How to Make the Perfect Chocolate Lava Cake
French-American · Easy · 22 min · 4 servings
Chocolate Lava Cake is a show stopping kid friendly dessert with a warm gooey chocolate center that kids go absolutely crazy for. It takes just minutes to prepare and bake making it perfect for a fun family dessert night.
Why this recipe works
This Chocolate Lava Cake recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 22 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 420 calories with 6g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 7 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter
- 2 whole large eggs
- 2 whole egg yolks
- 0.25 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Melt Chocolate and Butter
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease 4 ramekins with butter and dust with cocoa powder. Melt chocolate chips and butter together in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals stirring until smooth.
Step 2: Mix the Batter
In a separate bowl whisk together eggs egg yolks and sugar until pale and slightly thick. Stir the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Fold in flour and vanilla extract until just combined.
Step 3: Bake the Cakes
Divide the batter evenly among the 4 prepared ramekins. Bake at 425 degrees F for 12 minutes until the edges are set but the center still jiggles slightly when gently shaken.
Step 4: Serve Immediately
Let the cakes cool in the ramekins for 1 minute then carefully invert onto serving plates. Serve immediately while the center is still warm and molten. Top with powdered sugar or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- semisweet chocolate chips → milk chocolate chips for a sweeter kid friendly version
- ramekins → a greased muffin tin for easy individual portions
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Overbaking the cakes which sets the center and eliminates the lava effect
- Not greasing the ramekins well enough causing the cakes to stick when inverting
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 420 calories, 6g protein, 38g carbs, 28g fat, 2g fiber.
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