second, when you say to use: ¼ ground ancho chile, more to taste, would that be teaspoons or tablespoons? I sure would like to try this recipe but need to know the answer to these two questions first. Looking forward to hearing from you. Also, I love this site!!!
Marye
Plain cinnamon will be fine... and that's 1/4 teaspoon - hope this helps!
shannon
This looks amazing! Can it be baked in the oven instead of the microwave?
Marye
I'm sure it can- I've never tried though.
Amanda @ Cookie Named Desire
This looks incredible! I know my family would love it
Marye Audet
Thank you! It is a staple around here!
allie
What a great treat Marye. So decadent! My crew will love this for sure!
Marye Audet
And it's so quick and easy!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats
How fun does this sound Marye! I love the flavors!
Marye Audet
Thank you!
Nancy Mock
I haven't even tasted it yet but I'm already in a chocolate coma! It looks divine. I need to make a dessert for a gathering this weekend... I think I just found it! Thanks!
Nancy at Hungry Enough To Eat Six
Katrina
Seriously yum! I love it that you kick so many things up with a little spice!
patsy
Wow... this looks to-die-for!