Rich, fudgy chocolate cake baked to perfection with a hot, ooey, gooey center. This Molten Chocolate Cake Recipe will put any restaurant's version to shame. Made in under an hour from start to finish, this dessert will knock your socks off.
What Do I Need To Make Chocolate Lava Cakes?
You'll need:
- eggs
- heavy whipping cream
- butter
- flour
- sugar
- vanilla
- semi sweet chocolate chips
How Do I Make The Lava Filling?
Some lava cakes are just undercooked cake. Which kind of grosses me out. While its more of a brownie batter, than a cake batter - I still prefer to fully cook my cake and use a ganache like filling for the "lava".
- The gooey lava center is the shining star of this dessert. To Make this you will need to heat heavy whipping cream in a small saucepan. When it simmers, remove from heat. Add butter and semisweet chocolate chips. Let stand 5 minutes.
- Whisk until smooth and shiny. Let cool slightly, and then transfer to the freezer while you prepare cake.
Let's Talk About The Cake!
The cake of this dessert is dense and fudge. Delicious. Here's the rundown:
- In a small saucepan combine butter and chocolate chips. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly.
- When shiny and smooth, remove from heat and allow to slightly cool.
- Separate Eggs - you'll need 2 whole eggs and 2 egg yolks.
- Using a hand or stand mixer, combine eggs, egg yolks, and sugar. Beat for 5 minutes. Mixture will be pale.
- Mix in flour, vanilla, and chocolate/butter mixture.
- Batter will be a medium brown.
PRO TIP – HOW TO SEPARATE EGGS: AFTER CRACKING YOUR EGG, OPEN THE EGG OVER A BOWL. LET THE YOLK SETTLE IN ONE HALF OF THE SHELL, CAREFULLY POUR THE YOLK BACK AND FORTH INTO THE OTHER HALF OF THE SHELL, LETTING THE WHITE DRIP INTO YOUR BOWL. REPEAT THIS UNTIL ALL OF THE WHITE IS REMOVED FROM THE SHELL. POUR THE YOLK INTO A SEPARATE BOWL.
Now Put It All Together
- Generously butter 4 ramekins.
- Spoon enough batter into each ramekin so that it measures about an inch deep.
- Remove filling from freezer. It should be a fudgy consistency. Divide into 4, and wish clean hands, roll quickly into balls.
- Place on top of batter.
- Spoon remaining batter over top of the filling balls.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes until edges and top are firm, but center can still be jiggled. Remove from oven and allow to cool 10 minutes.
- Run a knife around the edges of cake to release from ramekin. Invert cakes onto serving plates. Top with ice cream, chocolate sauce, or other desired toppings.
Can Lava Cake Be Made Ahead?
Yes! One of the best parts of chocolate lava cake is that you can make the cakes ahead of time (before a dinner party) and chill until you're ready to bake and serve. Add a minute or so to the baking time and you'll be pulling out an amazing dessert for your guests!
or
You can freeze completely baked lava cakes. Just make sure you let them cool completely before freezing. They'll keep for 3 months. After you remove them from the freezer, re-heat in the microwave.
How long do lava cakes last?
When stored in an airtight container, freshly baked molten lava cake will last 1-2 days at room temperature.
Don't Be Shy!
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Molten Chocolate Cake Recipe
Dense chocolate cake with a chocolate lava filling. This Molten Chocolate Cake Recipe will put any restaurant's version to shame. Made in under an hour from start to finish, this dessert will knock your socks off.
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Rate
Servings: 4 cakes
Calories: 842kcal
Ingredients
Lava Filling
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- ⅝ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- ½ tablespoon butter
Chocolate Cake
- ¾ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 whole eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup flour
Topping Ideas
- ice cream
- chocolate syrup
- whipped cream
- berries
Instructions
Lava Filling
- In a small saucepan, heat whipping cream until it simmers. Remove from heat.
- Add chocolate chips and butter to hot cream. Let stand for 5 minutes.
- Whisk until smooth and shiny. Let cool slightly.
- Place in freezer while you prepare cake. About 15-20 minutes.
Chocolate Cake
- Preheat oven to 375.
- In a small saucepan combine butter and chocolate chips. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. When shiny and smooth, remove from heat and allow to slightly cool.
- Mix in vanilla, flour, and chocolate/butter mixture.
- Generously butter 4 ramekins.
- Using a hand or stand mixer, combine eggs, egg yolks, and sugar. Beat for 5 minutes. Mixture will be pale. Fold in chocolate mixture until completely combined.
- Spoon enough batter into each ramekin so that it measures about an inch deep.
- Remove filling from freezer. It should be a fudgy consistency. Divide into 4, and with clean hands, roll quickly into balls. Place on top of batter.
- Spoon remaining batter over top of the filling balls.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes until edges and top are firm, but center can still be jiggled. Remove from oven and allow to cool 10 minutes.
- Run a knife around the edges of cake to release from ramekin. Invert cakes onto serving plates. Top with ice cream, chocolate sauce, or other desired toppings.
Notes
Can prepare ahead of time and chill batter until ready to bake and serve.
Please use quality chocolate!!!
Please use quality chocolate!!!
Nutrition
Calories: 842kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 58g | Saturated Fat: 34g | Cholesterol: 268mg | Sodium: 408mg | Potassium: 418mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 1250IU | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 5.3mg
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Laura says
The result was amazing! Honestly the best chocolate fondants I’ve ever made. Just keep your head in the game as it doesn’t actually tell you to combine the egg mixture with the chocolate mixture.
Adam Howard says
Recipe has an error on step 5, should state that you mix the sugar/egg mixture with the butter/chocolate mixture as well.
Kadee says
Thanks for the heads up. I’ll fix it up.
Julia says
Looks amazing! What size ramekins do you use here?
Kadee says
These are 4 inch
Tayler perez says
To prepare ahead Do you assemble them completely and put in fridge or do you keep everything separate, assemble and bake when ready?
Kadee says
Assemble completely.
Melissa says
If I want to make this a mint chocolate cake would you add mint extract to the recipe or mint chocolate chips?
Kadee says
I would recommend adding mint extract to the recipe. 1 tsp should do the trick!
Melissa says
This recipe looks awesome!!!
rig says
The lava cakes delicious!
Brittany says
These lava cakes look amazing! Will definitely be trying this recipe!
Nicole Huckins says
A covered casserole dish.
Alex kent says
Looks delish!
Madison says
This recipe was a great secret Santa gift!
Anel says
I would love the entertaining set in Cools color!
Katie says
These taste amazing!
Megan J says
I am in need of a square casserole! Preferably in the cobalt blue
carol clark says
egg plate/tray cobalt blue
carol clark says
Strawberry Coconut Cake
Sammy Murry says
I love love LOVE these chocolate lava cakes!
Christopher Sorel says
like the mixing bowl with lid (2034)
Christy says
That looks amazing!
AJ says
Your recipes are seriously amazing. I'm trying to think of a reason to make these right now. And fiesta ware is so nice, I'd love anything from their collection.
Kaitlin says
I love their teapots!
denise says
https://www.fiestafactorydirect.com/p-848-baking-bowls-scarlet-3-piece-set-967.aspx?pid=184
Marsha A says
Fiesta has a lot of great products I want. I totally need some ramekins and these are perfect. That knife isn't so bad either. LOL.
Michelle Gunnell says
I would love anything in sunflower or turquoise - so pretty!
Karen D says
I'd like their deep dish pie baker in ivory
May Huang says
fiesta whoo owl plates and cups
Marlee Myers says
Looks delicious! Will be making ASAP!
Emily Rogers says
Oh man this is amazingly delicious!!
Bing says
The 12 Days Of Christmas collection looks so nice.
cyndi br says
I like the dinner plate fall fantasy.
kayleigh larkins says
I love the fiesta Christmas tree collection
Larissa Creighton says
I LOVE the Rectangular Baker in ivory color! Thank you so much for this opportunity!
Jaime Young says
Love the website the food looks oh so delicious!
Sarah Osborne says
I like the scarlet covered casserole dish. :)
Holly B says
I would also like the Fiesta Square Mugs in Lemongrass.
Liz brown says
What an amazing giveaway!!
Stefanie H. says
I'd love the Large Covered Casserole dish!
Brienne says
My best friend is so in love with Festa... She is buying her first house and her kitchen is going to be all Fiestaware she already has a lot but I would love to add to it with the these four dishes that I know she does not have
Jen K says
I love everything Fiesta! Hoping to add some Gusto bowls to my collection soon.
Sandy Rees says
I have had my eye on the large covered casserole for awhile now. Thanks for the chance to win the ramekins. I really enjoy my Fiestaware
Mary in Ohio says
Love lava cake. Going to try this weekend
Laura H. says
This looks delicious! Can't beat a good lava cake :)
Alarie says
Delish!
Reese says
Anything in lemongrass. I'm a sucker for the canisters and the egg plate/tray. Now I want some deviled eggs!
Reese says
Anything in lemongrass. I'm a sucker for the canisters and the egg plate/tray. Now I want some deviled eggs!
Sindy Murray says
I like the extra large covered butter black. The chocolate lava cakes look delicious
melanie huttner says
This looks absolutely amazing, I'm going to make it this weekend!!
Kaylee says
The baking bowl set or the fruit bowl would be wonderful!
Michelle R says
I would love the Large Bistro Bowl in white! https://www.fiestafactorydirect.com/p-2788-bistro-bowl-large-white-1459.aspx?pid=206
Desarae says
This has been my very favorite!!
Janene says
Delicious recipe!!!! Thanks for sharing!
Stephanie B Whipple says
These look perfect for our holiday parties!
Sarah says
I'd love the 3 piece turquoise baking bowl set!
Thanks for all the fun ❤️
Bonnie says
Nothing better than chocolate lava cake!!
Victoria says
I love their white square three piece place setting, the medium heart bowl, and their trivet! My mom had nothing but Fiesta when I grew up, so it's been a part of my life for as long as I can remember!
Alisha B says
I'd love in of their 3 tier servers in scarlet.
Mariaelena says
I love the slate collection!
Julie V says
I would love the Fiesta Lady cookie jar!
Annette says
This recipe looks divine!
From Fiesta I'd love to have the Baking Bowls Scarlet 3 Piece Set (967).
Carla S says
I like the fiesta whoo owl plates and cups.