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This Warm Chocolate Fudge Skillet Cake is my go-to easy cake that rivals all others. A super simple flourless chocolate cake made with eggs, cocoa powder, vanilla, a splash of bourbon, and sweet chocolate chunks. All baked together until puffed on top and warm and gooey in the center. The cake gets baked inside flaky puff pastry for a delicious and unique twist. This rich cake is warm, fudgy, and almost molten-like, while the outside is flaky and delicious. And even better when served with ice cream on top. It’s the perfect Mother’s Day cake…or maybe just your Friday night dessert!
I really do love each and every recipe I share with you guys, but there are some that I just really, really love. This cake is one of them. It started out as a simple flourless cake concept, but while testing, it turned into so much more.
With Mother’s Day on Sunday, I wanted to share a dessert that I knew my mom would LOVE. I’ve been really into fruit recipes lately, so chocolate has kind of taken a back seat. We all know how my mom feels about chocolate. She’s what you call a chocoholic. And while she’s really tried to cut sugar out of her daily life (except for her morning and evening cacao/cocoa sessions), there are some things she just can’t resist.
Homemade chocolate cake is one of those sweets she can never turn down. And if it’s warm? While geez, all bets are definitely off. She might even have a second slice.
I’ve really been wanting to share a flourless chocolate cake with you guys for a while. But I just couldn’t quite figure out a way to make my flourless cake extra special. There are a lot of basic flourless cakes out there. And most sound totally delicious, but I wanted to share something new.
I’ve had an idea in my head for a while now. But before I started testing this cake, I gave it another thought. Hmm, can cake have a crust? So I tested my cake recipe concept inside of an easy puff pastry crust, and wow, it worked. And just in time for Mother’s Day. All I can say is that I’m so excited!
In Asher’s words, “this cake is unreal….delish”.
If you’ve ever made a flourless cake, you probably know that most are really pretty simple. And that’s the cake we are making today, just in a skillet.
You’ll want to start with the pastry. I use a sheet of thawed frozen puff pastry. I take an eight-inch skillet, butter it, then fit the pastry inside and pre-bake it. This ensures that the pastry gets a little cooked before adding in the cake.
The secret here is to use a good heavy-duty skillet, preferably cast iron. It will give you the flakiest, butteriest pastry. That said, if you don’t own a skillet to bake this in, use an eight or nine-inch baking pan. Both options work, but I prefer the skillet!
While the pastry is baking, make the cake. It’s easy and you don’t even need a mixer. What you do need are eggs, a little cocoa powder, sugar, instant coffee, and butter. Plenty of butter for this one!
Then simply whisk it all together and done. I do like to brown the butter first for added flavor, but it’s also not necessary if you’re short on time.
The two ingredients I love to add are bourbon and vanilla. If you have vanilla beans, that’s even better. The rich bourbon really helps to highlight all the chocolate within the recipe. And something about the combination of vanilla, bourbon, and chocolate is just magical.
And lastly, don’t skip out on those chocolate chunks (or chips). You’ll fold them into the batter just before baking. The chunks help to create that warm and gooey center that everyone will find delicious.
When the cake comes out of the oven it will be pretty proofed up on top and wiggly in the center. But as the cake cools, it will set up a bit.
Wait a handful of minutes before diving in. Then cut and serve this skillet cake while still warm and gooey…with ice cream on top. CRAZY DELICIOUS!
My suggestion…make this for Mom on Sunday, but give it a test run tonight. Trust me, you’ll be very happy you did. Also? If you have siblings, mom will love you most if you make this for her…a little dramatic, but honestly probably true.
This cake really is that good!
Looking for other sweets to serve mom this weekend? Try these:
Old Fashioned Chocolate Cream Pie
Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed Custard Cake
Vintage Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
Lastly, if you make this Warm Chocolate Fudge Skillet Cake be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Hi Tieghan,
I’m not really a puff pastry fan—if just wanting to make the cake, should we just omit that step and follow instructions as above? Or would the baking time and temp be different?
Hey Caitlyn,
I would go ahead and follow this recipe:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/molten-coffee-brownie-pudding/
Please let me know if you have any questions, I hope you love it! xTieghan
I would love to do a version of this as a fried hand pie.
I hope you love the recipe Angela!!
This cake is yummy! So delicious and unique. Personally, we really liked the pastry, especially on the sides. It does feel soggy on the bottom but it wasn’t a bother, and it feels more crust-y the next day.
Forgot to mention – I used only 1 cup sugar and kahlua instead of instant coffee, and also used the bourbon and thought it was perfect.
Thanks again!!
Hey Ramya,
Awesome!! Love to hear this recipe was a winner, thanks for making it. Have the best week:) xT
I made this for a recent family dinner and the entire table unanimously agreed it was delicious! The filling is surprisingly “light” and plenty flavorful. However we also mostly agreed that the puff pastry seemed unnecessary (why have a crust on a cake?) and perhaps almost mismatched. I’ll absolutely be adding this to my dinner party roster, just omitting the crust next time. Thanks Tieghan!
Hi Jen,
Wonderful! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! Happy New Year!? xTieghan
Update: I made it again without the crust for a smaller dinner party so there were leftovers the next day. If this cake is delicious warm, it is ULTRA delicious the next day. Like a heavenly brownie.
Hi Jen,
Happy Sunday! So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for making it! xxT
Can’t wait to try this! Any thoughts on how to make ahead of them? Maybe reheat in oven slightly?
I meant make ahead of time!
Hi there! Yes, I would make the cake ahead and then reheat in the oven for a bit when you want to serve 🙂 xTieghan
How do you prevent the puff pastry edges from browning too much? ?
is there a difference between this and your moulton crackle pie… love your recipes!
Hey Chloe,
Those recipes are similar, but slightly different due to puff pastry and pie crust, this cake is also more fudgey in my opinion. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I have literally made this for our family dinner dessert the last 3 weeks ?. This is amazing just as I expected ❤️ You’re amazing!
Hey Morgan,
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try, love to hear that it was enjoyed! Have the best week:) xTieghan
Hi! I really want to try this but my boyfriend is allergic to eggs. Any substitutions??
Hey Kenna,
So sorry, I have never tested this recipe without the egg. Please let me know if you give it a try! I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan,
I have made this before…Amazing! I would like to make it again for a dinner party and was wondering if it would turn out just as good if I did the first part, baking of the crust, earlier in the day so all I have to do is pour in the chocolate mixture and bake when my guests are here?
Hey Lisa,
Yes, that would be just fine to do! I hope everyone loves it:) xTieghan
This turned out so yummy. I did have to make it without puff pastry because I had to use something gluten, lactose, and soy free otherwise I’d be sick. But I followed all the other directions to a T and this was super good. I really wish I could use puff pastry. I bet that flaky goodness would have been so nice.
Hey Reba,
Happy Sunday! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xxTieghan
Wondering if we could make this somehow salted? maybe with salted caramel on top or would flaky salt work here?
I want to make this for my friend’s birthday on the 3rd because it looks simple and beautiful but she’s a salty b, and I of course want to accommodate.
let me know what you think?!
Hey there,
You could totally add some flaky sea salt at the end:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Could you make this earlier in the day and serve it? I’m trying to determine timing for Father’s Day meal
Hey Dawn,
Sure, that will work! I hope you enjoy the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Sooooo so delicious and extremely simple. This is my new go-to dessert
Hey Emie,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed. Have the best week:) xTieghan
Can I use regular coffee ground instead of instant coffee ground? I don’t drink or use instant coffee. Will it be any different if I use regular coffee ground?
Hey Kimberly,
Unfortunately, basic coffee grounds will not work in the same way, you will want to use the instant coffee grounds. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love the recipe! xx
It’s like a chocolate soufflé on a puff pastry! The chocolate was intense and rich, and definitely satisfies a chocolate craving. I didn’t like the puff pastry, it was burned on the side and soggy on the bottom. Would make the chocolate part again (solo or in a pie crust).
Hey Jenna,
Happy Sunday!! I am thrilled this recipe was enjoyed. Thanks so much for giving it a go! Sorry to hear about your puff pastry. xxTieghan
Yummy because chocolate is always yummy. The puff pastry was tough on the bottom instead of flaky, and the chocolate with the puff pastry just didn’t seem to go. Was just looking for a little more… specialness, which I typically find with Tieghan’s recipes! This one just wasn’t for me.
Thanks for giving the recipe a try Madeline, sorry you did not enjoy this one! xTieghan