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Home Puddings & Cosy Desserts

Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding

By:Nagi
Published:4 Nov '16Updated:20 Jan '21
271 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding is a classic dessert that everyone should know! One batter magically transforms into a moist chocolate cake with a beautiful chocolate sauce.  Quick enough for a midweek treat, and a crowd pleaser for dinner parties.

Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding - 1 batter transforms into a moist chocolate cake with a beautiful silky chocolate sauce! 10 minutes active effort. www.recipetineats.com

I started the week off with Cottage Pie, wedged in a Stovetop Mac and Cheese on Wednesday and am finishing off the week with this Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding.

It seems that this week was Comfort Food Week here on RecipeTin Eats and I missed the memo. My own memo.😂

When I was younger, I was so fascinated with self saucing puddings. I always thought they were magical. One batter transforming into a cake that looks so innocent when it comes out of the oven, then when you break into it – boom! Eyes light up at the sight of all that chocolate sauce!!!

Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding - 1 batter transforms into a moist chocolate cake with a beautiful silky chocolate sauce! 10 minutes active effort. www.recipetineats.com

I should qualify that statement actually, it’s a little more than one batter. But not much more! All it takes is sprinkling sugar + cocoa on top of the batter and pouring over hot water. This mixture then sinks to the base of the dish as it bakes, passing through the cake making it sooooo moist (I love this thought!), and it reduces down to become a sauce.

Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding - 1 batter transforms into a moist chocolate cake with a beautiful silky chocolate sauce! 10 minutes active effort. www.recipetineats.com

You see in the photo above how I am pouring the hot water over the back of a spoon? The purpose of this is to soften the fall of water onto the sugar topping, to try to keep the surface as even as possible so the surface of the pudding is as even as possible when it comes out of the oven.

I’m not an expert at this part. Also, my recipe uses a slightly higher water to sugar ratio than most classic recipes because I like to have a sauce that is actually a bit like sauce, rather than a thick sludge. Mind you, sludge still tastes fabulous! It’s just a matter of preference.

So because I use slightly more water, the top of my pudding is not as perfectly smooth. Less water = smoother surface = less sauce. 🙂

See? Here’s my sauce. It’s pourable. But thick, not watery. You can actually scrape some off the bottom of the baking dish and pour it over.

Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding - 1 batter transforms into a moist chocolate cake with a beautiful silky chocolate sauce! 10 minutes active effort. www.recipetineats.com

I’ve never been embarrassed by the nubbly top of my puddings but if I was, I’d just dust it with icing sugar.

The pudding really is cake-like so you could in fact slice it and serve it like cake, then use a spoon to drizzle each slice with the chocolate sauce.

But tradition is to use a spoon to serve Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding. Scoop out big dollops of it so you get cake and sauce in each spoonful. It doesn’t look as neat as slicing, but that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding - 1 batter transforms into a moist chocolate cake with a beautiful silky chocolate sauce! 10 minutes active effort. www.recipetineats.com

Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding is just made with cocoa powder, no chocolate. I’m sure there are richer versions around with the addition of chocolate chips. But the traditional way is so darn good, I have no urge to stray!

I like to serve pudding with ice cream or cream, and usually some fresh strawberries or other fruit, just to break it up and add a pop of colour.

Easy enough for midweek. And a crowd pleaser for company. I am totally and utterly in love with Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding! – Nagi x


More cosy warm desserts for cold winter nights!

  • Apple Crumble – personal favourite!

  • Strawberry Crumble

  • Sticky Date Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce

  • Bread and Butter Pudding

  • Magic Caramel Self Saucing Baked Apples

Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding - 1 batter transforms into a moist chocolate cake with a beautiful silky chocolate sauce! 10 minutes active effort. www.recipetineats.com

WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT

Recipe video! And don’t worry, though you’ll see Dozer plodding over for a taste test, he didn’t get any. No chocolate for dogs!

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Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding close up photo

Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 30 minutes mins
Total: 40 minutes mins
Dessert
4.96 from 103 votes
Servings5 -6
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Recipe video above. A classic chocolate self saucing pudding! One batter magically transforms into a moist chocolate cake AND a chocolate sauce. The sauce has the consistency of maple syrup - never watery, never gluggy. This is easy and fast to make. Serve it up straight away otherwise the sauce gets absorbed into the cake!

Ingredients

Topping

  • 1 cup (175g) brown sugar , loosely packed (Note 1)
  • 1/4 cup (30g) cocoa powder , unsweetened (Note 2)
  • 1 1/4 cups (315ml) boiling water

Batter

  • 1 cup (150g) plain flour (all purpose flour)
  • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/3 cup (70g) white sugar , preferably caster/super fine but ordinary ok
  • 1/4 cup (30g) cocoa powder , unsweetened (Note 2)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup (125ml) milk
  • 50 g / 4 1/2 tbsp butter , melted
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Prevent screen from sleeping

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 170C/335F (standard) / 150C/305F (fan forced / convection).
  • Grease a 5 - 6 cup baking dish with butter. (Note 3)
  • Topping: Whisk brown sugar and cocoa in a bowl, set aside.
  • Whisk flour, baking powder, caster sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a bowl.
  • In a separate bowl or jug, whisk together the butter and milk, then whisk in the egg and vanilla.
  • Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture. Mix until combined - it will be a thick batter.
  • Spread into baking dish. Sprinkle with sugar / cocoa mixture. Shake gently to spread out thinly.
  • Carefully pour the hot water over the back of a dessert spoon all over the top of the pudding - see photo in post or video below recipe. (Note 4)
  • Transfer to oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the top of the cake springs back when poked lightly. The top will be a bit crusty, like the top of brownies.
  • Remove from oven, stand for just a few minutes (no more!), then serve immediately. (Note 5)

Recipe Notes:

1. Light or dark brown sugar is fine.
2. Use Dutch Processed cocoa powder if you can. It's the up market cocoa powder, it's darker and has a more intense flavour. But normally I just use run of the mill cocoa powder.
3. 5 to 6 cups is around 1.25 - 1.5 litres / quarts. The dish pictured is 25 x 20 x 4.5 cm / 10 x 8 x 2.75". I often make this in a 20 x 20cm / 8 x 8" square pan or baking dish which yields a slightly thicker cake.
4. The purpose of pouring the water over the spoon as you pour it over the top of the pudding is to try to try to make the water pour gently onto the surface so you can a smooth surface. As you can see from my photos, I am hopeless at this and I have no shame about the nubbly surface of my pudding. In fact, I rather like it it - more crackly brownie-like bits!
5. The pudding needs to be served warm because the longer it stands, the more the sauce is absorbed into the cake and thickens up. Leftovers are lovely if reheated in the microwave because the chocolate becomes all melty again, but you don't get as much sauce as when it is made fresh.
I like to serve mine with ice cream or cream and strawberries. Sometimes I dust it with icing sugar / confectionary sugar to make it look prettier.
6. Nutrition per serving, assuming 6 servings.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 103gCalories: 321cal (16%)Carbohydrates: 59.7g (20%)Protein: 4.5g (9%)Fat: 8.6g (13%)Saturated Fat: 5.1g (32%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.5gCholesterol: 47mg (16%)Sodium: 79mg (3%)Fiber: 1.7g (7%)Sugar: 40.6g (45%)
Keywords: chocolate self saucing pudding
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

LIFE OF DOZER

He hates floor-mopping day even more than I do because I make him wear socks while I enjoy the feeling of clean floors for a few hours….

dozer-socks

Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding - 1 batter transforms into a moist chocolate cake with a beautiful silky chocolate sauce! 10 minutes active effort. www.recipetineats.com

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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271 Comments

  1. emma says

    May 30, 2025 at 9:39 am

    5 stars
    delicious. we were not ready to eat it straight away. so once it finished cooking, i turned the oven off, left it in the oven with the door open half way to keep it warm, until we were ready to eat.

    Reply
  2. Susan Tench says

    January 1, 2025 at 11:50 pm

    5 stars
    This was so delicious and easy to make, thanks!

    Reply
  3. Emily says

    November 23, 2024 at 10:31 am

    5 stars
    This was delicious thanks

    Reply
  4. Emily says

    November 19, 2024 at 12:02 pm

    5 stars
    Very good! Is it best to store leftovers on counter or in fridge?

    Reply
  5. Steph says

    November 13, 2024 at 12:37 pm

    Delicious, but was pretty much able to halve the sugar. I LOVE your website Nagi, and my only one suggestion of improvement would be to have options when it comes to sweetness. To encourage healthier eating. My kids still gave this 100/10 with half the sugar. It was plenty sweet enough. Thank you! Steph

    Reply
  6. Courtney Smith says

    October 26, 2024 at 7:03 pm

    5 stars
    Delish! I doubled the ingredients because we’re fatty’s lol – this will definitely be one of my go to’s! So easy and quick x

    Reply
  7. Ailsa McQuade says

    September 27, 2024 at 7:40 am

    Made this last night as a quick treat. Soooo delicious! I actually bought dutch process cocoa a few weeks back & used that instead of my usual and I felt it dud add that touch of luxury😄. I have a very similar recipe using lemons & zest (very nice too) I did both in the same baking bowl, the lemon one gave less sauce(I presume I need to use a touch more juice/water or a smaller dish) and your recipe had the cake swimming in choc sauce ( nothing wrong with that in my book! But maybe larger dish? Or less water? ) I think I may just rethink my dish next time I have a slightly higher sided but possibly just slightly smaller dish I’ll use next time and see if it makes a difference, I’m not over bothered though results are delicious. Thankyou again for another wonderfully easy but stunning dish it keeps the husband believing I am a miracle worker in the kitchen and that’s always a good thing😄

    Reply
  8. Thando says

    August 30, 2024 at 11:57 pm

    4 stars
    This was an easy recipe to make but it’s too sweet for me (just my preference) and there’s more sauce than there is cake which was a bit disappointing. But a really great and full-proof recipe!

    Reply
  9. Thandolwethu Nkosi says

    August 30, 2024 at 11:57 pm

    4 stars
    This was an easy recipe to make but it’s too sweet for me (just my preference) and there’s more sauce than there is cake which was a bit disappointing. But a really great and full-proof recipe!

    Reply
  10. TJ says

    August 26, 2024 at 2:56 pm

    5 stars
    My family and I love this recipe so much! I find that there can be quite a lot of liquid when it’s ready to come out of the oven but I quickly figured out that it’s just the sauce and it doesn’t matter because the ratio is perfect

    Reply
  11. z says

    August 23, 2024 at 1:38 am

    5 stars
    bangin added choc chips tossed in flour, bit less water and cooked for 45 min tasted soooo fkn good w icecream and stewed strawbs

    Reply
  12. Cathy East says

    August 20, 2024 at 9:25 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Nagi,

    I am not a dessert maker & opt for store bought desserts.

    But OMG!
    I made your choc self saucing pudding like a pro (THANKS TO YOU)
    This pudding was simply amazing & fabulously delish!

    Just had a left over piece 2 days after making & heated it up in the microwave.
    Just as good!!!

    NAGI
    Your recipes are BRILLIANT!

    MANY THANKS🤍

    Reply
  13. Ann says

    August 20, 2024 at 2:31 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious. Used Cadbury’s Coco Powder and it’s just perfect. Had this recipe years ago and lost it. So delighted to find this easy and delicious pudding. Thank you for posting. ..from Ireland 🇮🇪

    Reply
  14. Jodie says

    August 18, 2024 at 7:28 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing great results from such a simple recipe. Thanks Nagi!

    Reply
  15. Sara says

    August 13, 2024 at 12:50 pm

    5 stars
    So good and super easy to make!! Instead of using boiling water to pour over the pudding i use boiling milk and it makes the sauce SOO much more rich and delicious <3

    Reply
  16. Carolyn says

    July 26, 2024 at 1:45 pm

    Aww look at Dozer in his sox he is so gorgeous. I studded this pudd with frozen raspberries Nagi and it was sooo good, mmm

    Reply
  17. Naomi says

    July 21, 2024 at 10:23 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve made this recipe before and it was good but not great. But tonight I made sure to use Dutch cocoa powder as suggested, and I think that is probably what made the difference! Definitely worth spending a bit more to get the Dutch one! 🇳🇱💜

    Reply
  18. Gary Joyce says

    July 14, 2024 at 7:06 pm

    5 stars
    Love it! 🥰 omg the chocolate hit. Only had woollies cocoa powder but still tastes awesome. Super cool and delicious dessert

    Reply
  19. Nora M says

    June 1, 2024 at 5:18 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Nagi,
    My Mum wants to know if you make a sourdough crumpet

    # you are da best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Joshua says

      October 9, 2024 at 6:50 pm

      5 stars
      I added 1 extra egg yolk and 1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil to batter cause I like it extra moist and gooey. The best self sauce chocolate pudding I’ve ever eaten. Great recipe, Thank you.

      Reply
  20. Nora M says

    June 1, 2024 at 5:13 pm

    5 stars
    I love this recipe it da best!!!!!

    yyyyyyyyyyuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

    #I’m sooooooo happy

    Reply
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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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