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Desserts

Chocolate Lava Cake

These individual chocolate lava cakes have a warm, gooey chocolate center that oozes out when you cut in. An impressive dessert that's actually very easy to make!

E
Emma Davis
·February 14, 2026·134,521 views
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Chocolate Lava Cake
🔪Prep Time15 min
🍳Cook Time12 min
⏱️Total Time27 min
🍽️Servings4
📊DifficultyMedium
🔥Calories450
5.0(2,891 ratings)

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Ingredients

4 servings
  • 4 oz dark chocolate (70% cocoa), chopped
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • Powdered sugar and vanilla ice cream, to serve

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 425°F. Generously butter four 6-oz ramekins and dust with cocoa powder.

  2. 2

    Melt chocolate and butter together over a double boiler or in microwave in 30-second intervals. Stir until smooth.

  3. 3

    Whisk eggs, egg yolks, and sugar together until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.

  4. 4

    Add chocolate mixture, vanilla, and salt to eggs. Sift in flour and fold gently until just combined.

  5. 5

    Divide batter among ramekins. Can refrigerate at this point for up to 24 hours.

  6. 6

    Bake for 12-14 minutes until edges are firm but center jiggles slightly. Invert onto plates immediately and serve with ice cream.

💡 Pro Tips

Timing is Everything

The difference between lava cake and regular chocolate cake is just a few minutes. Watch them closely and underbake slightly.

Make Ahead

Prepare batter and fill ramekins up to 24 hours ahead. Keep refrigerated and bake straight from the fridge (add 1-2 extra minutes).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why didn't my lava cake have a molten center?
It was likely overbaked. Reduce baking time by 1-2 minutes. Every oven is different, so do a test run first.