This wonderful, gooey, almost magical dessert -- sometimes referred to as "water cake" -- is best served warm with ice cream or whipped cream.
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, divided
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups hot water
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, or pecans (optional)
In a 9-in. square baking pan, stir together 3/4 cup sugar, flour, baking powder and 1/4 cup cocoa.
In a small bowl, mix together oil, milk and vanilla; then add this to the dry ingredients in the pan, stirring with a fork until thoroughly combined.
In another small bowl, stir together the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa and nuts. Sprinkle this evenly over the batter.
Finally, pour the hot water over the pan. Don’t stir. See? Pudding magic!