• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Crunchy Creamy Sweet

Easy Recipes for Busy Parents

  • All Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Asian
  • Dinner
  • Instant Pot
  • Dessert
  • About Us
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Instant Pot / Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake For Two

    Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake For Two

    Published: Feb 11, 2019 · Modified: Nov 7, 2019 by Anna 46 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Sharing is caring!

    2839 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake For Two - very easy and decadent molten lava cakes cooked in the Instant Pot pressure cooker, ready in less than 20 minutes. The gooey, fudgy center is irresistible!

    Side shot of chocolate lava cake with gooey center, strawberry on top, set on white plate.

    Valentine's Day is just a few days away! If you are still trying to decide what dessert to get or make to celebrate the holiday of love, may I suggest this surprisingly easy to make Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake? It's rich, delicious, beautiful and ready under 20 minutes!

    INSTANT POT CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE

    These Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cakes are rich and decadent! You won't believe they were cooked in the pressure cooker. It's another amazing example that you can make a beautiful dessert in your pressure cooker. My Instant Pot Cherry Delight Cheesecake is a proof!

    HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE FOR TWO?

    • Start by gathering ingredients. Make sure the stainless steel insert is in your Instant Pot. Butter the ramekins and set aside. Measure out flour and powdered sugar, by spooning each into a measuring cup.
    • Add 1 cup of tap water to the IP. Set the trivet (that came with your Instant Pot), inside.
    • In a medium mixing bowl, place butter (cut into squares) and chocolate. Microwave in 15-second intervals, until the butter is melted. Whisk until the chocolate melts with warm butter. The mixture should be glistening and smooth.
    • Add powdered sugar. If your powdered sugar is clumpy, sift it over the chocolate mixture, then whisk in. The mixture should be thick. See photo below, for visual reference.
    • Add egg and egg yolk and vanilla and whisk well. Add flour and salt (for best result, sift right over the chocolate mixture) and gently fold in with a spatula. Do not overmix!
    • Divide the chocolate batter evenly among the ramekins. Place ramekins on trivet in the Instant Pot. Close the lid and set valve to "sealing" position. Newer models do it on their own. Make sure the IP is set to cook at HIGH pressure. Press "manual" or "pressure cook" button and set timer to 8 minutes. The IP will beep and start coming to pressure. It took 4 minutes for my Instant Pot to come to pressure.
    • When the timer is done, press "cancel/off" button. Switch the valve to "venting" position to release the pressure.
    • When the pressure pin is down, carefully open the lid away from your face. Carefully, wearing oven mitt, remove ramekin from the IP. Cover each ramekin with a plate, flip over, tap the ramekin and gently remove. The cake should pop right out. Let it cool for a few minutes, dust with powdered sugar and serve.
    Overhead shot of chocolate sugar mixture in glass bowl, eggs in another bowl.

    INSTANT POT LAVA CAKE FOR TWO

    This recipe makes two chocolate lava cakes. It's the perfect dessert for a special occasion to enjoy with your loved one, like anniversary, Valentine's Day, etc. You can easily double it, as long as you have enough ramekins.

    CAN I MAKE THESE LAVA CAKES AHEAD OF TIME?

    Yes, cooked lava cakes can be made up to 2 days in advance. Store them in the fridge and reheat in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds.

    Overhead shot of two ramekins with chocolate cake batter, set on trivet in the Instant Pot.

    TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST LAVA CAKE IN INSTANT POT:

    • use good chocolate: the better the chocolate, the more delicious the cake will be. While chocolate chips are fine, they are often coated with wax which can affect the taste. Use semi-sweet or dark chocolate in a bar. I used 6 squares to get 2 ounces of chocolate, needed to make this recipe.
    • grease the ramekins: to make sure the cakes come out easily out of the ramekins, you need to butter each ramekin (bottom and sides!).

    CAN YOU USE RAMEKINS IN INSTANT POT?

    Yes, you can use ramekins in the Instant Pot. If they are meant to be used in the oven, they can be used in the IP. I used 2 6oz ramekins, like in this set. (<<--- affiliate link)

    Side shot of chocolate lava cake with strawberry on top.

    CAN I MAKE GLUTEN-FREE LAVA CAKE?

    If you have experience with gluten-free baking and have flour that can be substituted in 1:1 ratio, you can easily use it to make this lava cake gluten-free.

    Close up shot of lava cake with gooey center, topped with strawberry.

    MORE RECIPES:

    Instant Pot Cherry Delight Cheesecake

    Molten Lava Cakes (baked in the oven)

    Chocolate Mousse for Two

    Chocolate Mug Cake for Two

    To learn more about the Instant Pot, check out my Guide for Beginners. If you experienced the “burn” message while using your IP, check out my Instant Pot Burn Message post to learn how to fix the issue and prevent it in the first place.

    If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 

    INSTANT POT CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE FOR TWO RECIPE:

    Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake For Two recipe

    Author: Anna
    A very easy and decadent molten lava cakes cooked in the Instant Pot pressure cooker, ready in less than 20 minutes. The gooey, fudgy center is irresistible!
    More Instant Pot recipes: www.crunchycreamysweet.com
    4.86 from 21 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 8 mins
    coming to pressure 4 mins
    Total Time 13 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2 servings
    Calories 601 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 cup water
    • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
    • 2 oz. semi-sweet or dark chocolate
    • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 egg yolk
    • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
    • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    • Make sure the stainless steel insert is in your Instant Pot. Butter the ramekins and set aside. Measure out flour and powdered sugar, by spooning each into a measuring cup. This ensures an accurate amount of flour used. Do not use unbleached flour.
    • Add 1 cup of tap water to the IP. Set the trivet (that came with your Instant Pot), inside.
    • In a medium mixing bowl, place butter (cut into squares) and chocolate. Microwave in 15-second intervals, until the butter is melted. Whisk until the chocolate melts with warm butter. The mixture should be glistening and smooth.
    • Add powdered sugar. If your powdered sugar is clumpy, sift it over the chocolate mixture, then whisk in. The mixture should be thick.
    • Add egg and egg yolk and vanilla and whisk well. Add flour and salt (for best result, sift right over the chocolate mixture) and gently fold in with a spatula. Do not overmix!
    • Divide the chocolate batter evenly among the ramekins. Place ramekins on trivet in the Instant Pot. Close the lid and set valve to "sealing" position. Newer models do it on their own. Make sure the IP is set to cook at HIGH pressure. Press "manual" or "pressure cook" button and set timer to 8 minutes. The IP will beep and start coming to pressure. It took 4 minutes for my Instant Pot to come to pressure.
    • When the timer is done, press the "cancel/off" button. Switch the valve to "venting" position to release the pressure.
    • When the pressure pin is down, carefully open the lid away from your face. Carefully, wearing oven mitt, remove ramekin from the IP. Cover each ramekin with a plate, flip over, tap the ramekin and gently remove. The cake should pop right out. Let it cool for a few minutes, dust with powdered sugar and serve.

    Notes

    You can easily double it, as long as you have enough ramekins. 
    While chocolate chips are fine, they are often coated with wax which can affect the taste. Use semi-sweet or dark chocolate in a bar. I used 6 squares to get 2 ounces of chocolate, needed to make this recipe.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 601kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 242mg | Sodium: 339mg | Potassium: 191mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 955IU | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 3.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

    More Instant Pot Recipes

    • Instant Pot Applesauce
    • Best Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken
    • Instant Pot Corned Beef
    • Instant Pot Turkey Stock

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. R M says

      July 05, 2022 at 9:58 pm

      I used dark chocolate chips. The cakes came out perfect but they didn't seem sweet enough. Could you increase the sugar without ruining them? or chocolate chips the reason why it wasn't sweet,? Thanks

      Reply
    2. Lisa says

      November 14, 2021 at 12:02 pm

      Do you cover the ramekins with foil before cooking? Will the steam make them soggy?

      Reply
    3. Don says

      March 16, 2021 at 9:04 pm

      I followed the instructions and they were perfect! I made this for my wife as she loves lava cakes. Me, not so much but I have to admit these made me a believer. Thanks.

      Reply
    4. Diana Walton says

      February 14, 2021 at 9:30 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonite for the first time for Valentines Day dinner. I was busy when the 8 minute timer went off and it sat there with a natural release for 10 minutes. The cakes came out easily from the ramekins. The cake was done and the inside was still gooey with chocolate lava. Added a few raspberries and ice cream to the plate and it was perfect. Definitely a keeper for me.

      Reply
      • Anna says

        February 17, 2021 at 5:18 pm

        Yay! I am so happy the cake was a success! Thank you for making my recipe, Diana!

        Reply
    5. Randy Reiff says

      May 27, 2020 at 9:52 pm

      5 stars
      Love these lava cakes! The first time I made them, they weren't quite done at 8 minutes - still delicious of course! The second time, I put them in for 8 min, and then did a natural pressure release for 3 minutes, followed by the quick release. That extra time really helped! I suppose 9 min on high would have done about the same thing. These are soooo good though! Do you think I could make up a dozen or so and freeze them, then pop them out if company arrives?

      Reply
    6. Yves Yang says

      May 26, 2020 at 5:45 am

      I love this recipe ... its perfect ! Thank you

      Reply
    7. Sara says

      April 04, 2020 at 4:21 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for the recipe! I use a silicone trivet and it's much better than the metal trivet that came with the instant pot.

      Reply
    8. Erin says

      March 21, 2020 at 10:03 pm

      I made this and can't figure out what I did wrong but something happened.. the cake was very spongy and no chocolate liquid inside it was cooked throughly. Any advice?

      Reply
      • Karen says

        September 10, 2020 at 12:21 pm

        3 stars
        I had the same problem, no lava! But still nice flavour. More like a steamed pudding.

        Reply
    9. Mo says

      March 06, 2020 at 5:34 am

      4 stars
      I followed the recipe exactly except one change: olive oil spray in the ramekin instead of butter. Is this was messed them up? I opened the instant pot and they didn’t look done at all—liquid resting on top but I could see some cooked inside so I put them back in for 3 more minutes. Opened it and still had a layer of liquid on top. I took them out and poured the liquid off (which of course made some of the molten inside spill out through the top of the cake). It was oil! The cake seeped oil out for a few minutes after that, with the powdered sugar on top even turning dark and wet because it was absorbing it. The cakes still tasted pretty good but I think it should be noted that spray shouldn’t be used (sorry if I missed that somewhere!) because it really ruined presentation and somewhat taste. That’s the only reason I can think that they would’ve turned out that way!

      Reply
    10. Ashley says

      March 04, 2020 at 4:36 pm

      5 stars
      Very delicious! But, I followed directions precisely and my lava cakes were not cooked in 8 min. Added another 5 min and were mostly cooked, but still not fully cooked...? What did I do wrong?

      Reply
    11. G says

      February 20, 2020 at 9:46 pm

      hello! just wondering, can I use granulated sugar or does it need to be powder?

      Reply
      • Anna says

        February 22, 2020 at 11:46 pm

        Hi! As stated in the recipe box, you need powdered sugar.

        Reply
    12. Sam says

      January 09, 2020 at 9:05 pm

      Tried the recipe, and while delicious the texture of the cake was a little rubbery. Followed the directions exactly. Any ideas on what could be going wrong?

      Reply
      • Anna says

        January 11, 2020 at 5:45 pm

        Hi Sam! Lava cakes can be quite finicky. Most likely it was from overmixing. You really have to be gentle folding the flour. I hope this helps!

        Reply
    13. Jenna Kenison says

      September 17, 2019 at 10:27 pm

      Can I make this with 4.5 oz ramekins or will that mess it up?

      Reply
      • Anna says

        September 18, 2019 at 11:25 am

        Hi Jenna! I am afraid they will be too small unless you have three of them. Try to divide the batter equally.

        Reply
    14. val says

      August 13, 2019 at 8:45 pm

      I only have unbleached flour at home. What will happen to the lava cake if I use it? Thanks, I'm excited to try your recipe

      Reply
      • Stan says

        February 12, 2020 at 3:51 pm

        I am wondering the same thing. What is the reason for avoiding unbleached flour?

        Reply
        • Anna says

          February 12, 2020 at 11:59 pm

          Hi Stan! Believe it or not, unbleached flour can change the final result. If you want soft and fluffy cake, with the perfect center, I recommend using bleached flour. I hope this helps!

          Reply
    15. Johanna says

      April 14, 2019 at 9:14 pm

      I want to make this since my kids love molten lava cake, but there is three of us. If I double the recipe, and I stack the ramekins in the IP? Or do I have to cook them in two batches? I have a 6qrt IP.

      Reply
      • Anna says

        April 14, 2019 at 10:12 pm

        Hi Johanna! Yep, you can stack them but most likely you can fit 3 on the trivet. I hope you all guys love it!

        Reply
    16. Erin says

      March 09, 2019 at 1:01 pm

      What size ramekins? Thank you

      Reply
      • Dawn Peacock says

        March 31, 2019 at 5:49 pm

        she used two 6 oz ramekins

        Reply
    17. Adam says

      February 17, 2019 at 12:11 am

      5 stars
      Decided to make my first dessert in the Instant Pot on Valentine's Day and made these cakes. My wife and I loved it! It's already been requested again. 😀 Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
    18. Meghan says

      February 17, 2019 at 12:09 am

      5 stars
      Made it as a dessert on Valentine's Day and it was a HUGE hit! The molten center is unreal! Definitely 5 starts!

      Reply
    19. Dana says

      February 17, 2019 at 12:08 am

      5 stars
      I made these for my Hubby and me on Valentine's Day and wow, was it a treat! We loved it!! I cannot wait to make it again!

      Reply
    20. Nancy says

      February 16, 2019 at 11:12 pm

      I wasn’t so lucky. Followed the directions exactly but was not cooked at 8 minutes.

      Reply
    21. Carol says

      February 14, 2019 at 6:45 pm

      How much vanilla?! It’s in the recipe but not in the ingredients.

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        February 14, 2019 at 6:55 pm

        Hi Carol! Thank you for catching that! I added the amount, it should be 1/2 teaspoon. Let me know how you like the cake!

        Reply
      • Annie says

        May 26, 2020 at 1:15 am

        5 stars
        Soo so good! I would make it again. One cake came out of the ramekin beautifully, but the other broke in half. They still tasted awesome. Thanks for the recipe!

        Reply
    22. Kimberly says

      February 13, 2019 at 12:44 am

      5 stars
      That looks SO good and the perfect thing to serve up and enjoy with my hubby once the kiddos are in bed! 🙂

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        February 13, 2019 at 1:38 pm

        Right? They are irresistible!

        Reply
    23. Jacque Hastert says

      February 12, 2019 at 5:57 pm

      5 stars
      I can't wait to make this in my instant pot. Lava cakes have been a favorite of mine for a while, but didn't know you could make them in the IP.

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        February 13, 2019 at 1:38 pm

        You have to try them, Jacque! They are amazing!

        Reply
    24. Jocelyn says

      February 12, 2019 at 2:19 pm

      5 stars
      And just like that I'm craving gooey melted chocolate lava cakes!!! I love all your tips for making these cakes in the IP!

      Reply
      • Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says

        February 13, 2019 at 1:39 pm

        Thanks, Jocelyn!

        Reply
    25. Toni says

      February 12, 2019 at 12:40 pm

      5 stars
      This would be a great dessert for Valentine's Day!! Looks amazing!

      Reply
    26. Melanie Bauer says

      February 12, 2019 at 6:01 am

      5 stars
      This looks insanely delicious! Craving for this goodness right now, can't wait to try!

      Reply
    27. Allison says

      February 11, 2019 at 4:41 pm

      5 stars
      I love that this can be made in the Instant Pot! It's so simple and delicious!

      Reply
    28. Dee says

      February 11, 2019 at 3:24 pm

      5 stars
      This lava cake looks AMAZING!

      Reply
    29. Julie Blanner says

      February 11, 2019 at 2:32 pm

      5 stars
      This is great! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    30. Ton says

      February 11, 2019 at 2:26 pm

      5 stars
      This was absolutely amazing!! A gorgeous dessert for any occasion!

      Reply
    31. Allyson Zea says

      February 11, 2019 at 1:50 pm

      5 stars
      Ummmmm, YESSSSSS!!!! Making this THIS week! THANK YOU!

      Reply
    32. Becky Hardin says

      February 11, 2019 at 12:25 pm

      5 stars
      This has to be the perfect Valentine's day dessert ever!!!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Crunchy Creamy Sweet Anna

    Hi, I'm Anna! Thank you for stopping by! Here you will find easy and delicious recipes for busy people. My recipes are made with everyday ingredients and all of them are family approved!

    More about me →

    Easy Dinners

    • Quick Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls Recipe
    • Easy Sesame Chicken Recipe
    • Creamy Garlic Chicken
    • Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe
    • Creamy Mushroom Garlic Chicken
    • Cheesy Beef Noodle Casserole

    Popular Recipes

    • Air Fryer Shrimp
    • Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe
    • Thai Peanut Noodles Recipe
    • Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe
    • BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
    • KFC Coleslaw Copycat Recipe

    Featured in

    Logos of publications like yahoo, Parade magazine, MSN.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Crunchy Creamy Sweet All rights reserved.

    © Copyright 2023 - Crunchy Creamy Sweet - Privacy Policy