Wacky Chocolate Cobbler
on May 30, 2010, Updated Aug 22, 2024
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You’ve never met a wackier cobbler than my Wacky Chocolate Cobbler. If you’re into gooey, chocolatey desserts with a slightly crunchy, slightly chewy top layer, this cobbler’s got your name written all over it. Dig on in.
When most of us think of cobblers, we think of the fruity, tart versions that cap off long and warm summer days. Those guys are great, and they certainly have their shining moments, but this cobbler takes things in a different direction. Introducing my Wacky Chocolate Cobbler. That’s right… chocolate cobbler. Please wipe that drool from your chin.
If you like fudgy brownies or find gooey hot fudge sauce irresistible, you’ll definitely want to try this chocolate lover’s cobbler.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This cobbler recipe is the perfect simple dessert to throw together with your kids.
- A chocolate fan’s dream dessert!
- It’s made with regular pantry ingredients, though you may be tempted to hit the grocery store for vanilla ice cream to go with it.
Recipe Ingredients
- Flour – just regular all-purpose flour from your pantry
- Baking powder
- Cocoa powder – whatever brand and type you prefer
- Sugar – granulated sugar and brown sugar
- Milk
- Butter
- Vanilla extract – a perfect addition to chocolate flavorings
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Chocolate Cobbler
- Mix dry ingredients: Read the full instructions on the recipe card to divide the dry ingredients properly!
- Add wet ingredients: Mix and pour into a baking dish.
- Prepare topping: Mix and pour over the mixture in the pan.
- Now for magic: Pour hot tap water over the top. DO NOT STIR!
- Bake until set, let stand for a few minutes, and serve warm with ice cream.
Recipe FAQs
Chocolate cobbler originated in the South but has become a popular staple in kitchens (and bellies) around the nation. Its top is similar in consistency to a brownie, while a delectable fudge sauce coats its bottom. This is a great dish to share with loved ones at picnics, potlucks, and other gatherings!
Wacky Chocolate Cobbler can keep well for up to a week in a covered container in the fridge. It can also be frozen for up to 2 to 3 months… if it lasts around your house that long!
Chocolate cobbler certainly has a sweetness to it because, after all, it’s a chocolate cake dessert reminiscent of chocolate lava cake. But to me, the cocoa and vanilla flavors make it more of a rich, hearty sweet than a my-teeth-are-hurting sweet. With a little vanilla ice cream on top, you’ll be satisfied… and maybe even ready for seconds!
Expert Tips
- That last water part may sound strange, but it’s especially fun for kiddos. As you insert this gloopy, watery-looking dish into the oven, it’s almost like they’re witnessing magic before their eyes. But then you take it out and–voila!–a mouthwatering cobbler has appeared.
- It’s very important to pour the water and immediately bake without stirring. This will defeat the magic!
- If your family enjoys making homemade ice cream in the summer (or winter!), you can make several pans of Wacky Chocolate Cobbler ahead to keep in the freezer for last-minute ice cream parties.
More Delicious Dessert Recipes to Consider
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Wacky Chocolate Cobbler
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 7 tablespoons cocoa powder, divided
- 1 1/4 cup sugar, divided
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cup hot tap water
- vanilla ice cream, for serving
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.
- 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 the dry sugar mixture.
- DO NOT STIR!
- Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the center is set. Let stand for 5 minutes and then serve warm with ice cream.
Notes
- This is important enough to repeat: DO NOT STIR THE WATER after pouring it in. Let the magic happen.
- This is a great dish to share with loved ones at picnics, potlucks, and other gatherings. You’ll probably be asked to bring it over and over after the first time!
- Make this dessert ahead and keep in the fridge for several days or in the freezer for 2-3 months. Reheat before serving.
- Different brands of cocoa powder can give this dessert a slightly different chocolate flavor, so use your favorite type of cocoa powder.
So I was really unsure about this recipe, but tried it anyway! I just want to say that this cobbler recipe is so good, that I’ll be making it my go to desert recipe from here on out!! The soft cobbler center is like chocolate fudge topping and the crust is like fudge brownies. Served with ice cream and it’s the perfect pair! Thank you for sharing this recipe!!!
It’s an odd one isn’t it!! I’m so glad you liked it!!
Excited to try this dessert! Do you use salted or unsalted butter?
Use what you have on hand, both will work! I usually use salted.
This was a fun dessert to share with my dinner club! I served this with mint chocolate chip ice cream, and we loved how the mint flavor cut through some of the richness of the dessert! Thanks for the fun recipe!
Delicious!
I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be so runny? The top was set completely but inside was runny. Baked at 350 for 48 min.
It’s like a chocolate lava cake, so if you’d like it a little less running just bake it a little longer.
This is so yummy! I made it for my in laws and they loved it. It was so good and so easy. Thank you for the recipe!
Oh my goodness! I shouldn’t see this. This is really tempting dessert. Loos so comforting!
Doesn’t it look yummy? And pair it with some ice cream for a really delicious treat!
Hi, this was delicious but it took just over an hour. At 40 minutes the center was still runny liquid. It took about 75 minutes to get to the right consistency.
Weird! I’m glad you kept cooking it! Do you often have issues with cooking time?
i would rename this lava cake too. I want to make it! it looks soo yummy.
And I think you need to live closer to us. There are some houses in our ward for sale…we only have a 30% activity rate, so we could use you….(and your yummy treats too)
Was looking for a simple, quick to make chocolate dessert and came across your “cobbler”. Was so intrigued that I had to try it and my family is glad we did. Was more fudge sauce than expected but there was not a crumb left on anyones plate. Most enjoyable “Cobbler”
mmmmmmmmmm