Hot Cocoa Chocolate Cake Dump Cake
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy here.
Hot Cocoa Cake Dump Cake is the easiest way to turn everyone’s favorite winter drink into a decadent dessert. With layers of rich chocolate, gooey marshmallows, and a cozy cocoa flavor baked right in, this simple dump‑and‑bake recipe delivers all the comfort of hot chocolate in cake form. Perfect for holiday gatherings, snow days, or anytime you’re craving something sweet and nostalgic, it’s a treat the whole family will love.
Dump cakes are easy and so moist. My family loves my Blackberry Dump Cake and my Caramel Apple Dump Cake. Give them a try. Your family will thank you.
Why this Hot Chocolate Dump Cake Recipe Works
Simple to make with pantry staples yet indulgent enough to impress. This cake is the perfect blend of comfort and convenience. You’ll find yourself coming back to again and again.
- Easy Ingredients: It’s incredibly simple, usually requiring just cake mix, pudding (or hot cocoa mix), and pantry staples.
- Crowd Pleaser: It’s rich, fudgy, and nostalgic. It appeals to both kids and adults who want that cozy winter flavor.
- The “Lava” Effect: Unlike standard cakes, this creates its own chocolate sauce at the bottom as it bakes.
Why are There Dry Spots of Flour on My Cake?
This happens if the butter or liquid wasn’t distributed evenly. To fix this, ensure you spread the dry cake mix into an even layer and try to cover as much surface area as possible with your butter (grating the butter or using a thin stream of melted butter helps significantly).
What Reader’s Are Saying…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make hot cocoa chocolate dump cake recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!”
~ Gen
Ingredient Notes for Hot Cocoa Dessert
My family-friendly recipe is rich and decadent but really only takes a few minutes and easy ingredients.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Chocolate Fudge Instant Pudding Mix: Adds moisture, indulgence and richness to the sweet treat, creating a fudgy, melt‑in‑your‑mouth texture.
- Hot Chocolate Powder: Infuses the cake with that nostalgic hot chocolate flavor, tying the whole dessert to its namesake.
- Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix: Forms the chocolate goodness base of the recipe, giving structure while amplifying the deep chocolate flavor.
- Mini Marshmallows: Melt into gooey pockets throughout the cake, mimicking the marshmallows floating on a mug of cocoa. It is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Variations and Substitutions for Hot Chocolate Cake
You can make this mouthwatering cake many different ways. Here are just a few variations that you can make.
- The Mocha Version: Use hot coffee instead of hot water/milk to bloom the chocolate flavors.
- Flavors: Try different flavors of box cake mix. Try different flavors of hot cocoa and pudding mix.
- Peppermint Bark: Top with crushed candy canes and white chocolate chips during the last 5 minutes of baking.
- Salted Caramel: Drizzle caramel sauce over the top before adding marshmallows.
- Gluten-Free: Simply swap the standard chocolate cake mix for a GF-certified chocolate cake mix; it works perfectly in dump cake formats.
How to Make Hot Cocoa Dump Cake Recipe
You can make this gooey chocolate cake with just a few simple ingredients, hot cocoa and chocolate cake mix are the stars of the show with an envelope of hot cocoa mix and pudding mix.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Prep the Pan: Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 13×9 pan with nonstick spray.
- Mix the Batter: Whisk together chocolate pudding mix, one packet of hot cocoa mix, and milk in a large bowl. Stir in cake mix until just moist, then fold in half of the marshmallows.
- Assemble and Bake: Spread batter evenly in the pan, sprinkle with semi-sweet chocolate chips, and bake for 35 minutes.
- Sprinkle the Chocolate Chips: Immediately top with the remaining marshmallows, let cool for 1 hour, then add the second cocoa mix packet and whipped cream before serving.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for this Easy Chocolate Cake
- .The “Dry Mix” Bag: Mix your dry cake powder and hot chocolate mix packets in a Ziploc bag. Store it in the pantry so you can “dump” and bake in under 2 minutes.
Alternate Cooking Methods for Dump Cake With Chocolate Cake
- Slow Cooker: Layer the ingredients in a 6-quart crockpot. Cook on High for 2–3 hours. This yields a much more pudding-like, spoonable consistency.
- Individual Ramekins: Divide the layers into greased ramekins for dinner parties. Bake at 350°F for 15–18 minutes.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftovers
- Store: Allow the cake to cool. Keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Because of the high moisture content, it stays fudgy rather than getting “stale.”
- Reheat: Always reheat! 20 seconds in the microwave brings the chocolate sauce back to life.
- Use Leftovers: Use cold leftovers as a base for a Hot Cocoa Trifle. Layer chunks of the cake with whipped cream and chocolate shavings in a glass.
Common Questions About This Chocolate Dump Cake Recipe
No! If you stir, you lose the distinct “lava” bottom and the “crust” top, turning it into a dense, muddy sheet cake. Instead, if you see large dry patches 20 minutes into baking, you can gently dab a little extra melted butter or a spoonful of milk onto those specific spot
The heat of the cake mix is often too high for delicate mini-marshmallows to survive 30+ minutes.
Wait until the cake is fully baked. Turn the oven to Broil, sprinkle the marshmallows on top, and watch them like a hawk for 30–60 seconds. They will toast perfectly without dissolving.
Expert Tips for Making Chocolate Dump Cake
The secret to a perfect Hot Cocoa Dump Cake is balancing moisture and texture, layer ingredients carefully, don’t overmix. Let the marshmallows and chocolate chips create gooey pockets of flavor.
- Don’t Overbake: Pull the easy hot chocolate dump cake out when the center still has a slight jiggle. It will firm up as it cools, keeping that lava-like center.
- The Marshmallow Timing: Never put marshmallows on at the start. They will disappear into the batter. Add them in the final 5 to 8 minutes of baking.
- Choose the right cake mix: Chocolate fudge or devil’s food cake mix gives the richest flavor. For a lighter version, regular chocolate cake mix works too.
- Whole milk: Whole milk adds creaminess, richness and depth, but 2% or plant‑based milks can be substituted if needed.
- Serve this recipe with: Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix, Bacon Brownies and Garlic Bread Pizza.
More Recipes You Might Like
Hot Cocoa Chocolate Dump Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3.4 ounces Chocolate fudge instant pudding mix
- 2 ounces Hot Cocoa Mix, 2 packets
- 1 ½ cups Milk
- 15.25 ounces Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
- 4 cups Mini Marshmallows
- 12 ounces chocolate chips , 1 bag
- Hershey's syrup (optional)
- Whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray your pan (13X9) with non stick spray.
- Mix the pudding mix, one package of hot cocoa mix, and milk in a bowl. Use a whisk.
- Stir in the cake mix until moist. Fold in half of the marshmallows.
- Put it into the cake pan and spread it out. Sprinkle on the chocolate chips.
- Bake in the oven for 35 minutes.
- Remove and add on the rest of the marshmallows asap. Let the cake cool for 1 hour.
- Before serving add on the other hot cocoa mix envelope and some whipped cream!
Christina’s Notes
- Use hot water or hot milk for extra fudginess: Warm liquid helps bloom the cocoa in the cake mix and pudding mix, giving you a deeper chocolate flavor and a softer, molten texture.
- Add a pinch of salt: Just 1–2 pinches enhances the chocolate flavor and balances the sweetness without making the cake taste salty.
- Swap in Coffee: Coffee adds deeper chocolate flavor without tasting like coffee.
- Let it rest 10 minutes before serving: This helps the sauce thicken slightly while keeping the center warm and spoonable.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, scroll up on the page.
This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make hot cocoa chocolate dump cake recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!
This is super easy to make! Thank you for the idea. My niece loves anything chocolate.
This was decadent and delicious comfort food. The marshmallows actually did help to create the hot chocolate “vibe” Really delicious cake! Thank you!
My kids and their friends lived this! It was so easy to pull together. Thank you!