Warm Chocolate Lava Cakes
Individual chocolate cakes with delicate baked edges and a warm molten chocolate center.
🍽 4 servings
⏱ Prep: 15 min
🔥 Cook: 12 min
⏰ Total: 25 min
📊 Medium
Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 115g (4 oz) bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- 115g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 2 large egg yolks
- 50g (1/4 cup) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 30g (1/4 cup) all-purpose flour
- butter and cocoa powder, for ramekins
- powdered sugar or berries, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F.
- Butter four 6-ounce ramekins thoroughly.
- Dust lightly with cocoa powder and tap out excess.
- Melt chocolate and butter together over a double boiler or in short microwave intervals.
- Stir until completely smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk whole eggs, egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, and salt until well combined and slightly lighter.
- Slowly whisk the warm chocolate mixture into the eggs.
- Fold in flour just until no dry streaks remain.
- Divide evenly among ramekins.
- Place ramekins on a sheet pan.
- Bake approximately 9-12 minutes.
- The outer edges should be set while the centers remain noticeably soft.
- Rest for 1 minute.
- Carefully run a thin knife around the edge.
- Invert each cake onto a serving plate.
- Serve immediately.
- Add powdered sugar or berries if desired.
Chef's Notes
TIMING IS EVERYTHING: Lava cakes depend on intentionally underbaking the center while setting the outside. RAMEKIN SIZE: Cooking time can change significantly with different ramekin dimensions.