Chocolate Lava Cakes

The first time I ate a Chocolate Lava Cake was at Roy’s on Maui in 1990.  Roy was somewhat of a celebrity chef in Hawaii. Back then there were only a few celebrity chefs; Wolfgang Puck, Jonathan Waxman, Michael McCarty, and Alice Waters to name a few. The food at Roy’s was good, but it was the dessert, the chcolate molten lava cake,  that I kept going back for.

I wrote to the restaurant and asked for the recipe.  They obliged!  Over the years I have tweeked the recipe a little here and a little there. But it just wasn’t right.  It wasn’t perfectly right until I found this recipe in the New York Times. Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Along with an extra special dinner that night for my 4 favorite valentines, I plan on  adding this dessert to the menu.

 

Moulten Chocolate Lava Cake


Ingredients

4 oz. unsalted butter
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons sifted gluten free flour blend
unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting

Instructions

• preheat oven to 450*.
• butter the molds or ramekins with room temperature butter.  dust with sifted cocoa powder. set aside
• in a glass bowl over simmering water, melt the butter and the chocolate. mix until smooth.
• in the bowl of a standing mixer, combine the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar until smooth.
• add the chocolate and mix thoroughly.
• add the flour.
• pour into the prepared molds about 2/3 of the way up.
• put the molds onto a baking sheet and bake for 6-7 minutes (no more).
• using a small knife, loosen the lava cakes from the mold and turn out onto a plate.  dust with powdered sugar and top with fresh whipped cream or ice cream.

The Urban Baker / SusanSalzman.com

Want more inspiration?  Check out these yummy chocolate treats:

Chocolate Pots de Creme – Day Dreamer Desserts
Ottolenghis Chocolate Fudge Cake – Not So Humble Pie
Milk Chocolate and Passion Fruit Cream Cake – Cannelle et Vanilla
Alice’s New Classic Brownies – Matt Bites
Chocolate Gelato – Gourmande in the Kitchen
Chocolate Puddle Cookies – 101 Cookbooks
Valentine’s Day Baking Ideas – I am baker

Showing 22 comments
  • Nancy@acommunaltable
    Reply

    What a perfect Valentine’s Day dessert!! Have to admit, I love Lava cakes – they are divine when done right and I can tell these definitely were!!

  • Amanda
    Reply

    Love this! Would love to make one someday! 🙂

  • Kim
    Reply

    I love these little cake with the molten center, it’s so good… In heart shape these are so cute, perfect for Valentine Day!

  • Allison [Haute Box]
    Reply

    Lava cakes a la mode is one of my sinful indulgences. I am going to bake these for me and my BF!

  • sheryl aronow
    Reply

    Wow, so glad I got this recipe just in time for Valentine’s Day. I think I might make it before my special dinner just to be sure I know what I’m doing.

  • Damaris
    Reply

    Perfect idea. The best part is that you reminded me I have those exact same silicone molds. I was just wondering what I would make on Valentine’s day and totally forgot about those molds. I need to open my drawers more often.

    • Susan
      Reply

      Damaris – Last month I found these while I was cleaning my “baking cabinet” and I too, have never used them. They are so easy to use and so super cute! This is the easiest recipe! Make it and thank me later! x

  • Reply

    I think I had that dessert when I was at Roy’s! It’s been so long since I was there, but I remember eating this sinful chocolate dessert that my husband’s friend recommended we get, now I can have it again! Thank you for including my Chocolate Gelato in your list of chocolate treats, I’m honored to be in such good company.

    • Susan
      Reply

      Sylvie – you deserve the “shout out”! Happy almost “v” day!

  • fooddreamer
    Reply

    I haven’t been to your blog in so long, but when I come back, I come back to this gorgeous recipe! I am bookmarking immediately!

    • Susan
      Reply

      Glad you are back, Carolyn! Missed you!

  • marla {family fresh cooking}
    Reply

    Lucky you to have scored this gorgeous recipe!! Looks like chocolate heaven.

  • Kristen
    Reply

    I love chocolate lava cake – this looks so good!

  • Patricia Scarpin
    Reply

    These were a hit here in Brazil a few years ago – I had quite a few myself but never attempted making them at home. Lovely, Suz! I love heart shaped food. 🙂

  • Anne
    Reply

    Chocolate all goopy and inside a sweet cakey crust, and sliced strawberries: my 2 favorite flavors! I’d forgotten this dessert, but your recipe brings back memories of warm island breezes and moonlit kisses. Thanks for the little trip…

  • Meher
    Reply

    Hi I loved your cake by seeing this now itself.On this Valentines friends I have a big party of couple friends I want to know whether I can make 100 of them early(3-4 hrs before) and preserve it ?And just bake for 1 min at the time of serving.can this batter be made very early and refrigerated.Please give me ideas of serving this beautiful recipe without making a mess 🙂

    • Susan
      Reply

      Hi and thanks for visiting my blog. I am impressed that you are entertaining 100 for valentines day! This would be a wonderful treat. I would not suggest baking these in advance because part of the deliciousness is the hot, gooey, fudge that erupts from the center at that first bite. If you do make these in advance and refrigerate(you must have a huge fridge), I would take them out of the fridge about an hour before so they can come to room temperature before baking. In the past, I would so love to hear how your party turns out as well as these little lava cakes! Good luck!

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