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    Home » Whole Food Recipes » Best Desserts

    November 14, 2017 | By Jami

    Quick And Easy Chocolate Lava Cakes

    Jump to Recipe

    Chocolate lava cakes are a fabulous dessert with an oozing dark chocolate inside and a crispy brownie outside that melts in your mouth. Plus, you won't believe how quick and easy they are to make!

    Quick and Easy Chocolate Lava Cakes

    Chocolate lava cakes are one of the most fabulous desserts I know of with their gooey dark chocolate centers and crispy brownie-like outsides. It's serious chocolate goodness all wrapped up in an elegant presentation when baked in ramekins.

    But - would you believe it if I told you that they take about 10 minutes to make and just 14 minutes to bake? It's true! Goodness - that something so good should be so easy is like a little chocolate miracle, right?

    It's because of that combo of quick yet special that lava cakes are my go-to dessert recipe for entertaining. I have made these many, many times and they remain a family (and whoever is at our table) favorite.

    There are fussy recipes out there which have you shape balls out of ganache for the centers, or fill a pan with water to cook the ramekins in, but you can probably guess that my recipe is not like that. I'm all about simplicity, and I regularly look for the easiest route to an end product- as long as it doesn't affect that end product.

    And I can tell you, with conviction, that the simpleness of this recipe does not affect the end product at all...no sireee.

    Individual Chocolate Lava Cakes

    Easy Lava Cakes-dusting with cocoa powder

    Some links in this article are affiliate links and if you click on them I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

    The recipe makes four half-cup sized ramekins. I used to make larger cakes, but they are really rich, so I cut the recipe down to fit into half-cup sizes. (You can use larger sized ramekins if that's what you have, the batter will only come to 3/4 or half full, but will bake and unmold the same if well prepared.)

    One of my secrets to making it easy to unmold the cakes after cooking (which isn't really a secret- just good practice) is to generously brush the insides of the ramekins with butter - making sure to get ALL the crevices. Then dust the cups with cocoa powder (not flour) so that there are no white particles when the cakes are released after cooking.

    And more chocolate is always a good thing in my book.

    Easy Lava Cakes in ramekin

    After prepping the ramekins, continue with the recipe, mixing the batter and dividing it between the cups. Bake until the top looks set - just make sure to bake the cakes right before you want to eat them, as they are gooiest when warm.

    Make-Ahead Tip: Since there's no baking powder in the recipe, you can make the batter about an hour in advance and leave them on the counter while you prepare the meal. As you are sitting down to eat dinner, pop the cakes into the oven to cook so that they are perfectly warm when it's time for dessert. You can also cover the ramekins with plastic wrap and refrigerate for longer before baking - even overnight.

    Releasing Easy Lava Cakes

    Unmold the cakes by inverting the ramekins onto individual dessert plates within about 5 minutes of removing from the oven. Lift off the ramekin carefully using a hot pad - but as long as you butter and dust the insides of the cups, they'll just come right out. They really are easy all the way around!

    Easy Lava Cakes-dusting with cocoa

    I like to dust with more cocoa powder - you could use powdered sugar or drizzle with homemade chocolate syrup as well. Sometimes we even add a scoop of ice cream- but really not very often, as these are so rich.

    Gooey Inside of Easy Lava Cakes

    They're so unassuming when served, but as soon as the hidden center "lava" is opened, the oohs and aahs start. And when the first bite is taken...

    Quick and Easy Lava Cakes

    Well, let's just say you better be ready with the recipe!

    East Lava Cakes
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    5 from 1 vote

    Quick And Easy Lava Cakes

    A fabulous melt-in-your-mouth dessert of oozing dark chocolate inside with a crispy brownie outside.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time15 mins
    Total Time30 mins
    Course: Desserts
    Cuisine: American
    Yield: 4
    Author: Jami Boys

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 cup chopped chocolate or chocolate chips (bittersweet or semisweet) (3½ ounces)
    • 1/3 cup butter plus more for greasing
    • 1/2 cup sugar
    • 3 tablespoons flour*
    • 2 eggs
    • cocoa powder for dusting

    Instructions

    • Heat oven to 400 degrees (if you are cooking right away). Generously grease the inside of four ½ cup ramekins with softened butter and dust with cocoa powder, tapping out any excess.
    • Melt the chocolate and butter together how you like - using a double boiler, or in the microwave. I prefer the microwave, using a 4 cup glass measure and heating for 45 seconds, then whisking until smooth. If using a double boiler, transfer the chocolate mixture to a medium sized bowl.
    • Stir in the sugar and flour. Then add the eggs and whisk until everything is incorporated.
    • Divide the batter evenly between the cups (they will be about 3/4 full) and set the cups on a small cookie sheet to make it easy to go in and out of the oven. See note for make ahead option.**
    • Bake for 15 minutes until tops are firm and edges are set. Invert immediately (or at least within five minutes) onto individual serving plates. Dust with additional cocoa powder, if desired.

    Notes

    *I use whole wheat pastry flour. A 1:1 gluten free flour will also work.
    **To Make Ahead: At this point, the cakes can be set aside at room temperature for an hour or so. Then simply bake them while you're eating so that they will be ready (and gooiest!) when you want to serve dessert. They can even be make the day before and kept, covered with plastic, in the refrigerator. When you're ready to serve them, let them sit on the counter at room temperature while the oven heats and then bake as directed.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 397kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 182mg | Potassium: 30mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 642IU | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @anoregoncottage or tag #anoregoncottage!

    Other Quick Delicious Desserts You May Like:

    Chocolate Chip Ice Cream without a machine
    No Churn Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

     

    Berry crisp with Big Crumb Topping

    Berry Crisps with Big Crumb Topping

     

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups - An Oregon Cottage

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups

     

     

     

     

     

    Disclosure: affiliate links in this post will earn commission based on sales, but it doesn't change your price.  Click here to read my full disclaimer and advertising disclosure.

     

    About Jami

    Since 2009 Jami Boys has been helping readers live a simple homemade life through whole food recipes, doable gardening, and easy DIY projects on An Oregon Cottage. From baking bread, to creating a floor from paper, to growing and preserving food, Jami shares the easiest ways to get things done. She's been featured in Cottages and Bungalows, Old House Journal, and First for Women magazines as well as numerous sites like Good Housekeeping, Huffington Post, and Apartment Therapy.

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    Hi, I'm Jami and I'm so glad you're here! My goal is to help you live a simple homemade life on your terms: cooking delicious real food, painless gardening, and making easy things that are totally worth your time. 

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