Dark Chocolate Brownie Volcano

I've been making this gooey chocolate dessert for years and years, I can't believe I haven't blogged about it before! It is so, SO good. It's a brownie cake that magically creates a molten lava layer when baking. It is sometimes referred to as a pudding cake, but my boys started calling it a brownie volcano, and I think their description is still spot on.
This dessert is so good it should probably be a sin. It tastes fantastic hot and steaming, especially with vanilla ice cream, but it's just as good chilled, too. You just can't go wrong with this one!

Here's What You Need

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (I use unbleached)

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, divided 

1/4 cup dark cocoa powder, divided

2 teaspoons baking powder

pinch salt

 1-2 tsp vanilla extract, divided

 3 Tbsp butter, melted

3/4 cup whole or 2% milk

3/4 cup dark chocolate morsels

1 3/4 cups boiling water

Here's What You Do

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F; put water in a kettle to heat up while you make the first part*

2. In a large bowl - I use a measuring bowl with a spout - lightly whisk together flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, 1/8 cup of each cocoa powder (I add a couple teaspoons of each to the same 1/4 cup measuring cup until it's full), and salt. Next, melt butter, and add it to the dry ingredients; add milk and 1 tsp vanilla, stirring/whisking until smooth. Stir in chocolate morsels and spread into 9x9 dish or 2-quart dish.

3. If you used a measuring bowl with spout above, then use that same one here; otherwise, now you should use a bowl with a spout because you'll be pouring liquid. Add remaining sugar and cocoa powders, stirring lightly. Carefully add boiling water and whisk ingredients together gently; add either 1/2 or 1 tsp remaining vanilla.

4. Carefully pour the liquid mixture over the top of the brownie batter. I find it helpful to hold a spatula over the brownie batter and pour the liquid right onto the center of the spatula and adding the liquid that way; otherwise, pouring all that liquid directly onto the batter can make a big dent or hole.

It's okay if there are bubbles or even little "clumps" of cocoa

5. Bake for about 35-40 minutes. There may be some "lava" bubbling up through the brownie, and this is a sure sign that it's done baking. Allow to cool before serving. Enjoy by itself or with ice cream...so yummy!

*You could boil your water in the microwave right when you need it

recipe adapted from the Pampered Chef

 

 I have never tried doubling the recipe, but I think I should! This would be the hit of the party for a large crowd, one that's larger than our seven anyway. ;) I'll update this if I get a chance to try it out.

You should really try this one! Let me know if you do!