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The cutest little mini chocolate lava cakes for your next date night! Cakey on the outside, warm and gooey on the inside. Top these molten mini lava cakes for two with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream!
So you know after dinner, when you want something sweet? Or late at night…or during that mid-afternoon lull…what do you crave? Etienne and I like to ask each other the question “if you could have anything in the world right now, what would it be”? (We also play the game, “if you could BE anywhere in the world right now, where would you be…but that’s another story for another time).
I digress. Anyway, I’d say 6 out of 10 times, our answer to the what would you eat question is usually “molten lava cakes”. We LOVE mini chocolate lava cakes. I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to share one on the blog! I guess because there’s SO many different variations on the internet, it just doesn’t seem like a very novel recipe to post. The fact of the matter is, however, molten lava cakes are way, way up there in terms of my favorite desserts, so I’ve just got to share my own version! And just in time for Valentine’s Day ♥
What Are Mini Chocolate Lava Cakes?
A chocolate lava cake is a staple on many restaurant dessert menus! Lava cakes are rich, pure chocolate cake with a hot, molten centre. From the outside, the cake looks like a standard little chocolate cake, but as soon as you crack into it with a fork, there’s a rich molten chocolate centre that oozes out.
These mini lava cakes are exactly as described, delightful lava cakes but in mini size!
Do You Have To Use a Mini Cast Iron Skillet For This Recipe?
Traditionally, mini molten lava cakes are baked in a small ramekin. I like to make this dessert in these little 5″ skillets that I picked up a couple of years ago (how cute are they!?!) but you can also make these in ramekins. If you bake them in ramekins, you can tip them out onto a plate once they’re baked for a prettier presentation. The bake time will change a little, so I’ve also included notes on that below! We eat ours right out of the little skillets!
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Ingredients For Mini Chocolate Lava Cakes
These cute little cakes are made with the most simple of ingredients! You’ll need:
- unsalted butter
- dark chocolate
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
- powdered sugar
- sea salt
- pure vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour
Can You Make Sugar Free Lava Cakes?
Yes! Would you be shocked if I told you these particular mini chocolate lava cakes in the pictures you see are 100% keto-friendly!? I’ve included recipe instructions for both regular non-diet lava cakes as well as these keto ones.
They look identical, and taste pretty identical too. Etienne says he gets a weird after-taste when he eats desserts made with sweeteners, but I can’t say it bothers me a whole lot. I like to use the Swerve brand of powdered sugar. Either way you make them, these lava cakes are delicious!
How Do You Make Mini Lava Cakes?
I should have also mentioned how quickly these little guys come together. You can throw them together in under 10 minutes, and the bake time is even less than that! Almost too easy…if you know what I mean!
1. Preheat the oven to 400 F and thoroughly grease and flour two small cast iron skillets, or ramekins.
2. In a medium-sized microwaveable bowl, combine the butter and chopped chocolate. Heat in 30 second intervals on high, stirring in between each interval until completely smooth. In another medium-sized bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla until the eggs are frothy and lighter in color, 1-2 minutes. Add half of the butter/chocolate mixture to the bowl, whisking to combine. Add in the flour, combine, and add the rest of the chocolate. Stir just until the ingredients are incorporated.
3. Divide the batter evenly between the two skillets. I like to use my kitchen scale for this! Bake the skillets for 5-7 minutes or until the top is JUST barely set and the edges have browned up. Do not overcook them! Remove from the oven and serve immediately, topping with ice cream, coconut cream or whipped cream!
My Other Valentine’s Day Desserts:
Did you know I also have a mini chocolate cake for two on the blog? It’s the perfect anniversary or birthday cake!
- raspberry filled sugar cookies
- strawberry smores
- easy chocolate raspberry mousse
- dark chocolate mini peanut butter cups
Mini Chocolate Lava Cakes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 mini skillet cakes 1x
Description
The cutest little mini chocolate lava cakes for your next date night! Cakey on the outside, warm and gooey on the inside. Top these molten mini lava cakes for two with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, chopped into 1” pieces
- 3 oz dark chocolate, chopped*
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk, room temperature
- 3 tbsp powdered sugar*
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp flour*
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F and thoroughly grease and flour two small cast iron skillets, or ramekins*
- In a medium-sized microwaveable bowl, combine the butter and chopped chocolate. Heat in 30 second intervals on high, stirring in between each interval until completely smooth.
- In another medium-sized bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla until the eggs are frothy and lighter in color, 1-2 minutes. Add half of the butter/chocolate mixture to the bowl, whisking to combine. Add in the flour, combine, and add the rest of the chocolate. Stir just until the ingredients are incorporated. Divide the batter evenly between the two skillets. I like to use my kitchen scale for this! Bake the skillets for 5-7 minutes*, or until the top is JUST barely set and the edges have browned up. Do not overcook them! Remove from the oven and serve immediately, topping with ice cream, coconut cream or whipped cream!
The recipe easily double if you’re serving for 4. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge!
Notes
- I like to use 72% dark chocolate. If you’re making a keto version, use sugar-free dark chocolate or at least 85%. Be sure to use good quality chocolate!
- For the keto version, sub the powdered sugar for something like Swerve powdered sugar, or an alternative sweetener.
- Use almond flour for keto-friendly.
- The skillets I use are 5″ in size. A smaller skillet will increase the bake time by a couple of minutes, and vice versa. Keep an eye on your cakes!
- If using 3″ ramekins, increase bake time to 8-9 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: desserts
- Method: oven
- Cuisine: american
Oh my! It’s dangerous knowing how quick and easy these are to make. They just look so indulgent and what a perfect dessert for two. Yum.
So dangerous. They’re the perfect little dessert for two, and it’s awfully easy! Thanks Marie!
Oooh lava cakes! Would you judge me if I made both and just ate them myself?! Hahaha. These look too good to share 😉
Oh Kelly, you should know by now that I probably at both myself haha!! Thanks my friend, happy weekend!! XO
These Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes for Two are the perfect small batch dessert. Thanks for shairng <3
Can you make the batter ahead of time and pour into the skillets, then bake them like an hour later?
Yes I don’t see why you’d have a problem doing this! I wouldn’t leave it to rest more than half a day.