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This Tunnel of Fudge Cake or Tunnel of Doom Halloween Cake is a moist vanilla Bundt cake with a rich ribbon of chocolate running it.

Make it a Halloween Dessert by transforming it into a Tunnel of Doom Cake, topped with a few seasonal sprinkles.

Tunnel of Fudge Cake on a white serving plate.
Table of Contents hide
1 Why You Must Make
2 Expert Tips
3 Frequently Asked Questions
4 You May Also Like:
5 Tunnel of Fudge Cake {Tunnel of Doom Cake}

Why You Must Make

Any time I heard about a Tunnel of Fudge Cake recipe, I’d make a mad dash to check it out. Most included a boatload of chopped nuts, something my family would not eat. One of my foodie friends shared this recipe. which is sans nuts and topped with a glossy chocolate glaze.

  • It’s perfect any time of year, but on Halloween, it can be a “tunnel of doom” cake!
  • The fudgy center is a bonus surprise when you serve up slices.
  • The double dose of chocolate will please the chocoholics!
Overhead view of Tunnel of Fudge Cake on a white ripple edge plate.

Expert Tips

  • Before you start, note that this recipe contains baking powder, not baking soda. Baking powder often expires before you use the whole can so make sure you check the expiration date. To check its potency, put a spoonful in a cup of hot water. If it’s active, it will bubble vigorously.
  • Prep your pan well before adding the batter. Older Bundt pans are notorious for sticking since the finish isn’t perfectly smooth.
  • Pour a bit more than half the plain batter into your prepared Bundt ban.
  • Add the chocolate batter in a ring over the plain batter. The chocolate batter should be away from both sides of the cake pan with a strip of plain batter on both sides.
  • Only cool for about 10 minutes or the cake may not release from the pan in one piece.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get the filling into the middle of the cake?

It’s just a matter of carefully layering the batters. First, a little more than half the plain batter is added to the Bundt pan. Then a ring of the chocolate batter is poured over the plain batter, equidistant from the edges so it bakes up in the middle. Last, the remainder of the plain batter is poured over the top to cover the filling.

How do you get a Bundt cake out of the pan?

First, the pan must be prepped properly by coating it with a layer of butter, then dusting it with flour or using a flour and oil baking spray. If your pan has lost its finish, it still may stick. So inspected it for signs of wear before making the batter.

Then the cake must cool for about 15 minutes before attempting removal. This is so the crust of the cake can firm up and keep the cake in one piece. If you wait too long, the cake will get stuck, but if you don’t wait long enough, the cake may come out in pieces.

When it’s cooled a bit, I like to gently jiggle the pan back and forth to loosen it a bit. Use hot pads if needed. Then gently invert onto a rack to finish cooling.

How do you know when a Bundt Cake is Done?

Use a toothpick to check the middle of the cake for about 5-10 minutes before the timer goes off. Check in more than one spot. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done. If it has some batter, continue baking and recheck in 5-10 minutes.

If there are a few moist crumbs, check a few more spots. The residual heat will continue to bake the cake, so as long as there is no batter, the cake can come out of the oven.

Where Did This Recipe Originate?

The original tunnel of fudge cake recipe was the Pillsbury bake-off winner in 1966. Created with a package of Double Dutch Frosting Mix, the recipe soon became obsolete when the mix was discontinued. A blogger friend shared her tunnel of fudge cake recipe with me (her blog no longer exists), and it was a rare recipe that didn’t include any nuts so it was perfect for my family.

Slice of Tunnel of Fudge Cake on a square white plate with a red handled fork.

You May Also Like:

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Tunnel of Fudge Cake | A rich butter cake with a fudgy ribbon in each slice. Make for Hallloween as a Tunnel of Doom Cake!
The Recipe:

Tunnel of Fudge Cake {Tunnel of Doom Cake}

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield 12

A vanilla cake with a "tunnel" of fudge. A perfect cake for any occasion!

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 10 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chopped, divided (6 ounces for cake, 4 ounces for glaze)
  • 1 ½ cups (3 sticks) butter, at room temperature
  • 1 ⅔ cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ cup sour cream

Glaze:

  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • Reserved chocolate

Instructions

  1. Butter and flour, or spray with a flour and oil baking spray, a 12-cup capacity Bundt pan. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 350º.
  2. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.
  3. Melt 6 ounces of the chocolate in the microwave (stop and stir every 30 seconds till melted and smooth). Set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla till fluffy, then add the eggs, one at a time, till incorporated.
  5. In another bowl (I used a Pyrex 2-Cup Glass Measuring Cup), whisk together the milk and sour cream. With the mixer on low, alternately add the flour and the milk mixture into the batter, mixing till smooth.
  6. Stir 1 cup of this batter into melted chocolate and set aside (chocolate should be warm, not hot before adding batter). Set aside.
  7. Spoon slightly more than half the plain batter into the bottom of the prepared Bundt pan. Add the chocolate batter, followed by the remaining plain batter. Smooth top with an offset spatula if needed.
  8. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool for about 10 minutes then release from the pan to cool completely on a wire rack.
  9. To make the glaze, melt the remaining chocolate with corn syrup and heavy cream in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stopping and stirring every 30 seconds till smooth and melted. Cool slightly.
  10. Place the cake on the cooling rack over a baking sheet lined with parchment. Spoon glaze over the cake.
  11. Let glaze firm up at room temperature and serve.

Notes

You may add sprinkles after drizzling on the frosting.

Make sure your baking powder is fresh as it isn't used as often as baking soda and usually expires in your pantry. The cake won't rise properly if it's old.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1 slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 431Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 371mgCarbohydrates: 72gFiber: 2gSugar: 45gProtein: 7g

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© Liz Berg
Cuisine: American / Category: Cakes