Chocolate Sundae Cake
This chocolate sundae cake is basically a delectable fudge sundae in cake form, complete with a moist dark chocolate fudge cake, chocolate syrup, whipped cream topping, and a cherry on top.
This chocolate sundae cake is definitely celebration-worthy on all counts. The appearance makes you think of red balloons and barbecues but beyond that, the ease of it is stunning. I dreamed this up years ago when I had company coming and wanted an impressive dessert with ingredients I had on hand. I was hoping they’d like it and the speed with which it disappeared confirmed that they did.
Lucky for me, it was so easy to make! This easy chocolate sundae cake recipe needs minimal ingredients. The first step is to bake the tender and moist dark chocolate fudge cake. Then we poke holes across it and pour over the delicious chocolate syrup, which soaks into the cake and makes it just melt in your mouth. Then the final step is to add the toppings! Because we’re going for a chocolate sundae look, we add whipped topping, chopped nuts, and maraschino cherries, but you can totally add your favorite ice cream toppings.
While we’re talking about chocolate cakes, if you’re looking for something similar to an old-fashioned hot fudge sundae cake that tastes absolutely delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, you must try my chocolate cobbler recipe! It’s basically a pudding-like that’s so easy to make, you’ll love it!
Recipe Ingredients
- Chocolate cake mix and required ingredients according to package.
- Whipped cream topping
- Chocolate syrup
- Cherries (I prefer with stems)
- Chopped nuts
How To Make A Sundae Chocolate Cake
In a medium , prepare the by mixing the together with the required wet ingredients (usually eggs and water). Pour the into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish and bake according to package directions.
As soon as you take it out of the oven, poke holes all in the top with a fork.
Until it looks like it has been attacked by a mob of angry chickens.
Now take that bottle of chocolate sauce and pour it over the cake.
Yes, the entire bottle. Saturate that cake. The chocolate fudge sauce will soak into the holes and warm cake and basically replicate
Oh my, if your mouth isn’t watering now I don’t know what it takes to do it for ya!
Let your cake cool completely and place it in the fridge to get it chilled.
Sometimes I speed things up a bit by placing my hot cake in the freezer but let’s keep that between us, alrighty?
Once your cake is cold, spread the entire container of whipping cream topping over it.
Top with chopped nuts and a cherry and serve cold!
Check out that cross-section!
This is so easy, you don’t have any excuse not to make it!
Enjoy your scrumptious chocolate fudge sundae cake!
Storage
Store leftover cake in an airtight container or covered in plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Recipe Notes
- As mentioned, you can top the whipping cream with whatever you like, including sprinkles, crushed Oreo cookie crumbs, or a different type of chopped nut.
- You can also use any variety of boxed chocolate cake mix or make a homemade chocolate cake (with ), of course.
You may also enjoy these scrumptious cake recipes:
Chocolate Velvet Cake With Cream Cheese Icing
Chocolate Snack Cake With Chocolate Chips
Easy Birthday Cake Recipe From Scratch
Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix plus required ingredients
- 1 bottle Hershey's chocolate syrup (about 22 ounces)
- 16 ounces whipped topping
- chopped nuts and cherries with stems, for garnishing
Instructions
- Prepare the cake batter and bake the cake according to the package directions in a 9x13 baking dish.1 box chocolate cake mix
- Once done, remove the cake from the oven and poke holes all over the top with a fork while it's still hot. Pour the entire bottle of chocolate sauce over the cake then allow it to cool completely.1 bottle Hershey's chocolate syrup (about 22 ounces)
- Spread whipped topping over the entire cake and refrigerate for several hours. Garnish each slice with chopped nuts and a cherry. Enjoy!16 ounces whipped topping, chopped nuts and cherries with stems, for garnishing
Nutrition
“He has the most who is most content with the least.”
~ Diogenes, an ancient Greek philosopher
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That looks delicious! I think I’ll make it for the 4th of July to take to the in-laws. My nieces and nephews love anything with Cool Whip and maraschino cherries. In fact, they’ll put those in a bowl and eat them straight!
Funny story about the gold forks! It must make Katy feel like a princess!
This is one I definitely have to try. Of course Lisa will make it and I will enjoy it. lol She’s the baker around here. by the way is 5 jelly donuts to many at one sitting? just askin.
Of course not!!
Jelly is a fruit, the doughnut pastry is a grain…
Really you should have had at least two more just to make sure you got your daily nutrients in!
~grins~
Gratefully,
Christy
Well that’s a relief….and it was strawberry, I know strawberries are real good for you…he he thanks.
Shhh don’t tell JoAnn but it was Raspberry filling lol….
Oh the cake looks YUMMY!!!! And it’s so easy! I’m gonna have to try that at our next family gathering!!
That looks wonderful! It reminds me a little bit of the ice cream cake you make with ice cream sandwiches. You just layer them in the pan with chocolate sauce and whipped cream and cherries. Yum! I like this version for when I don’t want to run out and buy ice cream sandwiches, or for when there’s danger of the cake melting either en route or at the event. Thanks!
It IS so easy! I should make it for my colleague’s birthday on Friday. AND I can buy all the stuff here!!!
You’ll know I have if you see the photos on Facebook! haha 😉
When you say chocolate syrup, do you mean the kind that goes on ice cream?
Hey! I mean the kind that you put in milk to stir it up and make it turn chocolate. Its a bit runnier than the chocolate sauce you get here to go on ice cream BUT a lot of people put chocolate syrup on ice cream too!
I’m just trying to cover my bases in case it’s called something different where you are!
Do y’all have Hershey’s syrup?
Thats what I used, the chocolate milk syrup…but I bought the cheap generic version of course!
They don’t sell Hersheys here! haha
Oh dear……
I’ll have to look for chocolate syrup for milk, I actually don’t think we have something like that. I can’t recall ever seeing it. It’s mostly powdered stuff for milk, like Nesquik, etc.
You can make your own chocolate syrup from cocoa! Here’s a recipe link: http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/chocolatesyrup.htm
Not quite as convenient, but this cake looks like its worth the trouble!!! 🙂 HTH!!
Hi Su. Where in the world do you live, that Hersheys hasn’t arrived on store shelves? Hope that was a joke. Look near the ice cream section in your store — where they sell the fixings for ice cream dishes (caramel, fudge sauce, waffle cones, etc.) Hershey’s bottle looks just like Christy’s picture. This might even be good with a caramel soak, now that I think about it. 😉
Nope, not joking! 😉
As far as I know we definitely don’t have Hersheys in Australia, and I don’t believe this has changed anytime recently. I’m not a big fan of Hersheys but some of my friends are (both here where I live and in other states) and even they talk about wanting to buy Hersheys. I’ve never seen it sold here which is why I usually will buy it when I’m in the states to give to people. We don’t have a lot of the brands pr products that you have over there.
Oh wow, that looks so good. Anything that looks that divine, HAS to be good for you, right??? I love the story about the golden forks, too cute!
This cake sounds so good.
I wanted to read the story about the golden fork, so went to the main website and clicked search for GOLDEN FORK, and it went right back here! Tried several times! Can you post it again, or a link, or something?
Hey! thank you so much, Jenny! I had removed the story when I updated this post but after reading your comment I went back and put the story back in 🙂 It’s in the blog post now, scroll to the part where you poke holes in the cake. I appreciate your comment!
Oh, cute story, and I appreciate you so much!
This cake looks absolutely delicious! I’ll have to try it soon since some of my favorite foods are chocolate and cherries 🙂
THIS CAKE IS WONDERFUL. I MADE IT AND TOOK IT TO WORK FOR THE GANG TO TRY. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS A BIG HIT. WAY TOO EASY TO BE AS GOOD AS IT IS. TASTED LIKE SHONEYS HOT FUDGE CAKE.
Oh Beverly! I used to LOVE Shoney’s Hot Fudge Cakes!