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Easy Lava Cake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 142 reviews

This Easy Lava Cake recipe offers a simple and quick way to enjoy the rich, gooey center of classic molten chocolate cake. Made with quality dark chocolate and cake flour, it yields individual mini lava cakes cooked on the stovetop for a perfectly molten middle without the need for an oven.

Ingredients

Scale

Chocolate Mixture

  • ¾ cup good quality dark chocolate chips (e.g., Ghirardelli)
  • ¼ cup whole milk

Dry Ingredients

  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup cake flour
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Wet Ingredients

  • ¾ cup whole milk (room temperature)
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For Finishing

  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (for dusting, use a sifter)
  • Vanilla ice cream (optional garnish)
  • Chocolate syrup (optional drizzle garnish)

Instructions

  1. Melt the Chocolate: Place the dark chocolate chips in a small heat-safe bowl. Heat ¼ cup whole milk in the microwave for 30 seconds, then pour it slowly over the chocolate. Let it sit a few seconds, then stir until smooth and fully melted. Refrigerate the mixture for 20 minutes to cool and thicken.
  2. Combine Dry Ingredients: Sift together the ¾ cup powdered sugar, ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda into a medium mixing bowl to ensure even distribution and remove lumps.
  3. Add Flour and Salt: Whisk the cake flour and kosher salt into the dry mixture until well combined.
  4. Add Wet Ingredients: Pour in ¾ cup room temperature whole milk, ½ cup vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Fold the ingredients gently until the batter is smooth and homogenous.
  5. Prepare the Pan: Remove the cooled chocolate mixture from the refrigerator. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the cups of an Appe pan with vegetable oil. Heat the pan over medium-low heat.
  6. Assemble the Cakes: Fill each cake cup about two-thirds full (approximately 1 tablespoon) with the chocolate batter. Scoop about ⅔ teaspoon of the chilled dark chocolate mixture and place it in the center of the batter in each cup. Cover the chocolate with a little more batter to fully enclose the molten middle.
  7. Cook the Cakes: Cover the pan with its lid and cook the cakes for 5 to 7 minutes over medium-low heat. Carefully flip each mini cake using a spoon or butter knife, cover again, and cook for an additional 1 minute to finish cooking the other side.
  8. Serve: Gently remove the lava cakes from the pan and place them on a serving plate. Dust with powdered sugar using a sifter. Optionally, drizzle with chocolate syrup and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra indulgence.

Notes

  • Use good quality dark chocolate for the best melt and flavor.
  • Be careful when flipping the lava cakes to keep the molten center intact.
  • Cooking times may vary depending on your stove’s heat; watch closely to avoid burning.
  • If you don’t have an Appe pan, use a small nonstick skillet or any pan with small indentations.
  • Let the chocolate mixture chill well to create a perfect molten center.

Keywords: lava cake, molten chocolate cake, easy dessert, stovetop lava cake, mini lava cakes, chocolate dessert, quick chocolate cake

Find it online: https://kitchenbyclara.com/easy-lava-cake-recipe/