Chocolate Lava Cake for Two Recipe (2024)

By Yossy Arefi

Updated Feb. 29, 2024

Chocolate Lava Cake for Two Recipe (1)

Total Time
25 minutes
Rating
5(5,140)
Notes
Read community notes

Chocolate lava cakes gained popularity in the late 1990s thanks to the chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and they have stuck around on dessert menus for good reason: They are rich chocolate cake and velvety sauce all in one, and they are surprisingly easy to make in under an hour. If you like to plan ahead, you can prepare the batter a day in advance, refrigerate it, then pop the cake into the oven when you are ready for dessert. This recipe, made in a 10-ounce baking dish, is meant for sharing, but you can also make it in two 6-ounce ramekins. Just cut the baking time to 7 to 9 minutes. Also, be sure to use chopped chocolate bars or chocolate fèves rather than chocolate chips here. Chips are made with stabilizers that inhibit melting and will negatively affect the texture of your dessert.

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Ingredients

Yield:2 servings

  • 3ounces/85 grams bittersweet chocolate, 70 to 74 percent cacao (not chips), chopped (about ½ cup)
  • 3tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes, plus more for the ramekin
  • 3tablespoons granulated sugar, plus more for the ramekin
  • 1large egg
  • 1large egg yolk
  • ½teaspoon vanilla extract
  • teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • Confectioners’ sugar, to serve (optional)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (2 servings)

533 calories; 35 grams fat; 20 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 11 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 54 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 44 grams sugars; 7 grams protein; 165 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Chocolate Lava Cake for Two Recipe (2)

Preparation

Make the recipe with us

  1. Step

    1

    Heat oven to 425 degrees and butter a 10-ounce ramekin. Dust the buttered ramekin with granulated sugar.

  2. Step

    2

    Combine the chocolate and 3 tablespoons butter in a heat-safe bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, combine in a bowl and microwave in 30-second blasts, stirring in between, until melted and smooth, about 1 minute.) Remove from the heat and set aside.

  3. Step

    3

    In a medium bowl, combine the 3 tablespoons sugar, egg, egg yolk, vanilla and salt. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is thick, foamy and pale, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the flour until smooth.

  4. Step

    4

    Using a spatula, add the chocolate to the egg mixture and stir gently until combined.

  5. Step

    5

    Pour the mixture into the ramekin. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until the edges are set and puffed, but the center is still soft when lightly pressed. (You can also cover and refrigerate the batter up to a day in advance. Add an additional minute or 2 to baking time if you are baking the cake directly from the refrigerator.)

  6. Step

    6

    Use an offset spatula or small knife to loosen the edges of the cake from the ramekin. Place a plate over the ramekin and carefully invert the warm cake. Use an oven mitt or clean kitchen towel to remove the ramekin, dust the cake with confectioners’ sugar and serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Ratings

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5,140

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

naomi dagen bloom

Am 85, no ramekins either...helpful alternative!

Ali

So good! Am 25, don’t own ramekins. Muffin tins worked fine. Made 4.

Fif

Have made this for 4 people this year. Singlehandedly soothed roommate relationship during dark period of quarantine; staved off a breakup at least 2.5 weeks. True rating is 4.99/5 to account for the time it falsely raised hopes of intense seriousness and perhaps love in a casual relationship.

Shawn N.

60. Had ramekins. No joy. Gave them to Goodwill. Missed ramekins (creme brûlée!) so bought more. Found the box that never made it to Goodwill. Felt bad for having a ridiculous number of ramekins. No joy. Made this recipe. The joy is back

Mary ann

Pat, It's illegal,I'm most states to own a ramekin if you are under the age of 30.

Bella

Am 55. Had ramekins. Had teens too. Teens broke ramekins. Used pyrex cups. Tremendous.

Beverly

Ha ha, reading the notes on this about ramekins is probably almost as good as eating the cake (which I haven't tried yet)! Y'all are funny!

NancyKelley

Am 65, realized the dish I was using for our dog’s water was in actuality a ramekin!

Veej

I have saved small cans - chilis actually - that I cut both ends from. Gives me a perfect 2&1/2" form. I set them on parchment to cook and can slide knife around edges to release.

Ali

I reduced baking time by two minutes! Also, I bought some ramekins this weekend. Used them twice already. Everything I eat will be in individual serving sizes from here on out.

Marta Frijole

Am 63. Own ramekins. Bought them on the sly many years ago (I was young then; am older now). I keep them off-scene, hidden away. Why? Husband (67) believes they take up an obscene amount precious storage space. (He did buy crumpet rings, however, at the start of the pandemic).I will make lava cake. I will demonstrate the redeeming qualities of ramekins. I will fantasize about replacing crumpet rings with ramekins in the coveted drawer.

MRR

I have ramekins and kept them, I guess they “sparked joy”.

Nicole

They are perfectly safe to eat. A little bit of science: only 1 in 20,000 eggs possibly carry salmonella; salmonella is destroyed at 160*F; cakes are set at 200-210*F; and the internal temp of the lava cake reaches that magic number of 160*F. Also, if you are basing this concern on being told not to eat raw cookie dough because of eggs, the truth is people were getting sick from the flour in the cookie dough, not the eggs. So you can have your cake and eat it too!

Karen

The article above the recipe says you can use 2 - y ounce ramekins and cut the baking time to 7-9 minutes. My first attempt was also over cooked. 7 minutes was a flop. On the third attempt, I turned the temp down to 400, baked 9 minutes - perfection!

Peter

When you grow up you can get some ramekins. :)

Richard Seelig

Simple and elegant. Only correction is to cut the baking time by one minute (or even a bit more)

jen

I made this 12 of these for my husbands' birthday party. I used semi-sweet chocolate chips. They were delicious! It's possible that they would have been better with the recommended chocolate but I didn't receive any complaints! Also, I cooked all of them at the same time on 2 cookie sheets. In the middle of cooking, I switched the sheets. Great recipe!

Kellie

Wasn’t sure I would spring for the ramekins but am now convinced they are utterly necessary.

Michael L

I used guittard baking chocolate for this but the end result did not “flow” out of the cake. What did I do wrong?

Michael L

Update: I recreated this recipe with chocolate that is free from lecithin, and that did the trick.So did cooking at the right temperature and whipping the eggs, but who’s keeping score?

Melissa

So good, so easy, we save it for special occasions or we'd eat this everyday!

SK19118

Yes this was so wonderful!!!! Made as described in 2 ramekin-sized dinnerware bowls that are probably not ramekins (age 48)…. Kept an eye on during baking as cook time was shorter due to smaller size of dish.

Jim

Luckily we still had 6 oz ramekins. So easy and fast to make. 8 minutes in our oven was just right. No substituted ingredients or method changes like one sees so often here and they turned out perfect. Next time will serve with ice cream. Whipped cream deflated quickly from the heat. Thanks NYT for an uncomplicated fast and easy special dessert.

Kathi in VA

I am 58, so I have various ramekins, but decided to try the muffin tin option. Doubled the recipe for the four of us tonight. Four muffin tins held 70 grams each. That left me with a little over 200 grams that I put into a 16 oz. Corning ware French white ramekin for “later.” Cooked the muffin tin batch for 8 minutes and probably should have done 7… they had about a tablespoon of lava. Still delicious.

Kathi in VA

Follow up… Everyone decided there was no point saving the other one for another day, so into the oven it went, 12 minutes, more lava this time but 11 would have worked. We all decided this recipe is a keepe!!

Marc

I would give 10 stars if I could we’ve made for Valentine’s Day the last several years and it is so good and easy.

Sarah

Had 2 red le creuset ramekins that were smaller than the 10 oz size called for in recipe. Poured batter half and half into each ramekin and baked for 11 minutes. It was so delicious I ate them both. Perfection.

Noshua

Great excuse to buy ramekins if you don’t have any. Used two 6oz ramekins. Used the convection setting on my oven (so 425° became 400°), and 8 min was right on the nose. I will absolutely make this again

Helena

Am 20. Bought a ramekin for this recipe. Zero regrets. I apologize to anyone who lacks this essential kitchenware item. You need this cake in your life.

Sue J

This is easy and delicious! I made it for my husband for valentines. I like that it can be prepared in advance and cooked when you are ready.

Nicki Pogue

I, too, age 55, realized I Goodwill all of my ramekins [these are hands down the funniest comments I've ever read at NYT Cooking]. I improvised with a Crate & Barrel dip bowl (after confirming it could withstand 375 degrees). Baked it a bit longer at that lower temp, but it came out stunning. Huge Valentine's Day hit. I used the cheater's microwave-the-chocolate-and-butter method advised in the accompanying video and I don't regret it.

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Chocolate Lava Cake for Two Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between molten lava cake and lava cake? ›

While both molten cakes and lava cakes typically contain similar ingredients (such as chocolate, butter, eggs, sugar, and flour), the specific recipes may vary. Lava cakes are always chocolate-based, while molten cakes could be made with other flavors like lemon, caramel, or even fruit.

Is lava cake just undercooked cake? ›

In the 2014 movie "Chef," chef Carl Caper, portrayed by Jon Favreau, argues that chocolate lava cake isn't just "undercooked chocolate cake." The "molten" aspect of the dessert comes from a disc of frozen chocolate ganache that melts in the center of the treat as the cake bakes around it. He's not wrong.

What can I use instead of ramekins for lava cake? ›

I have also made the lava cakes in a standard muffin tin (only filling 10 of the cups, not all 12). The baking time is a few minutes less if using a muffin tin, and it is harder to turn them out and have them look pretty, but it definitely works in a pinch!

Why is my lava cake dry? ›

Use room temperature eggs.

Cold eggs can break the emulsion of the sugar and butter, so the batter loses air cells, resulting in baked cakes that are grainy or flat in texture, dry or dense. Room temperature eggs hack: Add warm (not hot) tap water to a bowl then add eggs (still in their shells) for at least 20 minutes.

Does molten lava cake need to be refrigerated? ›

Store. Store leftover lava cakes in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven set to warm.

What is a fancy name for lava cake? ›

Molten chocolate cake is a French dessert that consists of a chocolate cake with a liquid chocolate core. It is named for that molten center, and it is also known as mi-cuit au chocolat, chocolat coulant ("flowing"), chocolate lava cake, or simply lava cake.

Why did my lava cake sink in the middle? ›

Too much air and your cake will collapse because it simply can't hold onto all that air. Overbeating can add too much additional air and/or large air bubbles which the cake can't support, causing it to collapse in the oven.

Why is my lava cake no lava? ›

Lava cakes can be intimidating. Bake them too long and they lose their molten center, turning into a regular old chocolate cake. Don't bake them long enough and the whole thing collapses in on itself, resulting in an utter mess.

Can I use muffin tins instead of ramekins? ›

If you like to make individual side dishes, quiches, and desserts, but don't enjoy unmolding each ramekin separately or dealing with little dishes scooting around the baking pan, try this. Both problems are solved when I use a muffin tin for the mold. Spray tin with nonstick spray.

Can I substitute oil for butter in lava cake? ›

Traditionally you'll find that most lava cakes are made with butter, but for my version I wanted to use this wonderful Extra Virgin Olive Oil from La Tourangelle. Their olive oil is rich and delicate, which works perfectly in this recipe as it imparts a lot of flavor.

Can I use cupcake tray instead of ramekins? ›

No. Ramekins are ceramic containers/molds often used for custard desserts like creme brulee or flan. The smaller versions are used often for dipping sauces or other condiments. Cupcake trays/holders are generally metal molds lined or sprayed then filled with cake batter.

What is the difference between a lava cake and a souffle? ›

Lava cake has a runny center, whereas a soufflé incorporates whipped egg whites that puff up as it cooks to create a pillowy texture. Density: Lava cake, because of the gooey center, is a much wetter and denser cake. The very essence of a soufflé is its characteristic lightness.

Can I reheat lava cake? ›

Wrap well in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month. You can thaw frozen lava cakes overnight in the fridge and reheat them in the oven at 350°F for about 8 minutes. Alternatively, you can reheat them from frozen in a preheated 400°F oven for 15-18 minutes.

How do I make my cake more moist? ›

From ingredient swaps to unique methods, explore these ways to help make your cakes moist.
  1. USE THE CORRECT TEMPERATURE AND BAKING TIME. ...
  2. USE VEGETABLE OIL. ...
  3. USE BUTTERMILK INSTEAD OF MILK. ...
  4. ADD INSTANT PUDDING MIX. ...
  5. ADD MAYONNAISE. ...
  6. USE SIMPLE SYRUP OR GLAZE. ...
  7. USE CAKE FLOUR. ...
  8. DON'T OVERMIX.

What is molten lava cake made of? ›

Chocolate: Make sure to use good quality semisweet chocolate for the most delicious results. Butter: A stick of butter lends richness, moisture, and flavor. Eggs: Three eggs add more moisture and help bind the batter together. Sugar: This sweet dessert calls for ⅓ cup of white sugar.

What is the meaning of molten lava cake? ›

Meanings and definitions of "molten lava cake"

A chocolate cake containing hot chocolate sauce which flows out from the middle. noun.

What is molten cake made of? ›

The ingredient list is short — butter, chocolate, eggs, sugar and flour — and the video that accompanies this recipe shows exactly how the magic of the chocolate-oozing molten cake comes to be.

Is it melted or molten chocolate? ›

“Molten” is now usually used of hard materials liquified by very high heat, like lava, glass, and lead. Most other substances are “melted,” though some people like to refer to “molten cheese” and a popular dessert is called “molten chocolate cake,” perhaps to emphasize its gooey, lava-like character.

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