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Indulgent Chocolate Lava Cakes

There’s truly nothing like the experience of indulging in a molten chocolate lava cake. The moment you break into the cake and watch the rich, silky filling ooze onto the plate is pure bliss. If you’re looking to impress at your next dinner party or simply satisfy a sudden chocolate craving, this recipe is perfect.

This classic French dessert, known as gâteau coulant au chocolat, turns a few simple ingredients into a luxurious treat. What’s even better is how easy it is to whip up at home in just 30 minutes!

Chocolate lava cake dusted with powdered sugar and garnished with fresh berries.

Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Lava Cake

Restaurant Quality: With this luxurious lava cake recipe, you can impress your guests with results that rival fine dining, all while keeping it budget-friendly.

Quick & Easy: From start to finish, these delicious cakes can be ready in under 30 minutes. They are fantastic for those impromptu gatherings or when you simply can’t resist dessert.

Intense Chocolate Flavor: Each bite is packed with rich, chocolatey goodness that will have you craving more.

Ingredients

Chocolate: Bittersweet chocolate is my go-to, but semi-sweet works beautifully too. Be sure to choose a high-quality chocolate like Ghirardelli or Callebaut for the best results.
Unsalted Butter: This ingredient adds richness and helps achieve the tender texture that’s essential for these cakes.
Eggs & Egg Yolks: Whole eggs provide structure, while the additional yolks add a level of richness that creates that signature gooey center.
Granulated Sugar: This sweetens the cakes without introducing excess moisture.
Salt: Just a pinch enhances the chocolate flavor, balancing the sweetness wonderfully.
All-Purpose Flour: This provides a necessary binding effect, yielding a light structure that still allows for that molten center.
Cocoa Powder: Use cocoa powder to dust the ramekins, ensuring that the cakes don’t stick.

Chocolate lava cake batter inside a white ramekin.

How to Make Chocolate Lava Cake

These delightful chocolate lava cakes really strike the perfect balance between a soft, cake-like exterior and a velvety, molten interior, making them sure to captivate any guest. Let’s dive into the simple steps to create this showstopper dessert!

1. Preheat the Oven

Set your oven to 425°F (220°C). While that’s heating up, prepare four 6-ounce ramekins by coating them with cooking spray and dusting them with cocoa powder. Place them on a baking sheet.

2. Melt the Chocolate and Butter

In a heatproof bowl, combine the chocolate and butter. Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth. Allow it to cool slightly while you move to the next step.

3. Beat the Sugar, Eggs, and Yolks

In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to beat together the granulated sugar, whole eggs, and additional egg yolks for 2-3 minutes. The mixture should become pale and thick.

4. Fold in the Chocolate Mixture

Carefully fold the cooled chocolate mixture into the beaten eggs. Sprinkle the flour and salt on top, then gently fold until everything is just combined. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared ramekins.

5. Bake

Put the ramekins in the oven and bake for 9-12 minutes. You want the edges to be firm while the centers remain a bit jiggly.

6. Invert and Serve

Once baked, carefully run a knife around the edges to loosen the cakes. Invert them onto serving plates and enjoy with a dusting of powdered sugar, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a handful of fresh berries. Indulge in the rich, molten goodness!

Lava cake with melted chocolate filling on a plate.

Tips For the Best Chocolate Lava Cake

Making these delectable cakes for dinner parties, date nights, or simply to quell a craving is always a good idea! Although they may seem like an indulgence, the hardest part is resisting the urge to eat them all yourself. Here are some helpful tips to ensure they turn out perfectly:

Melt the Chocolate Gently: Chocolate can burn quickly, so be sure to use short bursts in the microwave or try melting it in a double boiler over low heat.
Mix Gently: After beating the eggs, switch to using a spatula. Fold the mixture until no streaks of flour remain to avoid over-mixing.
Watch the Fill Level: Fill the ramekins only about 3/4 full to give the cakes room to rise as they bake.
Monitor the Bake Time: Oven times can vary, so begin checking around the 9-minute mark. The edges should be set, but the center should still be soft when pressed.
Experiment with Toppings: Elevate your lava cakes with creative toppings like pistachio gelato, fruit compote, or coffee whipped cream for an extra special touch!
Chill or Freeze the Batter: If you’re planning ahead, prepare the batter in advance. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours or frozen for a month. Just be sure to thaw before baking.

Lava cake dusted with powdered sugar and garnished with fresh berries and a scoop of ice cream.

How to Store

Let’s be honest: Lava cakes are so delicious you might not have any leftovers! However, in the chance that you do, here’s how to store them:

To Store: Keep baked and cooled lava cakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.

To Freeze: Wrap the cooled cakes tightly in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months, just remember to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

To Reheat: Bake leftover cakes at 350°F (175°C) for 6-8 minutes until warmed through, or air fry for 3-4 minutes. You can also use the microwave in 20-second intervals until heated.