If you aren’t familiar with self-saucing desserts, then prepare to be impressed. These recipes magically create their own sauce as they bake from one easy batter with boiling water poured over top. As the cake or cobbler bakes, the liquid sinks to the bottom, forming a rich, gooey sauce, while the cake rises to the top. Yup, it’s as tasty as it sounds. There are many versions of these cakes out there, but Carmen’s Butterscotch cobbler is undoubtedly one of the most delicious. Best of all, it’s made with pantry staples, meaning you can whip it up anytime the craving strikes!

The batter itself is simple, but there are a few details you’ll want to get right for the best results. Using dark brown sugar and dark corn syrup are essential here for getting that deep butterscotch flavor, so double check you have the right stuff before you start baking. The other detail to pay attention to is how you pour the boiling water over the batter. You’ll want to soften the stream of water by holding the backside of a spoon right over the cake and then letting the water gently hit the spoon and drip off. Using this method the water won’t disrupt the batter.

After about 40 minutes in the oven, the cobbler will be golden and bubbling with a soft, cake-like top and a rich butterscotch sauce below. It’s best served warm in a generous scoop with extra sauce drizzle on top. And while it’s delish on its own, a scoop of vanilla ice cream will seriously put it over the top. This cobbler may seem like a bit of magic, but trust us, the result is perfection!