Chocolate Cobbler

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This gooey Chocolate Cobbler is an old-fashioned recipe made with simple pantry staples. It’s rich, full of chocolate flavor, and perfect for serving to guests! You’ll want to grab the biggest spoon you can find and dig in! While there is a time and a place for a classic Peach Raspberry Cobbler, Christmas time is made for chocolate!

Not Your Traditional Cobbler

You all went a little crazy over my Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler last fall, so I decided to make an extra chocolatey version for the holidays. This Chocolate Cobbler recipe is loosely based on that cobbler recipe minus all the spices, plus a whole lot of chocolate! The best way to describe this is a cross between chocolate pudding, chocolate molten lava cake and a classic chocolate cake. So so delicious and easy to make, thanks to all the pantry staples.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Chocolate lovers will be in pure heaven with one bite of this Chocolate Cobbler! It’s all the goodness of chocolate pudding and chocolate lava cake thrown into one easy dessert. Serve it hot out of the oven and top with ice cream or whipped cream! Either way, get ready to live!

Made With Simple Pantry Ingredients

Part of what makes this cobbler so easy to make is that it uses every day simple ingredients… Just like what was in Grandma’s pantry. You’ve got your basic all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, white sugar, brown sugar, milk, butter and vanilla extract. THAT’S IT.

No Eggs?

That is correct. Your eyes do not deceive you! Even though this is essentially a cake recipe with chocolate pudding baked underneath, you don’t need eggs. It’s not a typo. Don’t worry!

How to Make Chocolate Cobbler

Making this cobbler is fairly simple, but there is one part that may seem counterintuitive, so read through the directions entirely! The way it’s made works and produces pure chocolate lava magic. Trust me. The results are ooey-gooey chocolatey goodness. For full recipe details, including ingredients and measurements, check out the printable recipe card down below.

Preheat Oven + Prep Baking Dish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. For this recipe we are going to use an 8-inch rectangular casserole dish with high sides. There’s no need to grease the pan. Just set it aside for later.

Pro Tip: Don’t have an 8 inch rectangular baking dish? No problem. A 8×8 or 9×9 square casserole dish with high sides will work just fine.

Whisk Dry Ingredients + Add Wet Ingredients

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and unsweetened cocoa powder. Create a well in the dry ingredients and pour in milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir together until a thick batter forms. Pour batter into a un-greased 8-inch rectangular casserole dish with high sides.

Make Topping

In a medium bowl, stir sugar, brown sugar, and cocoa powder together. Sprinkle over the top of the cobbler batter evenly.

Cover with Hot Water

This is where things may seem a little wonky, but do exactly as we say and your dessert will turn out perfectly! Pour HOT WATER (or boiling water is fine too)over the topping and DON’T STIR A THING. I repeat: NO STIRRING! The hot water will sink to the bottom of the baking dish as the cobbler bakes and that’s what makes the gooey lava!

Bake + Cool

Place the casserole dish on a baking sheet (in case it bubbles over), slide it into a preheated oven, and bake for 40 minutes, or until the middle is set. It will have a brownie-like top when it’s done. Cool 5-10 minutes before serving.

How to Serve Chocolate Cobbler

As you can see, a good portion of this is actual cake, but then there’s some thick chocolate pudding/gooeyness under it all that is amazing!! Once the cobbler has cooled a bit, it’s *almost* ready to enjoy. While you most certainly can eat it plain, here are a few suggestions for bringing it to the next level:

• Ice cream – any scoop of ice cream is my favorite, but if you’re looking for MORE chocolate action, serve it with a scoop of chocolate ice cream! 
• Freshly whipped cream– my homemade whipped cream is quick and easy!
• Drizzle with hot fudge sauce or salted caramel sauce
• Melt some peanut butter in the microwave and drizzle on top
• Slice fresh strawberries and place on top

Storing + Make Ahead Directions For Chocolate Cobbler

Believe it or not, there are even more things to rejoice about with this recipe. If you happen to have any Chocolate Cobbler leftover, you can store it in the fridge for up to three days! That’s right, enjoy this treat several days in a row. Just be sure to let it cool to room temperature first, and then store it in an airtight container!

Make Ahead–

You can prepare this up to a day in advance. Simply make the batter, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the fridge. Make the topping, cover, and set aside. When ready to bake, pull the cobbler out of the fridge, sprinkle the topping on, pour the hot water over the batter, and place in oven. 

*Note: You will need to bake it longer since it’s starting out cold, about 5-10 minutes, or until the middle is set.

More Cobblers to Enjoy!

If you loved this Chocolate Cobbler recipe you’re going to go nuts for my other cobbler recipes.

• Peach Cobbler
• Carrot Cake Cobbler
• Peach Raspberry Cobbler
• Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler

I hope you make this decadent chocolate dessert for the chocolate lovers in your life. The printable recipe card for this easy Chocolate Cobbler recipe is below! Have a great week, friends!

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.