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(5,115)
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

5

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5,115

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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!

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.

NancyKelley

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

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. :)

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.

Linda W

Can the batter be split between two 5 ounce ramekins? If so, what adjustment to baking time and temperature should be made?

Jenna P.

Surprisingly, not very sweet. Next time, I might add a bit of cinnamon for more complexity/warmth. Delicious topped with strawberries.

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Chocolate Lava Cake for Two Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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

Lava cakes are typically small individual-sized cakes baked in a ramekin. In summary, molten cake is a broader term that can refer to cakes with a liquid center, whereas lava cake is a specific type of chocolate cake with a melted center.

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

If you don't have ramekins, you can use a standard muffin pan. Grease 6 muffin pan cups and dust with cocoa powder to prevent the lava cakes from sticking. Because your lava cakes will be slightly smaller, you'll get 6 lava cakes instead of 4. Bake at 425°F (218°C) for 8–10 minutes.

Is lava cake just undercooked cake? ›

The technical answer is no, molten lava cake is not raw in the middle. However, the centers of molten lava cakes are under-baked, in the sense that the centers are not fully set. The molten chocolate centers get hot enough to “cook” the eggs to a food-safe temperature, without hardening the batter.

What is the lava in lava cake made of? ›

Molten Chocolate Cakes, also known as Lava Cakes, are warm individual-size chocolate cakes with oozing chocolate centres. Most recipes will simply have you undercooking a chocolate cake batter, so the outside is set like cake but the inside is raw batter that pours out like lava when you cut into it. Hence the name!

Should lava cake be eaten hot or cold? ›

The idea behind it is to have a warm cake with a warm to hot center. If you're served a room temperature or cold lava cake, send it back. Some high volume restaurants will pre-bake them, and then pop them into a microwave or hot oven to warm them before serving. This type of dessert should always be warm, never cold.

Does molten lava cake need to be refrigerated? ›

Yes, both unbaked and baked Lava Cakes should be refrigerated. Can I double or triple the recipe? Yes! You can double or triple the recipe, but the cakes will likely need an extra minute or two in the oven.

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.

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.

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.

Why did my lava cake sink in the middle? ›

If you over mix the cake batter, your molten lava cake is going to collapse or sink in. Reason being when you over mix the batter, you are incorporating too much air bubble into the batter resulting it in losing its structure to hold the cake together.

Does lava cake get you high? ›

With relaxing and euphoric effects that will encompass your whole body, Lava Cake offers a potent high that won't knock you out. Whether smoking or dabbing, you're sure to want seconds of this exotic treat.

What is a fun fact about lava cake? ›

Most would cite Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten as the creator of the cake, the story of how the chef accidentally pulled a chocolate sponge cake out of the oven before it was finished and discovered a runny center. Chocolatier Jacques Torres claims that the dish itself has been available in France before, by himself.

What nationality is lava cake? ›

If You Love Lava Cake, Then You'll Love Domino's. The internet tells us that the French invented the lava cake, which is no real surprise. France is famous for its food, especially pastries. New York City restaurants popularized lava cake in the United States in the 1990s.

Is chocolate lava cake not just undercooked chocolate cake? ›

Chocolate lava cake is not just undercooked chocolate cake. That's not what makes the center molten. You take a frozen cylinder of ganache and set it in the ramekin so that as the outside cooks fully, the inside becomes molten!

Why is it called molten 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.

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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