Description
Chocolate lava cake brings molten chocolate magic to dessert tables with its rich, gooey center. Ina Garten’s classic recipe delivers an indulgent experience that beckons you to savor each sinful spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 oz (168g) bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 2 large egg yolks
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 425°F with the rack positioned centrally, and thoroughly butter and flour six ramekins to prevent sticking.
- Chocolate Melting: Create a silky smooth chocolate base by gently melting dark chocolate and butter together using a double boiler or microwave, stirring until glossy and uniform.
- Egg Mixture: Whip whole eggs, additional egg yolks, granulated sugar, and salt into a luxurious, pale yellow cream with a ribbon-like consistency that holds its shape when the whisk is lifted.
- Batter Integration: Delicately fold the melted chocolate into the egg mixture, maintaining the batter’s light volume, then softly incorporate sifted flour until just combined without overmixing.
- Baking Process: Evenly distribute the batter into prepared ramekins, filling them about three-quarters full, then place on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes until edges are set but centers remain molten.
- Plating and Serving: After a brief one-minute rest in ramekins, invert cakes onto serving plates, wait 10 seconds, and carefully remove ramekins; finish with a delicate powdered sugar dusting and optional fresh berries, serving immediately to capture the cake’s decadent, gooey center.
Notes
- Butter Ramekins Carefully: Generously coat and flour ramekins to ensure smooth cake release and prevent sticking, creating a perfect presentation.
- Melt Chocolate Gently: Use low, steady heat when melting chocolate and butter to avoid burning, maintaining a silky smooth texture.
- Timing is Critical: Bake exactly 6-8 minutes for the perfect lava center – even 30 seconds longer can transform the molten texture into a fully set cake.
- Serve Immediately: These lava cakes are temperature-sensitive and lose their signature flowing center within minutes, so plate and serve right after baking for maximum deliciousness.
- Prep Time: 4 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 200mg