Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 175 °C (350 °F). This ensures the pudding bakes evenly.

Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until well combined.

Add the Wet Ingredients: Pour in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Stir well until you achieve a smooth batter, slightly thicker than pancake batter.

Prepare the Baking Dish: Grease a 9x9-inch baking dish. Pour the batter into the dish, spreading it evenly.

Make the Chocolate Topping: In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar and cocoa powder. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the batter.

Add the Hot Water: Carefully pour the hot water over the top of the batter without mixing. This is where the magic happens—the sauce will form as it bakes!

Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the top is firm, and the sauce is bubbling beneath.

Serve: Allow it to rest for a few minutes before serving hot, ideally accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.