Individual Lava Cakes, heavenly rich and gooey, and so chocolaty. Spoil your senses with these little beauties, it's time for a treat! These molten lava cakes are quick and easy to make, perfect for every celebration.
Chocolate! The world would be a sad place without it! I had in my mind for quite a while to make these molten lava cakes, but somehow never got to do it. And l am glad l did, they are simply beautiful.
They are rich and chocolaty, but what makes them special is the oozing molten centre. They are like little volcanoes that erupt, incredibly tasty ones.
Making these individual lava cakes can be a bit tricky, in the sense that some crucial observations have to be made, and I learnt it the hard way, by completely ruining the very first cakes.
Luckily, there was enough batter for 6 cakes, so I had my second chance and I am now able to share my experience and provide detailed instructions on how to make these divine chocolate cakes. You live and learn!
Once you get how to make them, you actually realise it is so easy, just a piece of cake. And it does not take long at all. But, oven temperature and time in the oven are crucial.
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Note!
Go to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions!
Ingredients needed
- dark chocolate - you can choose milk-chocolate too, but I find that the dark chocolate works better here
- butter - plus 1 tablespoon extra for greasing
- cocoa powder - I know it sounds like a cliche, but good quality cocoa powder makes all the difference
- plain flour - or regular flour, no need for anything fancy
- icing sugar - powdered sugar
- baking powder - for a good rise
- eggs & egg yolk - at room temperature
Step-by-step photos and instructions
You do not want to bake them for too long, otherwise the centre won't be gooey anymore. Not that they are not yummy even if they don't have the gooey centre, but they won't be as good. And they won't be lava cakes.
- in an oven-proof bowl, add the butter and chocolate and set it over a pan of simmering water so that they melt, then remove from the heat and leave to cool
- in a separate bowl, sift the icing sugar, add the cocoa powder, baking powder and flour, and mix well
- beat the eggs well, and add them to the cooled melted chocolate
- mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients so that you get a smooth paste
- butter 6 ramekins, then dust with cocoa powder
- divide the mixture evenly between the ramekins, and bake for 10 minutes until the top is firm, but the centre is gooey
- to remove from the ramekins, run a shark knife along the edges, then place a small plate on top of the ramekin, and turn the cake upside down
After a few trials, I concluded that 10 minutes in the oven is the perfect baking time. Do not remove them earlier, otherwise they will collapse is you turn them upside down.
Expert tips
You do not want to bake them for too long, otherwise the centre won't be gooey anymore. Not that they are not yummy even if they don't have the gooey centre, but they won't be as good. And they won't be lava cakes.
What to serve with individual lava cakes
These chocolate lava cakes are absolutely delicious on their own, but, if you want to take them to the very next level, and make the plate a bit more interesting, serve them with fresh fruit, like raspberries or strawberries, or any other berries of your choice.
Ice cream is always a great addition to any chocolate dessert, especially vanilla ice cream, but any other ice cream will do.
The combo hot chocolate dessert and ice cream is always one of a kind. Or, why not, some chocolate sauce for some extra chocolate goodness.
If you’ve liked my INDIVIDUAL LAVA CAKES or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m getting up to.
Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes
Ingredients
- 100 g dark chocolate
- 100 g butter plus 1 tablespoon extra for greasing
- 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 50 g plain flour
- 80 g icing sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 eggs
- 1 egg yolk
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Instructions
- Break the chocolate into small pieces and cut the butter into small cubes.
- Place them in a heatproof bowl and set them over a pan of boiling water to melt, then remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, icing sugar, cocoa powder and baking powder.
- Mix the eggs and the egg yolk with an electric mixer for about 1 minute until foamy, then add the melted chocolate and butter and mix well.
- Fold in the dry ingredients.
- Butter 6 ramekins and dust well with cocoa powder, then turn them upside-down and tap to remove the excess cocoa powder.
- Divide the mixture between the 6 ramekins. Be careful not to fill the ramekins, ideally you want them only about half to 3 quarters full, otherwise they will rise too much and overflow.
- Bake in the preheated oven at 200 degrees C (390 Fahrenheit) for 10 minutes or until firm on the outside but gooey on the inside.
- Carefully remove from the oven, then run a knife around to ease up the edges. The top will be firm, but the middle nice and gooey.
- Place a small plate on top of the ramekin and quickly turn it onto a plate.
- Sprinkle some icing sugar on top and decorate with raspberries and mint.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- Click on the US Customary link to see the measurements displayed in cups and ounces.
- The servings can be adjusted by clicking the number next to Servings.
- Don't bake them for longer than 10 minutes, otherwise the centre won't be gooey anymore.
Nutrition
Andrea | Cooking with a Wallflower says
Oh my gosh! I need this molten lava cake in my life ASAP! Happy FF!
Daniela Apostol says
Thank you ? Happy FF to you too! I know, what would we do without chocolate?
Daniela Apostol says
Thank you very much ?
Ginger says
Thank you for persevering - you've almost convinced me to try them myself! They look amazing!
Thank you for bringing these along to Fiesta Friday!
Ginger x
Daniela Apostol says
Thank you, l am glad you like them. Practice makes perfect ?
Julie at Hostess At Heart says
I love to bake, and I haven't been able to successfully make these cakes yet. I think I over bake them? Your lava cake is perfect!
Daniela Apostol says
Thank you very much for your kind message. Indeed, these cakes can be a bit tricky and timing is crucial. They should not be left more than 11-12 minutes maximum, so after 9 minutes l keep checking the oven until l feel they can be safely turned upside down. I did try a few times before l got the result l was after. But then, they are so delicious, so l did not mind trying over and over again ?
I hope yours will come out looking perfect! ?
Loretta says
Just gorgeous, love these miniature molten lava cakes, although I'll have to admit, I could eat more than one at a time 🙂
Daniela Apostol says
Thank you! I know, l cannot possibly have only one either, but then it would be rude not to have more ?
Shreyashi says
This looks beyond delicious. Sharing it everywhere. 🙂
Daniela Apostol says
Thank you very much, very nice of you! ?
mopana says
Delicios 🙂 Yummy!
Daniela Apostol says
Thanks!
Creative Crafts DIY says
toothsome........:-)
DanielaApostol says
Thank you ?
Creative Crafts DIY says
You're welcome 🙂
Lynz Real Cooking says
looks amazing!
DanielaApostol says
Thank you! ?
Lynz Real Cooking says
yummm
DanielaApostol says
I'm sure you'll like them ?
milliethom says
I'd better not show this recipe to one of my daughters who's a virtual chocoholic! These look absolutely delicious. i'll have to read through your recipe carefully to see how that middle part is created. It looks as though it's self-saucing! 🙂
DanielaApostol says
l always tell myself that l deserve chocolate for having made it through a very busy day in one piece ?
The cake is yummy!
milliethom says
I've copied the recipe and intend to make those yummy looking cakes very soon 🙂
Pat says
Chocolate is always a good idea but it’s even better when it’s valentine. This recipe looks amazing we have to try it 😋