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Molten Lava Cakes

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Molten Lava Cakes – soft and rich cakes with gooey fudgy center. A classic and most impressive indulgent dessert!

If you need a dessert for a special occasion, you need to try my Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake or my Chocolate Mousse for Two.

Molten Lava Cakes Molten Lava Cakes

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKES

Special occasions call for special desserts. Of course, chocolate has to be involved.  This time, I went for a baked dessert. These Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes are quite easy to make. I am sharing a simple trick that will ensure they just pop right out of the baking ramekin. If you follow the instructions, your lava cakes will be fluffy on the outside and gooey in the center. Just like it should be.

How to make Lava Cakes?

  • Start with making the coating mixture. Whisk melted butter with cocoa powder, then coat the ramekins well. Set them on a baking sheet.
  • In a medium bowl, place chocolate and top with butter. Microwave in 10-second intervals, until the butter is melted and covers the chocolate. Let sit. Do not stir.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, beat egg, yolk, sugar and salt until pale and thick, about 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk the chocolate until smooth.

Chocolate Lava Cakes Molten Lava Cakes

  • Quickly add chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, add flour and fold everything together with a rubber spatula. Divide equally among the ramekins. Bake cakes for 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 1 minute.
  • Cover each ramekin with a plate you will be serving it on. Let stand 1 minute. Flip the plate and keeping the ramekin upside down on the plate, let stand 1 minute. Tap gently and pull the ramekin out.
  • Serve immediately garnished with whipped cream or dusted with powdered sugar.

Chocolate cake batter in ramekins Molten Lava Cakes

  • Once you have the batter ready, divide it equally among the ramekins and set them on a baking sheet for stability.
  • Bake for 12 minutes. They will come out slightly puffed up but will start falling as soon as they are out of the oven. Just like souffle.

Heart Shape Cakes Molten Lava Cakes

How to remove Lava Cakes from ramekins?

Place a plate on top of the ramekin. Flip it upside down. Gently remove the ramekin. It should be easy thanks to coating it previously with cocoa and butter mixture. After you flip them onto a plate, you will see the center is soft and gooey. Then you know you are in for a real treat!

Brake a little piece off and the chocolate lava will pour out slowly, leaving you speechless. In fact, there are no words needed when this dessert is served. Only a spoon.

MORE CHOCOLATE DESSERTS:

Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake

Chocolate Mousse For Two

One-Bowl Chocolate Cake

 

Note: Please, read the whole recipe first before making the cakes.

5 from 13 votes
Molten Lava Cakes2 150x150 Molten Lava Cakes
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Molten Lava Cakes
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
32 mins
 
Molten Lava Cakes - a classic and one of the most indulgent desserts. This recipe makes two servings but can easily be doubled.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: molten lava cake
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 650 kcal
Author: Anna
Ingredients
for the cakes:
  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter cut up
  • 3 oz . semi-sweet chocolate I used Hershey's Special Dark
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 3 Tbsp granulated sugar white
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
for greasing the pans:
  • 1 Tbsp butter melted, cooled
  • 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. In a small measuring cup or a ramekin, mix melted butter. Coat two 8oz. ramekins with the mixture.
  2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
  3. In a medium bowl, place chocolate and top with butter. Microwave in 10 second intervals, until the butter is melted and covers the chocolate.
  4. Let sit. Do not stir.
  5. In a medium mixing bowl, beat egg, yolk, sugar and salt until pale and thick, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  6. Whisk the chocolate until smooth.
  7. Quickly add chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, add flour and fold everything together with a rubber spatula.
  8. Divide equally among the ramekins.
  9. Place ramekin onto a baking sheet.
  10. Bake cakes for 12 minutes.
  11. Remove from oven and let stand 1 minute.
  12. Cover each ramekins with a plate you will be serving it on. Let stand 1 minute.
  13. Flip the plate and keeping the ramekin upside down on the plate, let stand 1 minutes. Tap gently and pull the ramekin out.
  14. Serve immediately garnished with whipped cream or dusted with powdered sugar.
Recipe Notes

You can double the recipe and make the cakes in four 6oz. ramekins.

Recipe source: Food and Wine

Nutrition Facts
Molten Lava Cakes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 650 Calories from Fat 441
% Daily Value*
Fat 49g75%
Saturated Fat 29g181%
Cholesterol 258mg86%
Sodium 94mg4%
Potassium 312mg9%
Carbohydrates 45g15%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 33g37%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 1135IU23%
Calcium 57mg6%
Iron 3.9mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • CrunchyCreamySw says

      Hi Lexi! I’ve never made it in a bundt pan so I can’t say how it will affect it. You can make it in ramekins!

      Reply

  2. onmyyellowplate.wordpress.com says

    Made this last night when I was craving something indulgent without too much mess. It turned out perfect and just blew my mind how simple it is. Serving size is just perfect, an indulgence for two. Sweet! Thanks heaps!

    Reply

  3. Emily @ Life on Food says

    Love this! So cute in the little red hearts. Even though Valentine’s Day is over I would will still share the love with these babies.

    Reply

  4. Nancy says

    I love the adorable heart shaped ramekins, Anna! Your lava cakes are pure perfection. I’m dying over that molten, liquid middle!

    Reply

  5. Erin says

    Awww! Heart-shaped cakes! I love it. 🙂 And they look like they have the perfect ooziness!

    We got hamburgers at lunchtime when it was totally empty and watched movies at home after that. It was great! 😀

    Reply

  8. Georgia says

    Without a doubt, the dessert of my dreams. I love that yours are so easy, Anna! With raspberries and whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, pure heaven!

    Reply

  9. Kate@Diethood says

    These are so perfect for Valentine’s Day! In as far as celebrating it, well…the hubby has to work! Blah! And the little ones and I are going to eat all the chocolate. 😀

    Reply

  12. Lily says

    Love the cocoa tip. I’ve dusted flour off my chocolate cakes way too many times! I honestly think the sight of lava cakes being split open is one of the best visuals in the dessert world. Have a great Valentine’s Day!

    Reply

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