Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes
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Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes are the ultimate decadent dessert! Tender chocolate cake is filled with a warm gooey chocolate center, topped with sweet vanilla ice cream or whipped cream and finished with optional fresh berries. It’s a magical cake you’ll definitely want to keep on file!
Molten Chocolate Lava Cake
A few weeks ago I shared these Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream Frosting and thought of them as the ultimate Valentines dessert, well I change that to – we have a tie. Really there are so many amazing desserts out there that are perfect for Valentines Day but chocolate must be incorporated and red berries or cherries are a definite bonus.
So, Valentines breakfast anyone? Okay just kidding, not really what I’ll be eating for breakfast but I could eat this anytime of day – but I’ll save the best for after dinner.
How to Make Molten Chocolate Lava Cake
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease 6 wells of a jumbo muffin pan or six 6 oz. ramekins.
- Heat chocolate with butter microwave until melted. Let cool slightly.
- Stir in powdered sugar and salt (it will be thick at this point) then mix in eggs, egg yolks and vanilla.
- Fold in flour until combined.
- Divide batter among prepared muffin wells, filling each about 2/3 full (about 1/2 cup in each. If using custard cups transfer them to a baking sheet to bake).
- Bake in preheated oven until edges are set but center is still soft, about 11 – 12 minutes.
- Remove from oven and cool 1 – 2 minutes (run a knife around edge if they don’t seem loose), invert onto a cutting board or other rectangular surface then transfer to dessert plates and top as desired, serve warm.
I made these a few times and I personally like the added touch of a little bittersweet chocolate but if you want them a little more mild then feel free to use all semi-sweet chocolate.
I think the slightly deeper, dark chocolatey flavor pairs well with a vanilla ice cream or sweet whipped cream topping, and raspberries of course!
Strawberries would be equally as good here so use what you’ve got. And maybe I’m crazy but even maraschino cherries sound good with this, so if you can’t find fresh fruit maybe serve a few of those alongside the ice cream.
Happy Valentines Day everyone! Make these perfectly decadent Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes today and indulge a little, it’s a holiday!
More Decadent Desserts You’ll Love!
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Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes
Ingredients
- 6 oz bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped
- 3/4 cup (168g) unsalted butter, diced into 1/2 to 1 Tbsp pieces, plus more butter for pan
- 1 1/4 cups (150g) powdered sugar
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 3 large eggs
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 6 1/2 Tbsp (62g) unbleached all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Butter six (6 oz.) ramekins or 6 wells of a jumbo muffin pan with some softened butter (cover well you don't want these to stick). Lightly dust with flour, shake out excess. If using ramekins set on a baking sheet.
- In a medium saucepan bring about 1-inch of water to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add chocolate and butter to a heat proof glass bowl. Reduce heat to medium-low, set bowl over saucepan and stir constantly until chocolate and butter have melted. Remove bowl from heat, let rest 5 - 10 minutes until cool.
- Stir in powdered sugar and salt (it will be thick at this point) until well blended.
- Mix in eggs, egg yolks and vanilla (it will take a bit of stirring to get them fully incorporated).
- Sift in flour then stir and fold mixture until combined.
- Divide batter among prepared muffin wells, filling each about 2/3 full (about 1/2 cup in each. If using custard cups transfer them to a baking sheet to bake).
- Bake in preheated oven until edges are set but center is still soft, about 11 - 12 minutes.
- Remove from oven and cool 1 - 2 minutes. Run a knife around edges to ensure they are loose, then invert onto dessert plates (if using a muffin pan invert onto a cutting board or baking sheet then transfer to individual dessert plates.
- Always serve warm shortly after baking. If desired serve with ice cream, whipped cream, or raspberries/strawberries if desired.
Notes
- Recipe updated 2/26/21.