There are days on the farm when the gray clouds roll in and the only cure is something deeply rich and chocolatey. While I usually advocate for scratching baking, sometimes the comfort of a warm kitchen and a reliable recipe is what matters most. This cake is a testament to how a few quality ingredients can transform a simple pantry staple into something truly special.
This chocolate fudge cake is incredibly dense, moist, and satisfying. By enriching a basic mix with sour cream, instant pudding, and good butter, we create a dessert that feels entirely homemade and rustic. It is the perfect centerpiece for a cozy family gathering.
A Rustic Chocolate Dream
You will fall in love with the unapologetic richness of this cake. It offers the kind of deep, dark chocolate flavor that lingers on the palate, balanced by a tender, melt-in-your-mouth crumb. It is robust enough to travel well for a potluck yet elegant enough for a Sunday dinner. The preparation is straightforward, allowing even novice bakers to achieve bakery-quality results right in their own farmhouse kitchen.
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Chocolate Fudge Cake
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A dense and moist chocolate cake enriched with sour cream and pudding mix, finished with a luscious butter and chocolate glaze. This rustic Bundt cake is perfect for those seeking a deep, fudgy flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredients
- 1 (18.25 oz) package Devil’s Food cake mix
- 1 (3.9 oz) package instant chocolate pudding mix
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (for glaze)
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (for glaze)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and thoroughly grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, sour cream, milk, oil, water, eggs, and pudding mix.
- Beat with an electric mixer for approximately four minutes until the batter is thick and glossy.
- Gently fold in 2 cups of chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Melt the remaining chocolate chips and butter together until smooth, then drizzle the mixture over the cooled cake.
Notes
To ensure a clean release from your Bundt pan, use a pastry brush to apply softened butter into every corner before flouring. For the richest texture, ensure your eggs and sour cream are at room temperature before you begin mixing.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
The Farmhouse Pantry
To make this cake sing, we focus on enriching the batter with high-quality wet ingredients.
- Devil’s Food Cake Mix: Provides a reliable foundation for our structure.
- Sour Cream: This is the key to moisture; it adds a subtle tang that balances the sugar.
- Instant Chocolate Pudding: Deepens the chocolate profile and creates that signature fudgy texture.
- Vegetable Oil & Water: Keeps the crumb tender.
- Large Eggs: Use farm-fresh if you have them for the best lift.
- Semisweet Chocolate Chips: We use these inside the batter for texture and melted on top for a glossy finish.
- Unsalted Butter: Melts with the chocolate to create a silky, rich glaze.
Simple Steps to Chocolate Bliss
Step 1: Prepare the Pan
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Take a moment to thoroughly grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan. This allows the cake to release beautifully with all its ridges intact.
Step 2: Create the Batter
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, sour cream, milk, oil, water, eggs, and pudding mix. Beat with an electric mixer for about four minutes. You want the batter to be thick, glossy, and well-aerated. Gently fold in two cups of the chocolate chips.
Step 3: Bake Until Set
Pour the batter evenly into your prepared pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. You are looking for a toothpick inserted into the center to come out clean, with perhaps just a few moist crumbs attached. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 4: Glaze and Finish
While the cake cools, melt the remaining chocolate chips and butter together until smooth. Drizzle this rich mixture over the cake, letting it cascade down the sides in true rustic fashion.
Christine’s Baking Secrets
For the best texture, let your cold ingredients like eggs and sour cream come to room temperature before mixing. This helps them emulsify properly into the batter. If you are passionate about understanding the science behind these ingredients, take a look at our Chocolate Alchemy section.
- Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour mixture (or in this case, the mix), beat only as long as directed to avoid a tough cake.
- Checking Doneness: Start checking at the 40-minute mark. Chocolate cakes can dry out quickly if left too long.
- Pan Prep: Use a pastry brush to get the butter or shortening into every crevice of the Bundt pan for a clean release.
Seasonal Swaps and Twists
This recipe is wonderfully versatile. During the holidays, I sometimes add a pinch of cinnamon or orange zest to the batter for a festive touch. For smaller portions perfect for gifting, you might find inspiration in our Contemporary Small Format baking guide.
- Mocha Fudge: Dissolve a tablespoon of espresso powder in the water before adding it to the mix.
- Nutty Crunch: Swap half a cup of chocolate chips for chopped walnuts or pecans.
- Double Glaze: Drizzle with white chocolate ganache over the dark chocolate for a striking contrast.
Rustic Presentation
I believe in letting the cake speak for itself. Place it on a wooden board or a simple ceramic platter. A dusting of powdered sugar adds a lovely contrast to the dark glaze. For a summer treat, I love pairing this with fresh berries from the market; you can see more ideas for fruit pairings in our Fresh Fruit Baking category.
The Simple Truth
This Chocolate Fudge Cake is a celebration of simple pleasures and honest flavors. It is a recipe that proves you don’t always need hours of labor to create something memorable. Whether you are baking for a crowd or just for the family, this cake delivers every time. This recipe is a nod to the classics, similar to the beloved version found on AllRecipes.
For more staples that belong in every baker’s repertoire, visit our Foundational Recipes. We would love to see your creations—tag us on Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook.
