7242594 Sour Cream Pudding Cake Recipe

Sour Cream Pudding Cake Recipe For Old Fashioned Sweetness

Sour cream pudding cake recipe comes to life when comfort meets elegance in one of the most satisfying desserts to share at any gathering.

Rich textures and a moist crumb make every bite feel like a special occasion, even on the most ordinary Tuesday evening.

Serve it warm with coffee in the afternoon or dress it up as an after-dinner treat that never fails to impress.

No matter the season or celebration, pudding cakes have earned their place as a reliable crowd-pleaser that works for casual weeknights and special moments.

Make room on the dessert table for something that proves home baking can be both effortless and memorable.

Goodness Inside Sour Cream Pudding Cake

  • Naturally Moist Cake: Sour cream keeps the cake tender while the pudding sauce underneath stays soft and spooned right onto your plate.
  • One-Bowl Mixing: Combine all the dry ingredients and wet ingredients together at once, so there’s minimal cleanup when you’re done baking.
  • Family-Friendly Dessert: Raisins and nuts are mixed right in, making this a cake that works for regular dinners or casual gatherings without fussy plating.
  • Comforting Warm Treat: Spoon this into a bowl while it’s still warm and the sauce pools around each bite, giving you that satisfying homemade feeling.

Which Ingredients Create Sour Cream Pudding Cake Taste

Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour (1 cup): Provides the cake structure and base for this dessert.
  • Granulated Sugar (2/3 cup): Sweetens the cake batter and helps create a tender crumb.
  • Baking Powder (2 teaspoons): Helps the cake rise and become light and fluffy.
  • Salt (pinch): Enhances the flavors of all the other ingredients.
Wet Ingredients And Mix-Ins:
  • Sour Cream (3/4 cup): Adds tanginess and moisture to keep the cake tender.
  • Canola Oil (2 tablespoons): Contributes richness and helps bind the ingredients together.
  • Raisins (1 cup): Plump up while baking and add natural sweetness throughout.
  • Chopped Nuts (1/2 cup): Add texture and a subtle nutty flavor to balance the sweetness.
Topping And Sauce:
  • Brown Sugar (3/4 cup): Creates a rich, molasses-flavored sauce when mixed with hot water.
  • Boiling Hot Water (1 1/2 cups): Transforms the brown sugar into a syrupy liquid that bakes under the cake, creating a pudding layer.
  • Confectioners Sugar (to dust each portion, optional): Provides a light finishing touch if serving with the dusting.

Which Tools Belong in Sour Cream Pudding Cake

  • 8-inch Round Casserole or Soufflé Dish (4 inches deep): Holds the batter and bakes everything together in one go.
  • Large Mixing Bowl: Perfect for combining your flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, sour cream, and oil before adding the raisins and nuts.
  • Separate Small Bowl: Needed for mixing the brown sugar with boiling water before pouring it over the batter.
  • Measuring Cups: Essential for getting the right amounts of flour, sugar, sour cream, oil, and water.
  • Measuring Spoons: Helps measure out the baking powder and salt accurately.
  • Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Stirs the dry ingredients and wet ingredients together smoothly.
  • Spoon for Serving: Use this to scoop the warm cake into individual dishes and drizzle the liquid sauce over each portion.
  • Sifter or Fine Mesh Strainer: Dusts confectioners sugar over the top if that’s how serving it.

Easy Instructions For Sour Cream Pudding Cake

1

Get Your Oven Ready

Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and let it heat up while you gather what you need. Grab an 8-inch round casserole dish or soufflé dish that’s about 4 inches deep and leave it ungreased on your counter.

2

Mix The Cake Base

In a large bowl, combine these ingredients together:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil

Stir everything until the ingredients come together in a thick, lumpy batter.

3

Add The Mix-Ins

Fold 1 cup of raisins and 1/2 cup of chopped nuts into your batter using a spoon or spatula.

Make sure the fruit and nuts are scattered throughout, then transfer the entire mixture into your casserole dish and spread it out evenly.

4

Prepare The Topping Liquid

In a separate bowl, stir together 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1 1/2 cups of boiling hot water until the sugar dissolves completely.

Be careful with the hot water and work steadily.

5

Combine And Bake

Pour the hot sugar mixture directly over the batter in your casserole dish without stirring.

Place the dish in the center of your preheated oven and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until the top turns golden brown.

6

Cool And Serve

Take the dish out of the oven and let it sit on the counter for 15 minutes so it cools slightly.

Spoon the cake into individual bowls or dishes, making sure to scoop up the liquid from the bottom and pour it over each serving. If desired, dust the top of each portion with confectioners sugar.

What Helps When Baking Sour Cream Pudding Cake

  • Skip Greasing The Dish: Leaving the casserole ungreased actually helps the cake rise better and prevents it from sliding around during baking.
  • Mix Dry And Wet Together: Combining flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt with the sour cream and oil in one bowl saves cleanup and ensures everything blends evenly.
  • Don’t Stir Vigorously: A gentle mix is all this batter needs – overstirring develops gluten and makes the cake dense instead of tender.
  • Pour The Topping Carefully: That brown sugar and boiling water mixture creates the pudding sauce as it bakes, so pour it slowly over the batter rather than stirring it in.
  • Cool Before Serving: Waiting those 15 minutes lets the cake set slightly so it holds together when spooned into bowls, and the sauce stays pooled at the bottom where it belongs.

What Style Changes Suit Sour Cream Pudding Cake?

  • Chocolate Sour Cream Version: Replace 1/4 cup flour with cocoa powder and add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract to the batter, then proceed as usual with the brown sugar topping creating a rich chocolate pudding sauce underneath.
  • Dairy-Free Alternative: Swap sour cream with coconut cream in equal amounts and use vegetable oil, keeping all other ingredients the same so the cake stays moist and the sauce forms just as it should.
  • Spiced Cake Variation: Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, and a pinch of cloves to the dry ingredients, which pairs beautifully with the raisins and creates warmth throughout each bite.
  • Gluten-Free Version: Use all-purpose gluten-free flour as a 1:1 substitute for regular flour and increase the baking powder slightly to 1.5 teaspoons to help the cake rise properly since gluten-free flour needs extra lift.

Favorite Ways To Serve Sour Cream Pudding Cake

  • Serve While Still Warm: Spoon this into bowls while it has that fresh-from-the-oven warmth, then drizzle the syrupy liquid pooled at the bottom over each serving for the best flavor and texture.
  • Pair With Coffee Or Tea: Strong black coffee or a simple cup of tea cuts through the sweetness and balances the richness of the sour cream beautifully.
  • Add A Dollop Of Whipped Cream: A small spoonful on top softens the density and adds a light contrast that makes each bite feel less heavy.
  • Keep Portions Modest: Six servings work best for this cake since it’s quite rich and filling, so a smaller bowl lets people enjoy it without feeling overstuffed.

A Quick Guide to Storing Sour Cream Pudding Cake

  • Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, and the cake stays moist because of that pudding layer underneath.
  • Reheat individual portions gently in the microwave for about 30 seconds, just enough to take the chill off without drying things out.
  • Keep this dessert in its baking dish if easier, and simply cover it with plastic wrap or foil to prevent the surface from drying.
  • Transfer cooled cake to an airtight container if space allows, making sure to scoop some of that liquid into the container so each piece stays tender.

FAQs

FAQ

Can I use a different dish instead of a casserole or soufflé dish?

A regular baking pan works fine as long as it’s about 8 inches round and 4 inches deep. The size matters because it affects how the cake bakes and how much sauce forms underneath.

FAQ

What kind of raisins and nuts should I use?

Any raisins work – regular, golden, or even chopped dates if that’s what’s in your pantry. For nuts, walnuts or pecans are great choices, but use whatever you have on hand.

FAQ

Do I need to grease the dish?

No, leave it ungreased. This recipe doesn’t need it, and the cake releases easily once it cools slightly.

FAQ

Can I skip the confectioners sugar on top?

Completely up to you. It adds a nice touch, but the cake tastes just as good without it.

FAQ

What if my brown sugar is hard and clumpy?

Break it up as much as you can before mixing it with the boiling water. The hot water softens any remaining lumps while you’re pouring it over the batter.

FAQ

Why does liquid form at the bottom?

The brown sugar and boiling water create a sauce as the cake bakes. This is exactly what should happen – it’s what makes this pudding cake special.

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7242594 Sour Cream Pudding Cake Recipe

Sour Cream Pudding Cake Recipe


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4.7 from 26 reviews

  • Total Time: 55 minutes-1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Description

Sour cream pudding cake is a foolproof dessert that comes together in one bowl with ingredients you already have in your kitchen. Once it bakes, the cake creates its own luscious pudding layer underneath, giving you that satisfying contrast between tender cake and creamy filling that makes people ask for seconds.


Ingredients

Scale

Dry ingredients:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 pinch salt

Wet ingredients and mix-ins:

  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Topping and finishing:

  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups boiling hot water
  • confectioners sugar, to dust each portion (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and position a rack in the center.
  2. Grab an 8-inch round casserole dish or soufflé dish that’s 4 inches deep and leave it ungreased.
  3. Whisk together 1 cup all-purpose flour, 2/3 cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and a pinch of salt in your large mixing bowl.
  4. Add 3/4 cup sour cream and 2 tablespoons canola oil to your dry mixture, stirring until everything combines.
  5. Fold in 1 cup raisins and 1/2 cup chopped nuts until they’re distributed throughout your batter.
  6. Transfer your batter into the prepared casserole dish.
  7. Stir 3/4 cup brown sugar with 1 1/2 cups boiling hot water in a separate bowl until the sugar dissolves.
  8. Pour this hot brown sugar liquid directly over your batter in the dish – don’t stir it in.
  9. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until the top turns golden brown.
  10. Remove the dish from your oven and let it rest for 15 minutes so you can handle it safely.
  11. Spoon your warm pudding cake into individual bowls, making sure to ladle some of the liquid from the bottom over each serving.
  12. Dust each portion lightly with confectioners sugar if you’d like that finishing touch.

Notes

  • The sour cream keeps this cake moist and tender, so don’t skip it or substitute it with regular yogurt, as the texture won’t be the same.
  • When pouring the brown sugar mixture over the batter, resist the urge to stir it in-it creates a magical pudding layer on the bottom as it bakes.
  • Check the cake at 45 minutes since oven temperatures vary; it’s done when the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the cake portion (not the pudding below) comes out clean.
  • This dessert tastes even better the next day after the flavors meld together, so feel free to make it ahead and reheat gently before serving.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45-55 minutes
  • Category: Cakes
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 334 kcal
  • Sugar: 35 g
  • Sodium: 215 mg
  • Fat: 12 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 52 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Cholesterol: 10 mg
Wanda Hamilton

Wanda Hamilton

Founder and Recipe Editor

Expertise

Bold Weeknight Cooking, Pantry Powered Meals, Sauce and Spice Building, Seasonal Ingredient Swaps, Recipe Testing and Troubleshooting, Food Photography and Simple Styling

Education

Bellingham Technical College
  • Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Core culinary skills built through practical kitchen training, with a strong foundation for real service work.
National Registry of Food Safety Professionals (NRFSP)
  • Program: Food Safety Manager Certification
  • Focus: Food safety systems, safe handling, and confident kitchen habits that protect families at home.

Wanda Hamilton, Founder and Recipe Editor, cooks from Savannah, GA with a “big flavor, low fuss” mindset. Trained in Culinary Arts at Bellingham Technical College and certified in food safety through the NRFSP, she blends professional skill with everyday practicality. Wanda is known for smart finishing touches that elevate a dish in minutes, along with rigorous testing standards and clear visual cues that remove the guesswork. Her goal is simple: make every meal feel like a small but satisfying upgrade to your day.

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