Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes are the perfect Valentine’s Day dessert. Rich and extremely moist chocolate cakes with a molten chocolate center are decadent and completely irresistible. Yields 2 in under an hour.
When I think of Valentine’s Day one thing comes to mind: chocolate.
As a kid I would get excited about heart shaped boxes with assorted chocolates inside. But what’s more chocolatey than these Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes? Answer: not a whole lot.
The recipe is simple yet the results are decadent. When your fork breaks through the exterior of the chocolate cake, you’ll find a molten chocolate center. It’s not only impressive but delicious. And bonus! it can be made in no time.
And if you’re wondering if this molten chocolate lava cake is safe to eat (hello eggs?) the answer is yes. Because these cakes are cooked at a high temperature the middle reaches 160°. Therefore the eggs in this chocolatey center are completely safe to eat.
Simply serve with coffee or red wine.
To Make These Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes You Will Need:
- melted butter (for ramekins)
- unsweetened cocoa powder (for ramekins)
- 2 (8 ounce) tall ramekins
- powdered sugar
- unbleached all-purpose flour
- semi-sweet chocolate (bar)
- unsalted butter
- espresso
- vanilla
- kosher salt
- eggs (whole)
- egg yolks
Preheat your oven to 450℉ (or 230℃).
Melt 1/2 to 1 tablespoon butter and generously brush the inside of 2 (8 ounce) ramekins. Sprinkle in some unsweetened cocoa powder and coat the sides, tap out any extra. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and off to the side.
Sift 1/3 cup powdered sugar with 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour into a mixing bowl, then set off to the side.
In a large bowl set over a pot of simmering water (make sure the top of the water is NOT touching the bottom of bowl), add 4 ounces chopped semi-sweet chocolate, 1 stick (8 tablespoons or 1/2 cup) unsalted butter and 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder.
When the butter is just about melted, use oven mitts to transfer the bowl to a trivet or set on a kitchen towel. Whisk until smooth.
To the melted chocolate, add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Stir and set off to the side.
To. Die. For.
In a separate bowl, crack in 2 large eggs and add 2 egg yolks.
With your whisk, beat until slightly pale in color and frothy.
To the sifted powdered sugar and flour, pour in the chocolate mixture.
And the beaten eggs.
Use a rubber spatula and stir until combined.
>insert heart eye emoji<
Divide the batter among the two prepared ramekins.
It’s a little over 3/4 cup per ramekin. Tap gently on the counter before sliding the pan onto the middle rack of your preheated oven. Bake for 12 minutes (for a more runny center) or 14 minutes (for a less runny middle).
Once baked, allow the lava cakes to cool for 5 minutes.
Run a knife around the edge, just to make sure there aren’t any spots of the cake attached to the ramekin.
Then say a prayer and place the topside of a dessert plate onto of the ramekin and carefully flip.
Gorgeous!
Dust with powdered sugar and garnish with fresh berries.
What say’s I love you more than chocolate oozing from a chocolate cake?
Enjoy! And if you give this Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes Recipe recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes For Two
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar, plus more for dusting once baked
- 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 large eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup raspberries, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450℉ (or 230℃) and brush the inside of both ramekins with melted butter. Sprinkle cocoa powder in each one and shake to coat all the sides. Tap out and discard any excess cocoa powder.
- Into a mixing bowl, sift the powdered sugar and flour, set aside.
- Set a large bowl over a pot of simmering water (it should be shallow water and NOT touch the underside of the bowl) add in the chocolate, butter and espresso powder. Stir until just melted. Use oven mitts to remove the bowl off of the pot and finish stirring until smooth.
- To the chocolate, add the vanilla and kosher salt.
- Then, in a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and egg yolks until thoroughly beaten. Should be light yellow and frothy.
- To the bowl with the flour and sugar, pour in the melted chocolate and beated eggs. Stir until incorporated.
- Divide the batter among the two prepared ramekins (a heaping 3/4 cup per ramekin) and place onto a small sheet pan.
- Tap gently on the counter before sliding the pan onto the middle rack of your preheated oven. Bake on the middle rack for 12 minutes (for a more runny center) or 14 minutes (for a less runny middle).
- Let cool for 5 minutes before running a knife around the inside of the ramekin. Flip a dessert plate and set it ontop of the ramekin. Use a kitchen towel so you don't burn your hands. Then quickly flip so the plate is right-side up and the cake slides out.
- Dust with powdered sugar and serve with fresh berries.
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THANK YOU in advance for your support!
Wow! This sounds so easy and amazingly delicious. I’m making this as soon as my ramekins come in the mail!
Thank you for this recipe
Enjoy! ❤️
I just made this! Really good and not too sweet. Perfect combination of rich and chocolaty. I live at 5000 feet and the cooking time was a little low. 16 – 18 minutes would be perfect. Thanks!
I’m so glad to hear it, Laurie!