Tunnel of Fudge Cake
Tunnel of Fudge cake was made famous by the Pillsbury Bake-Off. This version from America’s Test Kitchen is chocolatey and indulgent, as the name would suggest.
Hello beautiful!
This cake just screams indulgent with it’s chocolatey cake filled with a gooey underbaked center and topped with a chocolate glaze. It’s the perfect dessert to impress friends, family members, or that special someone in your life.
I made this cake for dinner with some friends. We all went back for seconds. As you can see in the pictures, I overbaked mine a smidge since my tunnel wasn’t quite as gooey as other pictures I’ve seen of this cake. I can tell you that I’ve made it again since taking these pictures and baked it a few minutes less and it had a more gooey-underbaked center. So my suggestion is to take the cake out a little before you think you need to.
I served the cake with some fresh raspberries and at the last second added some freshly whipped cream to the table as well. Even for this chocolate lover, I enjoyed the berries and cream to cut through the intense chocolateness coming from this cake.
I love the tip from America’s Test Kitchen to paint the inside of the bundt pan with a melted butter and cocoa mixture. Not only was it fun to do, it yielded a cake that came out of it’s pan with no issues. I’m definitely going to be using that trick for other chocolate bundt cakes in the future.
Two Years Ago: Black and Tan Brownies and Cherry M&M Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Three Years Ago: Colorful Cumin Quinoa Salad and Black Forest Cupcakes
Four Years Ago: Chinese Restaurant Almond Cookies
Tunnel of Fudge Cake
Tunnel of Fudge cake was made famous by the Pillsbury Bake-Off. This version from America's Test Kitchen is chocolatey and indulgent, as the name would suggest.
Yield: Serves 12-14
Ingredients:
For the Pan
1 Tbsp Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
For the Cake
1/2 cup boiling water
2 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups flour
3/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp salt
5 eggs, at room temperature
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
20 Tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
For the Glaze
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup light corn syrup
8 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 tsp vanilla
Directions:
For the Pan
Preheat the oven to 350 degF. In a small bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder and melted butter. Use a pastry brush to evenly coat the inside of a 12-cup bundt pan.
For the Cake
In a medium bowl, pour the boiling water over the chopped chocolate. Let stand for a minute, then whisk until smooth. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and salt. Combine the eggs and vanilla in a liquid measuring cup and beat lightly.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and butter. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add in the egg mixture just until combined. Add the chocolate mixture and mix until incorporated. Blend in the dry ingredients until just combined.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 45 minutes or until the edges of the cake begin to pull away from the pan.
Allow the cake to cool on a wire rack for 2 hours before inverting onto a cake platter. Allow to cool completely, about 2 more hours.
For the Glaze
Combine the cream, corn syrup, and chocolate in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until smooth. Blend in the vanilla. Set aside for about 30 minutes, until slightly thickened. Drizzle the glaze over the cake and let set for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
Recipe from Cook's Illustrated Entertaining, Holiday 2010
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Jen – these look phenomenal! I am pretty sure I could eat the entire batch of your cupcakes in one sitting. Thank you so much for helping Krystal and Eric celebrate Cupcake’s arrival!
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:21 pm
These were definitely dangerous. People were fighting over the last one at the party I took them too.
They look delicious! Love that little cupcake stand.
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:22 pm
I got it at Home Goods. Isn’t it super cute?
Nutella frosting?! Yes please!
Awww Jen, these are so gorgeous and a great way for you to get back in your baking habit!! Did you know that I had a big nutella phase during cupcake’s pregnancy…I need this frosting in my life!! Thank you for participating in my virtual baby shower. XXOO
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:23 pm
You definitely need this frosting in your life. Even if you just make it to eat with a spoon. It’s SO good. Good luck with the upcoming arrival of your cupcake! (my sister is pregnant and refers to her little one as her nugget!)
These look wonderful and that nutella cloud frosting sounds phenomenal!!
I used the nutella cloud frosting on my birthday cake last year and I was blown away at how perfectly the name matched the texture! I love how perfectly smooth and fluffy it is. And yours looks absolutely perfect on top of that cupcake!
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:23 pm
I know – isn’t it the perfect name for this frosting. It’s amazing.
I’d also fill these with Nutella, and use a chocolate stout cake… mmmm…
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:24 pm
YUM! That’s a great idea.
Gorgeous cupcakes! It’s hard not to want a nutella cloud frosting! I just made cupcakes for the first time in awhile too, I forget how relaxing and fun cupcakes can be!
You had me at ‘Nutella’, Jen! Beautiful cuppies!
So cute and absolutely perfect!
Oh man…nutella frosting? These sound so good!
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:25 pm
It tastes much better than it sounds. Trust me. I’m debating going to get the leftovers out of the fridge to snack on some…
Oh goodness, these look dangerous 😉 loving the nutella frosting!
beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:25 pm
They’re definitely dangerous. I was glad I took them to a friend’s house.
Those cupcakes are perfect!!!
Do i have to have a paddle and stand mixer? I only have a regular hand mixer at the moment.
beantownbaker — November 24th, 2013 @ 6:02 pm
A hand mixer probably would work just fine.