How to Make Chocolate Lava Cake

Delicious chocolate lava cakes are easy to make and easily made ahead of time! This warm chocolate cake is chocolate heaven, wow your loved one with a homemade chocolate lava cake.

I think I had to be about 15 or so when I first discovered a chocolate lava cake. Needless to say, my life was changed. I used to take my younger sister for dinner dates and there was one restaurant we loved, purely for the chocolate lava cake. She is almost six years younger than me so she's always been kinda like my baby too, so dinner dates were our favorite but only if they consisted of chocolate lava cake. Or New York Cheesecake.

Most restaurants do a decent job at the cake but you know where the struggle? The ice cream part- like hello I don't want a tiny scoop that is really only enough for 2 bites when there is at least 6 bites in the cake. It infuriates me, I know take a chill pill. But it's the same with pie, like who wants a tiny scoop of ice cream for your pie, not me! I worked in the restaurant industry for 15 years and let me tell you I always gave a generous scoop of ice cream!

Okay enough about my ice cream to dessert ratio troubles. Chocolate lava cake is ridiculously easy to make and you can make the batter ahead of time and just store it in the fridge before baking. Making chocolate lava cake perfect for a dinner party. This recipe is for two lava cakes but by all means feel free to double or triple it! You can even make them into smaller ones and bake them in a cupcake tray.

I would advise baking these just before serving, you can pre-bake them and warm them up in the microwave but kinda like croissants it's just not the same.

Oh and please, I beg of you, serve a generous scoop of ice cream 😉

Let's get to the recipe.

Jump to:

• What is molten lava cake
• What are the ingredients
• How do you make easy chocolate lava cake
• How long do you cook a molten lava cake
• How do you know when lava cake is done
• Does molten lava cake need to be refrigerated
• Recipe Card
• Recipe Ratings & Comments

What is molten lava cake

Also known as chocolate moelleux, or melt in the middle pudding, chocolate molten lava cake is kind of like if a chocolate souffle and chocolate cake had a baby. The outer ½" inch or so is the texture of a cake and the inner part is gooey melty chocolate. Pure heaven.

What are the ingredients

• Semi-Sweet/ Dark Chocolate (Ideally 60%+) 
• Unsalted Butter
• Egg + Egg Yolks
• Instant Espresso Powder - this is optional you won't taste the espresso flavor but it does enhance the chocolate flavor, so if you have it use it if you don't have any on hand don' t stress!
• Pure Vanilla Extract
• Powdered/ Icing Sugar
• All-Purpose Flour- just a tiny bit of flour to bind everything together

How do you make easy chocolate lava cake

The beauty of making a chocolate lava cake is it only takes a few ingredients and a few minutes. You can even prep, pour the batter into the ramekins, and refrigerate until you are ready to bake them.

If you are going to bake these babies right away then preheat your oven to 425F/218C and heavily grease two 8oz ramekins. 

In a large bowl either place over a double boiler (place a small pot with a small amount of simmering water and place a bowl on top of the pot- making sure it is not touching the water- the steam will melt the chocolate and butter) OR in a microwave melt the chopped chocolate and butter together, just until the chocolate and butter have melted.

Then whisk in the espresso powder and vanilla extract.  You do not *have* to use the espresso powder but it just gives the lava cakes that something extra. You know like Elle Woods does with her resume- she sprays perfume on it? Anyways you won't taste the espresso flavor it just enhances the chocolate notes.

Next whisk in the egg and egg yolks. Then mix in the powdered sugar and finally gently fold in the flour. 

Evenly divide the lava cake batter between both ramekins and place on a baking tray.

How long do you cook a molten lava cake

Bake for 12 minutes and check, you want the outer ½inch to be baked and look set and the inner part of the cake to be jiggly- be careful not to overbake.

How do you know when lava cake is done

The outer ¼-1/2 inch rim of the cake looks set and baked but the middle is still very jiggly. If you don't have the jiggle you won't have the melty chocolate center, so it is important not to over bake.

When the lava cake is done let it cool for 5 minutes before using a towel to invert the cake on to a serving plate.

Top with vanilla ice cream and fresh berries- serve immediately. 

Does molten lava cake need to be refrigerated

If you are prepping the lava cakes ahead of time then yes store them in the fridge, and if you have leftover lava cake yes store it in the fridge. But molten chocolate lava cakes are best right after they are baked, I do not recommend baking them ahead of time. But save leftovers for sure!!

If you want to bake a chocolate cake ahead of time try my Better than Sex Cake! OR try my chocolate cheesecake recipe.

Fancy some more lava cakes? Try my:

• Nutella Lava Cake
• Cookie Butter Lava Cake

★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!

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