Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes (with ganache center)
These mini chocolate molten lava cakes have a rich chocolate cake with an oozing chocolate ganache center! They're the perfect romantic dessert for Valentine's Day, a birthday, or date night!
Servings 4
Calories 721kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
Chocolate Ganache
- 4 ounces dark chocolate finely chopped
- ¼ cup heavy cream or whole milk
Lava Cakes
- 8 ounces dark chocolate finely chopped
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon espresso powder optional
- pinch kosher salt
Top With
- powdered sugar
- vanilla ice cream
- fresh berries
Instructions
Chocolate Ganache
- Finely chop the dark chocolate and add to a microwave safe bowl along with the heavy cream.
- Microwave in intervals of 20 seconds, until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth.
- Chill in the fridge for at least an hour, or until the ganache is firm enough to be shaped into balls.
- If you don't want to make the ganache, you can substitute Lindt chocolate truffles! Just pop a few in the fridge for an hour and use in place of the ganache.
Mini Lava Cakes
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Prepare your 6 ounce ramekins by greasing with butter and then lightly dusting the inside with flour. Be sure to tap out the excess.
- Finely chop the dark chocolate and add to a large microwave safe bowl along with the butter. Microwave in intervals of 30 seconds or until melted. Let cool slightly.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar. Then slowly whisk into the chocolate mixture.
- Add in the flour, espresso powder, and salt and mix until just combined.
- Fill the prepared ramekins about ⅓ of the way full. Then place a 1 tablespoon ball of ganache into the middle of the batter. Top with more batter until the molds are ⅔ of the way full.
- Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes or until the cakes are set.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 2 minutes.
- To remove, place a small plate on top of the ramekin, then flip over and gently tap the base until the cake slides out. [Instead of removing from the ramekins, you can also just grab a spoon and dig in!]
- If desired, dust the cakes with powdered sugar and serve with vanilla ice cream and fresh berries.
Notes
Store chocolate lava cakes in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds to make the center melty again.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 721kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 30g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 202mg | Sodium: 68mg | Potassium: 477mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 934IU | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 8mg