Molten Chocolate Cakes
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.
Molten chocolate cakes, also known as lava cakes, are rich individual chocolate cakes with oozing molten centers.
Molten chocolate cakes—also known as chocolate lava cakes—are a dream for chocolate lovers: rich, individual chocolate cakes with irresistibly molten centers. The original recipe was created by master chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten fortuitously, when he pulled a chocolate cake out of the oven before it was done and discovered the center to be enticingly warm and pudding-like. Surprisingly, molten chocolate cakes are easy enough for even the novice baker to make at home. What’s more, they can be prepared ahead of time, stored in the fridge, and then baked at the last minute. The key is to serve them right out of the oven; if they sit too long after baking, the molten centers will cook through.
“I made this for a dinner party, and it turned out perfectly…All my guests raved about it, and it is a wonderful stress-free dessert because it can be made ahead of time.”
What You’ll Need To Make Molten Chocolate Cakes
- Butter: Gives the cakes a rich flavor and smooth texture, plus more for buttering the ramekins.
- Bittersweet Chocolate: Bittersweet chocolate offers a deep, rich chocolate taste. The quality of chocolate significantly impacts the flavor of the cakes, so use a high-quality brand, such as Ghirardelli or Guittard—it makes a difference!
- Eggs + Egg Yolks: Provide structure and richness to the cakes. The additional yolks make the cakes extra rich.
- Light Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and a hint of molasses flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds warmth and complements the chocolate flavor.
- Salt: A small amount helps balance the sweetness and intensify the chocolate flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour: Gives the cakes structure, but only a small amount is used to keep them moist and fudgy.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
You’ll need six oven-proof 6-ounce ramekins for the recipe, which you can find at any kitchen store. If you have ramekins that are slightly larger, the recipe is still doable, but you’ll likely need to add a minute or two from the baking time (and this will also impact the number of servings you get from the batter).
Begin by buttering the ramekins liberally to ensure the cakes release easily.
Melt one stick of butter and add the chopped chocolate to a medium bowl.
Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth. If a few chunks of chocolate remain, place the bowl back in the microwave for 20 seconds, then stir again.
In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, brown sugar, salt, and vanilla extract.
Beat until pale and thick, about 4 minutes.
Add the flour and melted chocolate mixture (the chocolate mixture sinks to the bottom).
Gently fold to combine.
It will deflate a bit—that’s okay.
Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared ramekins.
Bake for 10 minutes in a 450°F oven.
They’ll puff up just over the edge of the ramekins when done. Be sure not to overcook them, or the centers won’t be molten. Let the cakes sit in the ramekins for a minute, then carefully invert them onto plates.
Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve with vanilla ice cream or sweetened whipped cream and fresh berries.
Make-Ahead Instructions
The batter can be spooned into the ramekins, covered, and refrigerated for several hours before baking. Take them out of the fridge about 30 minutes before baking so they come to room temperature, and proceed with the recipe.
You may also like
Molten Chocolate Cakes
Molten chocolate cakes, also known as lava cakes, are rich individual chocolate cakes with oozing molten centers.
Ingredients
- 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, plus more for buttering the ramekins
- 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped, best quality such as Ghirardelli
- 2 large eggs
- 2 large egg yolks
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
For Serving (optional)
- Confectioners' sugar
- Vanilla ice cream
- Sweetened whipped cream
- Berries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Generously butter six 6-ounce ramekins (really be generous, and do not substitute non-stick cooking spray). Set the ramekins on a baking sheet.
- Melt the butter in a medium bowl in the microwave. Immediately add the chopped chocolate and stir until the chocolate is completely smooth and melted. If a few chunks remain, place the bowl back in the microwave for 20 seconds, then stir again. Repeat if necessary. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle or beaters, beat the eggs, egg yolks, brown sugar, vanilla and salt at high speed until thickened and pale, about 4 minutes. Add the melted chocolate mixture and flour to the egg mixture and fold with a rubber spatula until just combined (the chocolate sinks to the bottom so be sure to scrape it up into the batter).
- Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared ramekins and bake for 10 minutes, until the cakes are set and puffed over the edges of the ramekins. Let the cakes cool in the ramekins for 1 to 2 minutes; then, holding the hot ramekins with a dish towel, carefully invert the cakes onto dessert plates. They should pop right out, but you can run a thin-bladed knife around the edges if necessary. Serve immediately. (It's important not to let the cakes sit after baking, as the centers will continue to cook.) Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve with vanilla ice cream or sweetened whipped cream and berries, if desired.
- Make-Ahead Instructions: The batter can be spooned into the ramekins, covered and refrigerated for several hours before baking. Take them out of the fridge about 30 minutes before baking so they come to room temperature.
Nutrition Information
Powered by 
- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 416
- Fat: 31 g
- Saturated fat: 18 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Sugar: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Cholesterol: 174 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
See more recipes:
Comments
Add a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Would 6 oz pyrex glass bowls work instead of the ceramic ramekins?
Hi Nancy, while I suspect it would work, the high oven temp makes me a little nervous (that the bowls would crack) so I’d reduce the oven temperature to 425° and just keep them in the oven for an extra minute or 2. Please LMK how they turn out!
Can you re-heat the cakes after it is already baked? If so how is the best way?
Sure, Amber – you could warm them briefly in a low oven or in the microwave, but you’ll likely lose the molten center.
Absolutely fabulous! I made these for my son’s birthday. They were a huge hit, and the best part, very easy to make.
Love this recipe! I’ve made it twice now – following the instructions precisely – and they come out perfectly! It’s like magic. Ten minutes at 450 degrees and they are baked with a gooey center. Beautiful, delicious, and impressive for company.
I followed the recipe to the letter, but I only got enough for four 6oz ramequins (with a little bit left over). Did anyone have the same problem?
What’s the recipe if I only want to make two?
Hi Gordhan, You’d need to cut all the ingredients by two thirds. If you want to make it easier on yourself math-wise, you could cut the recipe in half and freeze one of the cakes (unbaked). They freeze nicely and can go straight from the freezer to the oven.
I made this recipe for my girlfriend’s birthday. She has always enjoyed a good lava/molten chocolate cake in a restaurant. It turned out terrific and was super easy.
I used white sugar instead of brown sugar because thats all I had in the kitchen. I also used only 1/4 cup of white sugar rather than 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp as the recipe calls for. We prefer desserts that are less sweet rather than too sweet.
What can I say, it was a hit!
I’ve made this recipe several times and it always comes out perfectly. I haven’t been able to actually taste it though because my grandkids devour the cakes all the while telling me how delicious they are. Thank you for all of your great recipes Jenn.
🙂
Can I use chocolate chips instead of chocolate bar? Thank you.
Hi Kristine, Because chocolate chips have stabilizers that help them maintain their shape (like for chocolate chip cookies), I prefer chocolate using chocolate bars for this recipe. That said, a number of readers have commented that they’ve used chocolate chips with success. Hope you enjoy if you make them!
I made this for a dinner party, and it turned out perfectly. I followed the make-ahead directions and refrigerated it the morning of my dinner. It took exactly 10 minutes to bake, with molten chocolate centers and a delicious crust on the outside. All my guests raved about it, and it is a wonderful stress-free dessert because it can be made ahead of time. I will definitely be adding it to my repertoire!
I cant buy Ghiraradelli chocolate and wondered if Lindt 85% would substitute
Hi HL, I think that should work but the finished cakes may be a bit sweeter. Please LMK how they turn out!