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Easy Chocolate Dessert

Category: Sweet Treat Sensations

With just 5 everyday ingredients, layer cake mix, chocolate pudding, and chips to create a gooey, indulgent dessert. No prep fuss needed—just bake!

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Ranah
Updated on Fri, 02 May 2025 00:15:41 GMT
Up-close view of a gooey chocolate dessert with melted chocolate drizzling over the top on a rustic wooden plate. Pin
Up-close view of a gooey chocolate dessert with melted chocolate drizzling over the top on a rustic wooden plate. | chefemmakitchen.com

Indulgent Chocolate Dream

I've brought dozens of desserts to gatherings and noticed the simplest treats always win the crowd over. This throw-together chocolate cake steals the show with just five ingredients and barely any work. You'll love how the different layers create this amazing combo of textures - from sticky pudding to soft, melted chocolate chunks.

Effortless Crowd-Pleaser

What makes this cake brilliant is how everything works together while you hardly lift a finger. Just stack, dump and pop it in the oven. It's now my backup plan when friends drop by without warning or when I'm hit with midnight chocolate cravings.

Just Five Basic Items

  • Butter: Make sure it's not hot after melting.
  • Cake mix: Regular chocolate gives best results.
  • Pudding mix: This makes the sticky middle.
  • Whole milk: Adds that extra creaminess.
  • Chocolate chips: These turn into yummy melted spots.
A close-up of a moist chocolate cake topped with a glossy, melted chocolate glaze, with a spoonful of cake crumbling off. Pin
A close-up of a moist chocolate cake topped with a glossy, melted chocolate glaze, with a spoonful of cake crumbling off. | chefemmakitchen.com

Building Your Cake

First Steps
Oil your baking dish then add cake mix powder.
Next Level
Scatter pudding mix across the top.
The Key Part
Drizzle your butter milk combo over everything.
Quick Swirl
Gently mix to combine the layers.
Finishing Touch
Sprinkle chocolate chips everywhere.
Into The Oven
Wait for it to become sticky and fantastic.

Helpful Hints

Avoid cake mixes that already contain pudding as they'll turn out too sticky. Don't stress about perfect mixing - messier is actually better. Those sticky patches when it's finished? That's exactly what you want. Run your knife under hot water for clean-cut slices.

Tasty Twists

Throw some nuts or shredded coconut on top for crunch. Switch to dark chocolate chips for a richer taste. Try devil's food cake for deeper flavor notes. We love eating it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some caramel drizzled over.

Storage Secrets

It'll stay good in your fridge for about 5 days. I sometimes freeze chunks for those urgent chocolate fixes. Just warm them up until they're gooey again in your microwave or oven.

A piece of moist chocolate cake with rich chocolate frosting is being lifted by a wooden spoon, surrounded by crumbled cake and chocolate chips. Pin
A piece of moist chocolate cake with rich chocolate frosting is being lifted by a wooden spoon, surrounded by crumbled cake and chocolate chips. | chefemmakitchen.com

Final Thoughts

If you're all about quick, easy-to-make sweets, this chocolate-loaded treat is for you. Great for satisfying cravings in no time.

Recipe Questions & Answers

→ Why's it called a dump cake?

The name comes from how you simply layer or 'dump' the ingredients into the baking pan, skipping any need for mixing.

→ Can I swap the cake flavor?

You sure can! Try devil's food or dark chocolate mixes, but keep chocolate pudding to maintain the rich flavor.

→ Why avoid hot butter?

Butter that's too hot might mess with the texture. Let it cool down a bit so it combines properly with the milk.

→ Can it be made ahead of time?

Absolutely! Just warm up portions before serving, especially if you're pairing it with ice cream.

→ Do I need to mix everything?

Not at all! A light shake is enough. It all comes together during the baking process.

Easy Chocolate Cake

This moist, chocolatey dessert combines cake mix, pudding, and chips. Toss it all in and bake for a crowd-pleasing treat.

Preparation Time
5 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
50 mins
By: emma

Category: Desserts

Difficulty Level: Easy

Cuisine Type: American

Yield: 12 Servings (One 9x13 dessert)

Dietary Preferences: Vegetarian

What You'll Need

01 1 box of chocolate cake mix.
02 A stick (113 grams) of unsalted butter, melted but not hot.
03 5.1 oz of instant pudding in chocolate flavor.
04 2 and 1/2 cups full-fat milk.
05 12 oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Steps to Follow

Step 01

Heat your oven to 350°F and coat a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.

Step 02

Spread the pudding mix on the bottom of the dish, then layer the cake mix evenly on top.

Step 03

Combine the melted butter (let it cool a bit first!) with the milk so nothing curdles.

Step 04

Pour the milk and butter mixture over the dry layers in the dish.

Step 05

Gently stir it all together with a whisk, just enough to mix slightly for even cooking.

Step 06

Cover the whole dish evenly with chocolate chips.

Step 07

Let it bake in the oven for 40–45 minutes.

Step 08

Serve it warm, and add a scoop of ice cream if you like.

Additional Notes

  1. To avoid curdling, use butter that's melted but no longer hot when adding milk.

Tools You'll Need

  • A 9x13 pan or casserole dish.
  • A whisk for stirring.

Allergy Information

Check every ingredient for potential allergens. Consult a healthcare professional for concerns.
  • Milk.
  • Egg.
  • Gluten.

Nutrition Info (Per Serving)

These details are for informational purposes and don’t replace medical advice.
  • Calories: 463
  • Fats: 26 g
  • Carbohydrates: 54 g
  • Proteins: 6 g