Name: Southern Chocolate Cobbler – Cheesey Potatoes Easy Recipe Twist for Dessert Lovers
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 7 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, divided; 1 1/4 cups sugar, divided; 1/2 cup milk; 1/3 cup melted butter; 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1/2 cup packed brown sugar; 1 1/2 cups hot water

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Let’s talk about chocolate cobbler. It’s warm, it’s gooey, and it’s basically what happens when brownies decide they want to take a nap in a hot fudge puddle. This recipe is one of those hidden treasures passed down from the kind of Southern kitchens where dessert is never optional. Now, don’t let the name fool you – this isn’t your average fruit-stuffed cobbler. Nope, this is the chocolate kind. And not just ‘a little chocolate,’ I’m talking full-on, glorious, over-the-top chocolate. I remember the first time I made this for a friend who’d never heard of it. She looked at me like I was making up a recipe just to use up pantry scraps. But then she took a bite and her whole world shifted. She asked if I was a wizard. I told her, ‘No, just a woman with a baking dish and questionable self-control.’ We’re combining old-school comfort food with a sprinkle of modern mischief. If you love warm desserts that demand a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a couch for full enjoyment, this chocolate cobbler’s for you.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Southern Chocolate Cobbler Recipe
3) Ingredients for Southern Chocolate Cobbler
4) How to Make Southern Chocolate Cobbler
5) Tips for Making Southern Chocolate Cobbler
6) Making Southern Chocolate Cobbler Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Southern Chocolate Cobbler
8) Try these Desserts next!
9) Southern Chocolate Cobbler
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

This Southern Chocolate Cobbler has a gooey fudge sauce baked right under a soft cake-like topping.
No mixer required, just a couple of bowls and one baking dish.
The secret? Hot water poured over sugar and cocoa. Yes, it’s as fun as it sounds.
Best enjoyed warm, ideally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

2) Easy Southern Chocolate Cobbler Recipe

This cobbler isn’t your typical peach-and-berry number. We’re talking about chocolate — not just any chocolate, but a full-on, rich, decadent dessert that feels like a warm hug on a rough day. The top is soft and cakey, the bottom is this magical layer of thick chocolate sauce, and yes, it’s totally acceptable to eat it straight from the pan. I speak from experience.

The whole thing comes together quickly. You’re not creaming butter or whisking eggs into stiff peaks. It’s one of those desserts that looks like you spent way too long making it, but really, you were probably still in your slippers. It makes weeknights sweeter and weekends feel fancy with zero effort.

So whether you’ve had a long day or you’re just craving something that hits that warm, chocolatey sweet spot, this Southern Chocolate Cobbler is the answer. Plus, let’s be honest, anything that pairs this well with ice cream deserves a spot on your dessert list.

3) Ingredients for Southern Chocolate Cobbler

All-purpose flour – This gives our cobbler structure, but it’s soft enough to keep the texture light and tender.

Baking powder – The lift behind that lovely golden crust. Just a little puff to balance out the gooey bottom.

Salt – It’s a small addition that wakes up the flavor. Don’t skip it.

Unsweetened cocoa powder – We use this twice: in the batter and the magic topping. It’s what gives this cobbler that rich, deep chocolate kick.

Sugar – The white kind makes the cake sweet and the topping crisp. It’s in both layers for balance.

Milk – Just enough to bring the batter together into a pourable, pudding-like mixture.

Melted butter – Rich and smooth, it adds flavor and moisture. Plus, it smells amazing as it bakes.

Vanilla extract – Just a splash to give warmth and depth. It plays well with the chocolate.

Brown sugar – Adds a molasses hint to the topping. Slightly deeper, slightly more caramel-like than white sugar.

Hot water – This is where the magic happens. You pour it on top and somehow, as it bakes, it sinks below the batter and turns into hot fudge. Pure sorcery.

4) How to Make Southern Chocolate Cobbler

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Find a deep baking dish, 8×8 inches works great. No need to grease it.

Step 2. In one bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder, and 3/4 cup of sugar. That’s your dry team.

Step 3. Add the milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir until it’s thick and spreadable. Pour it into the baking dish and level it out with a spoon.

Step 4. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining cocoa powder, brown sugar, and remaining white sugar. Sprinkle this mix evenly over the batter. Don’t press it in. Just let it sit on top like a sugary blanket.

Step 5. Now for the fun part: slowly pour hot water over everything. Don’t stir. I know, it’s strange, but trust it. Walk away.

Step 6. Bake it for about 35 minutes. The top will rise and bake like a soft cake, but underneath it stays gooey and rich, like hot fudge sauce.

Step 7. Let it cool slightly before serving. Spoon it into bowls and watch that chocolate sauce ooze out. Top with ice cream if you’re feeling fancy. Or just eat it warm straight from the dish.

5) Tips for Making Southern Chocolate Cobbler

Use real cocoa powder. You want the good stuff here — unsweetened and rich. It’s the backbone of that intense chocolate flavor.

Don’t stir after adding the hot water. I know it looks wild to just pour water over sugar and walk away, but that’s where the magic happens. Stirring ruins the sauce effect. Just trust the process.

Serve it warm. This cobbler is meant to be eaten warm, with the sauce bubbling underneath and the top all soft and golden. Letting it sit too long will thicken the sauce more than you want. Timing is everything here — like life, but tastier.

6) Making Southern Chocolate Cobbler Ahead of Time

You can prep the batter and dry topping mixture ahead of time and leave them covered separately. When you’re ready to bake, pour the batter into the dish, add the sugar topping, pour the hot water, and bake as usual.

This way, you’re always about 35 minutes away from warm chocolate heaven. It’s great for those nights when company’s coming and you want to act like you have your life together — dessert-wise, at least.

Do note, this isn’t a make-it-in-the-morning and reheat-at-dinner kind of dessert. It’s best served straight from the oven, with that hot fudge-like sauce still bubbling beneath the cakey top.

7) Storing Leftover Southern Chocolate Cobbler

If you somehow have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll last about three days, but honestly, mine never make it past day one.

When you’re ready for round two, reheat a portion in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds. The sauce thickens a bit in the fridge, but that just makes it extra rich. A splash of milk can loosen things up if you want it saucier.

And yes, you can still add ice cream to your leftovers. In fact, it might be better the next day — sort of like revenge, but sweeter.

8) Try these Desserts next!

9) Southern Chocolate Cobbler