Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

Do not over bake this cake or the pudding sauce will burn in the pan and the cake will be dry, not fudgy. Store leftover, covered with plastic, in the refrigerator. Reheat individual servings in a microwave on high power until hot (about 1 minute).
Serves 6 to 8
1 cup sugar
½ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder (I just used normal cocoa powder)
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
½ cup milk
4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup boiling water
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream
1.Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8-inch square glass or metal cake pan with cooking spray. Whisk ½ cup sugar with ¼ cup cocoa in small bowl.
2.Whisk flour, remaining ½ cup sugar, remaining ¼ cup cocoa, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Whisk milk butter, egg yolk, and vanilla in medium bowl until smooth. Stir milk mixture into flour mixture until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips (batter will be stiff).
3.Using rubber spatula, scrape batter into prepared pan and spread into corners. Sprinkle reserved cocoa mixture evenly over top. Gently pour boiling water over cocoa. Do not stir.
4.Bake until top of cake looks cracked, sauce is bubbling, and toothpick inserted into cakey are comes out the moist crumbs attached, about 25 minutes. Cool on rack for at least 10 minutes. To serve, scoop warm cake into individual serving bowls and top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Baby Cakes
Put a fancy spin on this homey recipe by baking up individual pudding cakes. Spray eight 6-oz ovenproof bowls with cooking spray. Fill each with 2 tablespoons batter. Top each with 1½ tablespoons coca mixture, followed by 2 tablespoons boiling water. Arrange cups on rimmed baking sheet and bake until tops are just cracked, 20 to 25 minutes.
Ruth