Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter and place it in the oven. Once the butter has melted, remove the dish and set it aside.
Mix the Batter:
In a mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, flour, milk, baking powder, salt, and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth.
Pour the melted butter over the batter in the baking dish, but do not stir.
Create the Topping:
In a separate bowl, mix the remaining 1 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons cocoa powder. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the batter in the baking dish.
Add the Water:
Carefully pour the boiling water over the entire mixture in the baking dish. Do not stir.
Bake:
Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is set and begins to harden. The bottom will remain gooey and sticky, creating a delicious contrast in texture.
Cool and Serve:
Allow the cobbler to cool for about 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm, perhaps with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra treat!
