Hot Fudge Brownie Pudding

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
2 squares (2 ounces) semisweet chocolate, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 1/4 cups boiling water


Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Combine flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl; mix well.

Combine half-and-half, butter, melted chocolate and vanilla in a medium bowl; blend well. Add chocolate mixture to flour mixture; mix until well blended. Spread in prepared dish.

Combine brown sugar, cocoa powder and remaining salt in a small bowl; mix well. Sprinkle over batter in pan. Pour boiling water over top of mixture in pan.

Bake until pudding starts to bubble around edges and top is set, 40-50 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before serving.

Makes 12 servings


Helpful Tips

No need to dirty a bowl or pan to melt the chocolate. Keep squares in their paper wrappers and microwave the chocolate on Medium (50 percent power)-2 squares will take about 3 minutes.