Molten Chocolate Cake is such a delicious classic! It’s moist and so chocolaty and when you cut into it, luscious chocolate oozes out! This is the perfect recipe for an easy yet fancy dessert.
Chocolate is the key to happiness. Bet most of you agree with me, am I right?
I’ve always been a chocolate person. My favorite snack is a bite of dark chocolate and I can never say no to a creamy yet light chocolate mousse. There are so many chocolate recipes on the blog such as chocolate magic cake (one of my favorites!), chewy double chocolate cookies and quick and easy brownie recipe, which is perfect for those days when you have a chocolate craving out of the blue.
But above all is this molten chocolate cake that owns its own special place in my heart. This delicious chocolate delicacy is also called chocolate lava cake or molten lava cake and it’s one of the most popular chocolate desserts out there. You’re likely to see it on the menu of a fancy restaurant. But, these little bites of heaven are so easy to make that when you try the recipe once, you won’t be able to stop making it!
I mean, look at this. Look at that ooey gooey chocolate oozing out calling your name. Who can say no?
How to make molten chocolate lava cake
Start with coating the ramekins with non stick spray. Melt chocolate and butter in a bowl until smooth. Whisk in the sugar and and the eggs until 100% incorporated. Finish with flour and cocoa powder and divide the batter between the two ramekins. Bake in the oven for exactly thirteen minutes and then let them cool for two minutes. Loosen the cakes from the edges with a butter knife, invert into a plate and serve immediately.
This molten chocolate cake recipe is so easy to make even a baking rookie can whip it up in no time. It was one of the very first desserts I made when I started baking years and years ago. The soft exterior and the ooey gooey lava like center makes this dessert look as if you’ve spent so much time perfecting it in the kitchen but the truth is, it has probably taken less than thirty minutes to put it together.
Can I make molten lava cake ahead of time?
Yes! You can make the batter before hand, divide it between ramekins and and when you start preheating the oven, take them out of the fridge and place them on the counter to come to room temperature and then bake them in the oven. You can also divide the batter between ramekins right before baking them.
Remember when I told you how we are going to celebrate V-day? Molten chocolate lava cake is going to be our dessert. It’s easy, classic and unbelievably delicious. Most importantly, it’s my favorite! If I could have 4 of them myself, I would. But oh well, health reasons. Why do calories exist, really?
Is it possible to make molten chocolate lava cake for a crowd?
Totally! This is a recipe for molten chocolate cake for two but you can easily multiple it to make it for more people. You can either use several ramekins or a muffin tin. If using ramekins, bake the lava cakes for thirteen minutes but if you’re going to use a muffin tin, reduce the baking time to nine minutes.
Molten lava cake may appear to be a difficult, fancy dessert, but if you follow the steps carefully this will become your “go to” cake recipe as it’s ready in 13 minutes and we all know that no chocolate craving will vanish after 13 minutes!
And you know what else is awesome about this molten chocolate lava cake? You can easily reheat it in the microwave and still have the gooey runny chocolate center! Just reheat the cake for twenty to forty seconds and you’ll have a delicious chocolate treat!
When it’s possible to make such fantastic key of happiness at home, why bother getting a frozen one? I mean, do you like frozen happiness? No one likes frozen happiness. Unless it’s frozen yogurt, but then that’s joy, which is different from happiness. Don’t judge me: I’m in a chocolate coma, because I had this amazing chocolate lava cake.
Notes and tips to make molten chocolate cake
- Instead of using a non stick spray, you can coat the ramekins with butter and dust cocoa powder at the bottom and the walls of the ramekin.
- You can serve chocolate lava cake with ice cream, whipped cream, strawberries or raspberries.
- To save time, make the batter ahead of time and bake it in the ramekins right before serving. Make sure the batter is at room temperature.
- Thirteen minutes is the perfect timing to make sure the lava cake is firm on the outside and on the inside!
Tools used in Molten Chocolate Lava Cake recipe:
More Chocolate Deliciousness for you:
- Brownie Peppermint Cheesecake Bars
- Chocolate Pudding Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups
- Double Chocolate Walnut Skillet Brownie
- Ooey Gooey S’mores Brownies
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Dump Cake
- Surprise Snickers Stuffed Brownies
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Molten Chocolate Cake
Molten Chocolate Cake is such a delicious classic! It's moist and so chocolaty and when you cut into it, luscious chocolate oozes out!
Ingredients
- 2 oz semi sweet chocolate I used baking chocolate
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 3 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400 F.
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Coat 2 ramekins with non-stick spray.
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Melt chocolate and butter in microwave until smooth.
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Add powdered sugar and stir.
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Add egg and egg yolk and mix completely.
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Add flour and cocoa powder and stir until incorporated.
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Divide between the ramekins and bake for 13 minutes until firm on the edges and jiggly in the center.
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Let cool for 2 minutes, loosen the cake from the edges and invert it onto a serving plate.
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Top with some powdered sugar.
I’m with you….chocolate is total happiness 🙂
Indeed it is 😀
These photos are gorgeous, Shadi, and that cake is calling my name!! It looks so delicious. I could definitely devour one myself 🙂
Thank you Rachel! All the tips you gave me and practice is paying off 😀 i can easily have 3 of these myself!
YUM! This looks SOOOO decadent and delicious! This is my favorite dessert to order at a restaurant!
Thank you Rachel! We love it too!
Beautiful photos! Your cakes look perfect and that chocolate center just divine. I wish I had one right now! 🙂
Thank you so much Amanda! What I love about it is that it’s just so easy!
This looks perfect for a special occasion
Thank you so much!
No way I could say no to these! Wow! Are you serious that they’re ready so quickly? I’m definitely going to give these a try — beautiful!
15-20 minutes is all you need! Let me know how you like it!
OMG these look so good. I love these types of desserts…so yummy!! Nice pictures too.
Thank you Gloria! It’s easy too! 😀
That strawberry is too perfect to be real! I can see me taking that beautiful berry and dipping it into the luscious sauce. MMMMMMM!! Good!! Great recipe — wish I had it for tomorrow. Pinning!!
Thank you Marisa! The strawberries were really good as you said! I got lucky! 😀
OMG this looks DIVINE!
Thank you so much!
I have never made or eaten a lava cake. This one is so pretty, I have to try one now!
I’m sure you will love it! It’s so easy!
I’m a lifelong addict of chocolate and this post only reinforces my position! Thanks so much for this dreamy dessert; I’m loving it!!!
Glad you like it, we made it again and loved it as much!
I made it, the amount mentioned in the receipe is perfect for two people.. Its really tasty.. If you have smaller molds then u need to let it in oven for shorter period.. Thank you Shadi ?
Glad you liked it Ati! It’s one of our favorites!! <3 :*
what is the replacement for egg and egg yolk
Hi! I know in many cases you can substitute eggs with 2tbsp water but here is a recipe for eggless version of this cake just in case 🙂 http://aromatic-cooking.blogspot.in/2012/11/eggless-molten-lava-cake.html
These were AMAZING! I had one and my daughter had the other. When she finished, she asked if there were more!
Thank you for a yummy recipe that is a “keeper”!
Hi Patty! I’m SO HAPPY you liked it! It’s one of my very favorite recipes, oh so good!
Would it be okay to double the recipe? I’d like 4 cakes.
Sure! You can easily double this recipe 🙂
Oh man, I just made these today. I whipped it up and set it aside and once the family sat down to eat I put them in the oven. I had them on a plate ready to be served by the time we finished dinner. I didn’t have ramekins so I used a cupcake tin from ikea. It made 3 perfect lava cakes & they cooked in about 9 minuets. They were so gooey and yummy. I’ll definitely have to make them again
Hi Vanessa! It’s great to hear you loved these cakes!
I’ve made this three times now and doubled it the last two times. It comes out delicious and decadent every time!
Next time, a plop of ice cream on top is something we want to try! Great recipe, thanks for sharing it!
Hi Suzanne! Super happy to hear you like this recipe! It’s a family favorite and we love it, too! Ice cream on top sounds fabulous!
Hi!
I’m hosting a dinner party and would like to make these. However, I would like to serve them straight out of the oven without having to prepare the dessert while my guests are over. Can I prepare the dessert like 1 hour before they arrive and have the filling sitting in the ramekins for a few hours at room temperature before placing them in the oven once dinner is done? Will the filling still pour out as it’s supposed to if the batter sits at room temperature for a few hours?
Hi Katherine! Yes, you can make the batter beforehand and divide them between ramekins but I suggest you keep them in the fridge and when you preheat the oven, take them out of the fridge and have them sit on the counter until the oven is hot. Enjoy!
Thank you so much Shadi! I really appreciate it!!!
Hi Shadi,
If I double the recipe to 4 ramekins, do I need to double the time as well or is 13 minutes still okay?
Hi Katherine,
The baking time will still be 13 minutes as long as there are four ramekins if you double the recipe. Enjoy 🙂
Thank you!!!!