New! A Killer Chocolate Cobbler to Beat All Others

Updated March 2024 :: Oh, hello beautiful. This Chocolate Cobbler is really something. Deeply fudgey and gooey, sweet and easily customizable per your preferences (Add peanut butter! Salty pretzels! Dollops of jam!), you can read on for details on this simple recipe, or just jump ahead to the main event.

If you like the looks of this Chocolate Cobbler, you might also enjoy our Chocolate Brownie Cookies, this absolutely fantastic Dark Chocolate Cake with Pumpkin Pie Frosting or these Peanut Butter Stuffed Chocolate Sugar Cookies. This Black Pepper and Bourbon Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Chocolate Ganache is great for the holidays and this Chocolate Cake with Milk Chocolate Frosting is truly to die for.

Chocolate Cobbler: A Truly Wonderful Thing

I shared a brief snippet of this chocolate cobbler on my Instagram stories the other day, right after I pulled it out of the oven when it was all bubbly and snapping with its molten-ness. The reaction was encouraging, and just as I’d hoped, people were all, “wait, whaaaa?!?” My friend Dave mentioned that chocolate cobbler is something that he’s never even considered before, like as a concept, and THAT, my friends, is precisely why I’m sharing my recipe for it here on MKL.

It’s incredibly, wonderfully delicious but there’s something about just the notion of it – its mere existence – that makes its almost compulsively intriguing. Let’s just all agree that it’s really wonderful that chocolate cobbler is a thing. I, for one, am better for it. At least I was last weekend.

A Chocolate Cobbler by any other name …

“Now THIS is a dessert!” These were the words my son uttered upon taking his first (huge) bite of this molten chocolate cobbler. And what’s funny, is that about three hours later, when my husband sat down to dive into his own serving of chocolate cobbler, he said essentially the exact same thing. Ha! Success, I’d say. But it really is true – this is one heck of a sweet treat – and I think something like an ooey, gooey molten chocolate cobbler is almost always appropriate. When, exactly, is something like this not the perfect thing?

Basically, you could call this a brownie pie, a fudge bake, molten cake, Hot Fudge Sundae Cake, Brownie Pudding … I could go on. But I’ve always called it “Chocolate Cobbler,” as I frankly love the whole notion of that and find it very fitting. The method of assembly here mimics a cobbler, as there is a base layer and a topping. So the name is very apropos.

What is Chocolate Cobbler?

For starters, a cobbler is a baked item that typically consists of two layers – a base and then some sort of topping that, once baked, splits and cracks and twists and turns – creating a literal “cobbled” effect. No, you won’t find any precision or pie-like perfection when you’re shopping in the cobbler department folks. Here, it’s all cozy, casual, no-muss, no frills goodness. See my Tomato Cobbler, or my Broccoli Cheddar Cobbler for some savory spins.

As for chocolate cobblers, they really just fit snugly into the general description above, but stick to a strictly chocolate play list through and through. Here we’ll create a thick and rich fudge base from a mixture of flour, sugar, baking powder, melted butter, and of course cocoa powder.

We’ll top that with a sparkling mixture of both granulated and brown sugars (the combo creates a wonderful depth of sweet flavor) and even more cocoa powder. Things start to get interesting when we pour a boiling hot vanilla-infused water down over top of the two layers, which helps bring it all together so harmoniously, while also creating that molten chocolate goo that patiently awaits your serving spoon’s arrival upon first digging in. You’re going to love this chocolate cobbler. I just have a feeling …

What you’ll need to make this chocolate cobbler

This recipe is cool because it’s really unique. When I think about cobblers, my mind almost always drifts toward those of the fruity variety. So, maybe that’s why I love this one so much. It’s different in such a happy way. The ingredients list reads like a veritable who’s-who of the baking world. Sugar! Flour! Cocoa Powder! Baking Powder! Gang’s all here. Just take note that these ingredients are used in multiple ways – first in the delicious base layer, and then again in the topping.

INGREDIENTS

For the base layer

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder 
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• ¼ cup water
• 6 tablespoons salted butter, melted

For the topping

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1-1/4 cups boiling water
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 
• Ice cream or whipped cream, for serving

How to make this amazing Chocolate Cobbler

True to form with its cobbler brethren, this Chocolate Cobbler is made up of two parts. First, we’ll make an easy base layer that acts as an anchor for the whole dish. Second, we’ll make a little topping that seems almost odd, if I’m brig honest, when you pour it over the base. But trust the process; I tested this several times before letting the recipe rip, and it works like a charm every time.

Chocolate Cobbler DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray or grease a 2-quart baking dish.
2. Create the base layer: in a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine. In a small bowl, stir together the buttermilk, water and melted salty butter. Pour the liquid mixture into the flour/cocoa mixture and gently stir, just until well-combined. Spread this mixture into your prepared baking dish.
3. Create your top layer: In a medium bowl, combine the sugars and cocoa powder. Sprinkle this evenly over the base layer. Combine the vanilla and the boiling water and gently pour this over top. Carefully place your dish in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until it’s mostly set, but still visibly wobbly in the center. Essentially, you want it gooey but not raw – so don’t let it cook to the point of total stiffness. 
4. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.  

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