Danette’s Easy Molten Lava Cake

I LOVE a good Molten Lava Cake. But most of them don’t have enough “molten”. I want lots of the gooey, saucy goodness. This cake does the trick and is SUPER easy to make. It’s also pretty fun to watch the flip-flop of ingredients that happens during the cooking process. You put down a layer of batter, then a layer of dry ingredients, then dump several cups of boiling water on top of that - resist the urge to stir! The whole thing goes in the oven like that, and when it comes out, you have a layer of cake on top, and gooey saucy goodness underneath. The liquid on the bottom thickens as it cools, but it’s like hot fudge. Great for getting my chocolate fix!

1 1/4 cup sugar, divided
1 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder, divided
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup butter
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 3/4 cups water

Preheat oven to 350. Combine 3/4 c. sugar, flour, 1/4 c. cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Melt butter. Add milk, butter, vanilla. Beat until smooth. Pour into ngreased 9x9 pan.

Combine 1/2 c. sugar, brown sugar, and 1/4 c. cocoa. Sprinkle over batter. Pour hot water on top - DO NOT STIR.

Bake 35-40 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes. Center should be almost set (still jiggly).

Tastes great served with vanilla ice cream, but I usually have it plain!