Satisfy your sweet tooth with this delicious hot fudge cake recipe. Moist chocolate cake topped with warm, gooey fudge sauce is the perfect dessert for any occasion.
Indulging in a rich and decadent dessert doesn’t have to be complicated. This hot fudge cake recipe, inspired by the renowned Frisch’s and Shoney’s versions, is a testament to that, offering a delightful treat with minimal effort. Whether you crave a quick chocolate fix or need a showstopper for a gathering, this hot fudge ice cream cake recipe delivers a taste that rivals even famous restaurant versions.
As a busy mom, I’m always on the lookout for shortcuts in the kitchen. But that doesn’t mean I’m willing to compromise on flavor. This hot fudge cake recipe, baked in a simple 9×13 pan, is my go-to solution for a quick, easy, and incredibly delicious dessert. It’s a delightful treat that satisfies my sweet tooth without demanding hours of my time. With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, you can whip up this amazing dessert in no time.
Inspiration from Frisch’s and Shoney’s
If you’re familiar with Frisch’s Big Boy or Shoney’s, you know they’re famous for their hot fudge cakes. These delicious treats combine moist chocolate cake, creamy ice cream, and luscious hot fudge. While their versions are undeniably delicious, they can be a bit messy with the melting ice cream and can be inconvenient to get every time a craving hits. My recipe takes inspiration from these classics but offers a twist. Instead of ice cream, I use a creamy vanilla filling that’s reminiscent of a Hostess cupcake, making this the easiest hot fudge cake recipe you’ll find. It delivers the same great taste without the mess and fuss, making it perfect for sharing at potlucks or gatherings or a late-night treat at home!
Simple Ingredients, Extraordinary Taste
You won’t believe how simple the ingredients are for this hot fudge cake recipe. All you need is a box of chocolate cake mix, some butter, powdered sugar, shortening, and a few other pantry staples. Don’t be fooled by the simplicity, though. The combination of these ingredients creates a dessert that’s truly extraordinary.
Easy Preparation
The best part about this recipe is how easy it is to prepare. Simply bake the chocolate cake in your baking dish, whip up the creamy vanilla filling, and assemble the cake. The most challenging part is waiting for the cake to cool completely and chill in the refrigerator before you can indulge!
Serving and Storing Your Delicious Cake
This hot fudge cake is delicious on its own, served warm and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a classic dessert experience. Drizzle it with extra hot fudge sauce, warmed in a saucepan over medium heat, for an extra dose of chocolatey goodness. Or get creative and add a dollop of whipped cream, a sprinkle of chopped nuts, a dusting of cocoa powder, or a maraschino cherry on top. You can serve the whole cake, slice the cake into individual portions, or store it for later!
To keep your hot fudge cake fresh, wrap individual portions or the whole cake in plastic wrap and store them in the freezer. This cake freezes beautifully, allowing you to have a delicious treat on hand whenever you want.
Commonly Asked Questions
Absolutely! While I recommend using a devil’s food chocolate cake mix for a rich flavor, you can experiment with other chocolate cake mixes or even try a different flavor altogether.
Yes, you can bake the cake and prepare the filling ahead of time. Store them separately in the refrigerator and assemble the cake when you’re ready to serve.
Store leftover cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze individual slices or the whole cake wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 2 months.
Similar Recipes
If you like chocolate cake recipes like this, you will enjoy the ones below:
- Dark Chocolate Cake Recipe & Divine Chocolate
- Crockpot Hot Fudge Cake
- Easy Brownie Cobbler Recipe
- Brownie Cherry Cobbler Recipe
- Chocolate Swiss Cake Recipe
- The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe
Easy Hot Fudge Cake Recipe – Freezer-Friendly Treat
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 12 1x
Description
This Hot Fudge Cake recipe is not only economical, but it is also very rich, decadent, and delicious! You won’t believe your tastebuds!
Ingredients
- 1 box Devil’s Food Chocolate Cake mix (including the necessary ingredients egg, water, oil)
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 c. shortening
- 6 c. powdered sugar
- 2 1/2 tbsp. Vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. Salt
- Hot fudge sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 Degrees and spray a 9X13 rectangular casserole dish with non-stick baking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix together the chocolate cake mix along with the required contents as instructed on the box (i.e. water, eggs, and oil). Pour in the prepared casserole dish and bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick can be inserted in the middle of the cake and comes out clean. Once finished, turn to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
- In a separate email, blend together the butter and shortening. Slowly mix in 1 cup of powdered sugar until well mixed. Add the vanilla extract and salt.
- Use a serrated knife and slice the cake in half. Place the bottom half of the cake back into the casserole/cake dish; use a rubber spatula and spread the cream filling onto the bottom half of the cake; place the top of the cake on top of the cream, and place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or until ready to serve. Cut into desired square pieces and pour hot fudge sauce on each serving.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Question I noticed the ingredients called for 6 cups of powdered sugar. Is it a typo? I only see one cup for the directions..
Thanks!
That is correct because this is the filling for the cake. I should’ve said 1 cup at a time. Sorry about that.
Frisch’s restaurants in Toledo are under different ownership than ones elsewhere but here the hot fudge cakes are served frozen and filled with vanilla ice cream. Are they really filled with buttercream down there?
No. They’re filled with ice cream too. I just made a filling for my version.
Not even close. The thing that makes Big Boy special is the hot fudge sauce. Your reciipe s just an ice cream sandwich with chocloate/fudge sauce slathered on top.
Starbucks coffee became famous because it had a deep, deep, rich coffee flavor with a taste of burned or over toasted beans. Big Boy has that same flavor in cocoa beans, and no one has found the secret yet and looked I’ve at 57 receipes to find it. When we do, we can make a lot of money selling it. Focus on the sauce.