The moment it comes out of the oven, this giant slab of chocolate cake is doused in hot fudge and buried under an avalanche of crunchy pecans. The soft, warm cake soaks up the molten fudge, a combination that creates a delightfully gooey layer sandwiched between the fluffy cake below and the fudgy frosting on top. It's big enough to feed a crowd, but it keeps so well that a small family could nibble on it for a week, making it the sort of recipe every baker should have in their repertoire.

For best results, avoid low-fat supermarket cocoa powder (which is, conversely, high in starch), and look for brands that don't skimp on the cocoa butter; read up on our recommended natural cocoa powders for more information.