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Molten Lava Cakes are individual chocolate cakes with a fudgy center that oozes deliciously once you take that first bite.

Chocolate Lava Cakes were a holiday tradition for years. They’re easy to make, quick to bake, and can be served with only a sprinkle of powdered sugar or with fresh berries, whipped cream, or ice cream. My family gets excited when they see the ramekins come out of the cupboard!

A molten lava cake with a forkful of cake on a white plate
Table of Contents hide
1 Chocolate Lava Cake Recipe
2 How to Make Lava Cakes
3 Recipe Tips
4 How to Serve
5 Frequently Asked Questions
6 You May Also Like
7 Chocolate Lava Cakes

Chocolate Lava Cake Recipe

I first made this recipe for lava cakes back in 2011. It was high time for an encore. Unlike some of the larger lava cakes I’ve made, these 4-ounce versions are perfect for a smaller, yet rich and luscious, chocolate dessert.

The two-toned effect of the crust is a result of the sugar-dusted on the ramekins…not all of it was released evenly. So I let my family eat these beauties, and I used a spoon and scraped up all the chocolate-sugar-butter goodness left in the dishes. I know they’d argue, but I think I got the best part!

How to Make Lava Cakes

  1. Prepare the ramekins. Grease them with butter, then place a round of parchment in the bottom and grease the parchment. Dust the inside of the ramekin with sugar.
  2. Preheat the oven.
  3. Prepare the batter.
  4. Divide evenly among the ramekins.
  5. Bake until the edges are firm, but the middles are soft.
  6. Remove from oven and run a thin metal spatula around the perimeter of each cake to loosen.
  7. Cool for a few minutes, invert, and serve immediately.
Chocolate lava cake batter in ramekins

Recipe Tips

  • For the best results, use chocolate bars instead of chocolate chips. The quality is better.
  • Make sure to prep the ramekins properly so the lava cakes will release when inverted onto dessert plates. Use butter and sugar or you can use a flour and oil spray like Baker’s Joy.
  • Bake while you’re enjoying dinner so they can be served warm from the oven. If you bake too far ahead of time, you’ll need to reheat your cakes and this could cook the “lava.”
  • Bake until the sides are set and only the very centers jiggle a bit when nudged. If you bake too long, you’ll just have mini chocolate cakes.
  • To release, cool for about 2 minutes to help the sides firm up a bit. You can use a thin knife to run between the ramekin and the cakes to ensure they don’t stick.

How to Serve

The gang was going to the Colts-Packers game and I needed a quick dessert. These can be whipped up in about 30 minutes, and taste amazing. 

  • These lava cakes are best when served still warm from the oven.
  • They can be garnished with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream along with some fresh berries for a pop of color. A light dusting of powdered sugar is pretty, too.
  • Offer hot coffee, tea, or an after-dinner digestif.

There were no complaints as my green jerseyed family ate these without accouterments. Katie, ever the diplomat, had her Peyton Manning pin perfectly placed on her Packer attire. They were out the door with their chocolate cravings satisfied and Lambeau, the dog,  and I had the house to ourselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Lava Cakes Be Made Ahead of  Time?

Yes, just keep your ramekins in the fridge until about an hour before you want to eat them. Remove them from the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature. If they’re still very cool after an hour, just add a minute or two to the baking time. Just make sure the middle is a little jiggly.
I’ve made numerous versions of lava cakes over the years, and no matter the recipe, the boys practically hyperventilate at the thought of these. These are perfect for any chocolate lover in your life.

Is It Safe to Eat the Uncooked Batter?

The “lava” in these mini cakes is basically a warm, yet not totally cooked batter. Due to the addition of eggs in the batter, this dessert should not be served to the very young, very old, or immune-compromised.
If you have access to pasteurized eggs, use those in the recipe, making this dessert 100% safe for everyone. If you have a very accurate thermometer, you can pasteurize eggs at home.

What Can I Use If I Don’t Have Ramekins?

You can use a muffin tin to make lava cakes, too. Make sure to prep the pan well so they don’t stick. Since the cakes will be smaller, they won’t need to be baked as long. Watch them carefully and pull them out of the oven when only the centers jiggle.

Overhead view of a molten lava cake with raspberries

You May Also Like

I’ve tried many different lava cake recipes. They vary in the amount or kind of chocolate, eggs, sugar, or flour, but all are delectable nonetheless. This version is simple yet impressive. Watch the baking time to make sure the center is all that looks undercooked.

Plus, allow for a short cooling time before unmolding to let the exterior firm up a bit. I also ran a knife around the edge of each ramekin before flipping to allow for easier release. Your favorite chocoholic will thank you for trying these. 

dog wearing retro football jersey

Guess who wore her retro Packers jersey on game day???

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Overhead view of a molten lava cake with raspberries
The Recipe:

Chocolate Lava Cakes

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Yield 4 servings

Rich, individual chocolate cakes with molten chocolate centers!

Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter, cut into pieces
  • 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 2 egg yolks
  • ½ cup sugar (plus more to dust buttered ramekins)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon cake flour
  • Berries, sweetened whipped cream or ice cream to garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450º. Butter and sugar four 6-8-ounce ramekins and set aside. Or line a muffin tin or ramekins with paper muffin liners, then grease the interiors. If using a muffin tin, you will probably get more than 4 lava cakes.
  2. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and butter, stopping and stirring at 30-second intervals, till smooth. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, combine eggs, yolks, sugar, and vanilla. Beat on high for 10 minutes.
  4. Fold in chocolate, then flour. Spoon into ramekins.
  5. Bake for 9-10 minutes till the edges are set and the centers are still soft.
  6. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes before unmolding onto plates. Serve with berries, whipped cream, or ice cream if desired.

Notes

Adapted from Ghirardelli.

Note, since there is some batter that's not completely cooked, you may not want to feed these to the very young, elderly or anyone who's immune-suppressed.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4 servings

Serving Size:

1 cake
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 413Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 201mgSodium: 71mgCarbohydrates: 59gFiber: 4gSugar: 52gProtein: 8g

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© Liz Berg
Cuisine: American / Category: Chocolate