Chocolate Pudding Cake

**Ingredients:**

**For the Cake:**
– 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
– 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
– 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (divided)
– 2 teaspoons baking powder
– 1/4 teaspoon salt
– 1/2 cup (120ml) milk
– 1/3 cup (75g) melted butter
– 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

**For the Topping:**
– 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
– 1/2 cup (100g) packed brown sugar
– 1 1/4 cups (300ml) hot water

**Instructions:**

1. **Preheat the Oven:**
– Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9-inch baking dish or a similar-sized oven-safe dish.

2. **Make the Cake Batter:**
– In a medium bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup of the granulated sugar, flour, 2 tablespoons of the cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
– Stir in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth. The batter will be thick. Spread it evenly in the prepared baking dish.

3. **Prepare the Topping:**
– In a separate small bowl, mix the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, and the remaining 4 tablespoons of cocoa powder. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the batter in the baking dish.

4. **Add Hot Water:**
– Carefully pour the hot water over the topping mixture in the baking dish. Do not stir. The hot water will create the pudding layer as the cake bakes.

5. **Bake the Cake:**
– Bake in the preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes. The top should be set, but when you insert a spoon, the bottom will have a thick, pudding-like consistency.

6. **Serve:**
– Let the cake cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream if desired.

This Chocolate Pudding Cake is a delightful treat with a cake-like top and a rich, molten chocolate pudding underneath. Enjoy this indulgent dessert!