Death by Chocolate Dump Cake is a decadent dessert that combines rich chocolate flavor with the ease and convenience of a “dump” cake recipe. Using only 5 ingredients, this cake is quick to prepare and a sweet tooth favorite for the serious chocolate lover!
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This past week, I was in the mood for something quick, easy, and full of chocolate yumminess!
After dumping a few ingredients together, this cake was created and AMAZING!
Incredibly moist, full of chocolate, and simple to make; this dump cake is a winner!
Each of my kids had a small piece after dinner and went crazy over it. Yes, kids are bound to go crazy over just about any dessert, but they ALL really enjoyed this!
My hubby and I add a small scoop of ice-cream to ours and thoroughly enjoyed this sweet treat!
This recipe makes a full 9×13 baking pan, so its plenty big to bring to any gathering as well!
Ingredients Needed for this Death by Chocolate Dump Cake:
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- 1 small box chocolate pudding (instant)
- 2 cups milk
- 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (any type desired works great)
How to prepare:
- Grease a 9 x 13 baking pan.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, chocolate pudding, and cocoa powder.
- Add in the milk and stir until just combined.
- Pour batter into the greased baking pan.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the cake evenly.
- Place pan in a preheated oven, 350, and bake for about 30 minutes, or until cooked through.
Love chocolate? Check out these other great recipes:
Death by Chocolate Peanut Butter Dump Cake
Secret Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Death by Chocolate Dump Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- 1 box Instant Chocolate Pudding *small box
- 2 cups milk
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
Instructions
- Grease a 9 x 13 baking pan.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, chocolate pudding, and cocoa powder.
- Add in the milk and stir until just combined.
- Pour batter into the greased baking pan.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the cake evenly.
- Place pan in a preheated oven, 350, and bake for about 30 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Remove from oven and enjoy!!
Notes
Nutrition
E Lucia
I’m not one for leaving comments, but this was amazing. I am not one for overly sweet cakes or cakes with frosting. This is what I have been looking for. Perfect balance of sweet and no frosting needed. Thank you.
Kristin
Yay!! Love hearing this! Definitely one of my favorite cakes too!!
Sherrill Cross
I am 76 and have been baking for many years and am planning on trying this tomorrow. I went through all of the comments to make sure I read all right.
Kristin
Yay!! Hope you enjoy! Keep me posted what you think!
Ellen
Can this be made with almond milk,and would you use the same amount?
Kristin
That should work great and yes, same amount! Keep me posted what you think! Enjoy!
Renee
I was so skeptical about this recipe but it was so moist and yummy! I absolutely loved it. I baked mine for 25 minutes and it was perfect!! I didn’t change the recipe at all. I’m anxious to try different flavor combinations. This is a keeper!
Kristin
Yay!! Love hearing this! I love adding peanut butter chips for a chocolate peanut butter flavor throughout!
Cyndy Lanham
am I reading this right? no eggs or oil in the cake mix?
just making certain, I hate wasting ingredients! enjoy your day.
Kristin
Yep, that is correct!! It only uses the cake mix! Hope you enjoy, its a favorite in my house!
Hallie
What can I tip it with? Drizzle a topping? Make a frosting? Any ideas??
Kristin
My daughter has made this and used chocolate frosting on top. Another tasty idea is to simply pour chocolate chips on top when it comes out of the oven. They will melt and can be spread into a coating that hardens a bit and adds a great chocolate addition. Enjoy!
Carol
I made this and love it. My husband thought it was similar to a brownie. It was that moist. Definitely a “keeper” recipe, soooo easy.
Kristin
Yay!! Love hearing this!!!
Eunice Edwards
The recipe is listed as chocolate peanut butter dump cake, but no peanut butter is listed. Was this a mistake in the title?
Kristin
This one is a chocolate dump cake! You may have seen the link for my peanut butter version as well, which is this one, https://thecookinchicks.com/death-by-chocolate-peanut-butter-dump-cake/
Vicki
I accidently picked-up brownie mix. Can this be made by making cake like brownies & poking holes in it? I would follow the directions for the rest of the recipe.
Kristin
Hmmm, good question! I haven’t personally tried it, but if I were to do that, I would use just the brownie mix and continue instructions as though it were cake mix. Brownies can be a bit more dense, so I am not 100% positive it would be the same, but should be close! Keep me posted!
Pam Jones
I am diabetic but this recipe sounded so good. First I used a zero sugar cake mix. I used a sugar free pudding. I used unsweet almond milk and lower sugar chocolate chips. Baked as you stated. It came out so good! Now to stop from eating it all !
Kristin
Yay!! Love hearing that and love the changes you made to make it diabetic friendly. Thanks for sharing and enjoy!
Susan
I have made many dump cakes. If your cake mix already has pudding in the mix it is fine to add the powdered pudding mix. If you want to add a can of pie filling, either spread it on the bottom of your cake pan or mix it in with the other ingredients. If the batter seems too thick add a little more milk, 1/4 C at a time. This recipe seems fine, it does not need tweaking. Sometimes a recipe needs a little help, but this one is perfect!
Kristin
Aww thanks for the kind words and great tips!!
Sandra
This was the worst recipe I have ever tried ! I have been baking for over 60 years and decided to give this a try. YUCK, terrible, could not even get it out of the glass pan (sprayed with Pam) Threw this in the trash !
Kristin
Yikes! Sorry to hear that! I’m not sure why that would’ve happened as I just made this the other week again and it was a hit! So sorry it wasn’t a favorite!
Joyce
Could this be made with a gluten free cake mix?
Kristin
Absolutely! That should work great!
Anne
Hi there. Just to be clear we do not add any of the ingredients to the cake mix that you generally would if making a cake from the mix right?
Thanks so much!
Kristin
Hi!! Yes, that is correct, you will just be using the dry mix and other ingredients listed in recipe, not the ones on the box! Enjoy!
Verna M Buchanan
Delicious as written, or sub any flavor chips for the chocolate: white, cinnamon, mint, peanut buter, etc…. Also great with a cup of chopped pecans or walnuts sprinkled on the top with the chips.
This isn’t, strictly speaking, a dump cake. By definition a dump cake has the ingredients dumped in the pan and then baked. For example, dump 1 can fruit filling (blueberry!) in a 9″x13″ pan. Dump 1 dry cake mix (white for me) over the top, spread out evenly. Pour 1 cup butter, melted, evenly over the top. Bake at 350°F till browned. Yum!
Kristin
Very true and I do have a few “true” dump cakes! I just left the name as is because it was a recipe passed down to me! Glad you enjoyed!!
Francesca
Can coconut milk be used instead?
Kristin
I haven’t tried it personally, but I don’t see why that wouldn’t work great as well!
Jana Pannill
Does this need to be refrigerated?
Kristin
Nope, no need to refrigerate!
Jackie grogan
Part of the directions are confusing. Ingredients listed listed say 2 cups milk. Directions say mix all (including the 2 cups milk. Then further down says to add the milk????
Kristin
Wow, that is confusing! Sorry about that! Just corrected it!!
robbyn
can this be made in a couple of bread pans and frozen?
Kristin
Sure, I don’t see why that wouldn’t turn out great! Keep me posted if you do that and how it turns out!
DanaH57
Saving this… I think I want to test it using the sugar-free cake mix and sugar-free pudding. Daddy, mom , and sister are all diabetic, if it works, I think they would enjoy!
Kristin
Yum!! Hope you enjoy!!
Jean
Can you use a cake mix that already has pudding I. The mix?
Kristin
Hmmmmm, good question. I would lean towards no unfortunately because the amount of pudding in the cake mix is different from the one in small package. Sorry!!
nancy
not sure what happened but this cake was as dry as sawdust. it didn’t pour out into pan the batter was thick. i did not overcook. very much a waste of money. i thought it had to be too easy… looked nothing like your photo
Kristin
Oh no! That is such a bummer to hear! I’m not sure why it turned out that way, but I am sorry it wasn’t a success!
Mouse
When you do cakes make sure you note their might be adjustments needed for high elevation! Went all over my oven I live at 7000 ft.
Kristin
Oh no! I am sorry about that, I will definitely keep that in mind going forward and add that! Thanks!
Laurie
Made banana split dump cake.. tasty
Kristin
Ooooo yummy! How did you make that? Sounds like something I need to try, hehe
Lori
I need to make a bundt cake. How would the temp and time be modified for that so it cooks right? It sounds so good.
Kristin
Hmmm, good question! The temp would remain the same, as for the baking time, I would guess it would be about the same, but decrease it by about 5 minutes and watch it from there. Hope that helps and hope you enjoy it!!
Karen
Do you think it would work with rice milk?
Kristin
I’ve never used rice milk before, but I don’t see why that wouldn’t work!! Keep me posted and enjoy!!
Karla Anderson
There is a recipe on Pinterest for a Black Forest Chocolate Dump Cake that is amazing. It has chocolate, cherries & whipped cream for the person who wanted to add cherries.
Kristin
That sounds amazing!!! I am trying a chocolate raspberry variation this week, be on the lookout for it!!
[email protected]
would this be good served warm
Kristin
Definitely!! With a scoop of vanilla ice-cream!!
Donna
This would be wonderful with a scoop of French Vanilla ice cream.
Kristin
Oh definitely!!!
Suman
Are you supposed to make the pudding and add it or add the instant mix -I may have ruined the cake already 🙁
Kristin
So sorry I just now saw this comment 🙁
You just add the pudding mix to the cake, without following package directions. It should be a dry mix when poured into bowl 🙂
Hope the cake turned out yummy!!
Suman
No eggs needed? Do we just mix the cake mix and not the additional ingredients that are usually used?
Kristin
Nope, no eggs needed, just the ingredients listed in this recipe…..not the ones listed on any of the packaging 🙂
Enjoy!!
Karen Baker
Can you use 2% milk?
Kristin
Yep!! No problem at all!!
Ashley
This sounds like a great recipe for Christmas that the kids and adults would enjoy! Do you premix the pudding according to its directions, or do you just have the dry mix to the cake mixture?
Kristin
Hi Ashley! This definitely is a great recipe for Christmas!! The pudding mix goes in dry, along with the cake mix. Hope you enjoy it!!
Denise Gros
being a peanut butter liver, I used peanut butter chips instead of chocolate. Made myself sick eating it!!
Kristin
Ooooo great thinking on adding the peanut butter chips! Hope you are feeling better 😉
Dana
I have cook and serve pudding, can I put it in hot/warm?
Kristin
Let it cool a bit as I think it may affect the outcome of the cake if it goes in warm/hot 🙂
Nia
I made it last night!! It turned out really good! I used chocolate fudge cake mix, and chocolate fudge pudding, After it was done I melted fudge icing in microwave and drizzled over the cake!! The cake is soooo good!!
Kristin
Yea!! So glad you enjoyed this!! Great idea on melting fudge icing, YUM!!
Kelley garrett
yummy
Kristin
For sure!! 🙂
Carol
I make a cake called chocolate covered cherry cake. 1 box choc cake mix, 1 can cherry pie filling, 1/3 cup Crisco oil, 2 eggs. Mix together, bake in 9×13 pan 25-30 min at 350. Cool and frost with a chocolate glaze. Do not beat cake with mixer, just stir with spoon.
Kristin
Ooooooo, I will have to try that! Sounds amazing!!! Thanks!
Brandi Sustaire
In the oven now. i didn’t have chocolate pudding so i used vanilla. Can’t wait to try it!
Kristin
Ooooo yum!! Keep me posted how it turns out!! Enjoy!
Jean Felix
Anxious to try.
Kristin
Keep me posted on how it turns out once you try it!! 🙂
Anonymous
I make a cake like this. I also poke holes in it and pour in chocolate sundae topping then frost with cool whip and walnuts.
Kristin
That sounds delicious!!
Patty
Do you dont add eggs or oil or water like it calls for in the cake directions?
Kristin
Nope, just the milk. I was a little confused at first when I tried it, but I guarantee it will be a hit!! 🙂
Shariann Penman
I wonder what adding a can of cherry pie filling would do to the combination????? I love chocolate – cherry ANYTHING!!!!
Kristin
Hmmmm, I don’t know but that sounds AMAZING!!!! Good thinking!! Maybe reduce the liquid slightly? Or make it as is, I really am not sure haha!!
Linda Connolly
I’m gonna make this cake! It sounds delicious and a must have for a chocolate lover such as myself! Will let y’all know how it was!
Kristin
Oooooo you will LOVE this!! Enjoy and keep me posted!!