Description
Chocolate lava cakes combine rich, molten centers with delicate cake exteriors for an indulgent dessert. Gourmets savor these elegant French-inspired treats that melt effortlessly on palates seeking pure chocolate pleasure.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 eggs
- 135 grams (4.8 oz) dark chocolate (55 to 70% cocoa)
- 120 grams (4.2 oz) unsalted butter
- 140 grams (4.9 oz) sugar
- 45 grams (1.6 oz) flour
- 1 pinch salt (optional)
Instructions
- Chocolate Melting: Create a smooth chocolate base by gently melting dark chocolate and unsalted butter in a double boiler or microwave, stirring to prevent burning and achieve a glossy consistency.
- Egg Preparation: Whisk sugar and eggs together until the mixture becomes pale and slightly volumized, creating a rich, creamy foundation for the lava cakes.
- Batter Fusion: Integrate the melted chocolate mixture into the egg blend, stirring continuously to develop a uniform and silky batter that promises a luxurious texture.
- Dry Ingredient Incorporation: Delicately fold sifted flour and a hint of salt into the chocolate mixture, maintaining the batter’s light and airy characteristics.
- Ramekin Preparation: Generously coat ramekins with butter, ensuring complete coverage to guarantee effortless cake release after baking.
- Chilling and Resting: Fill ramekins three-quarters full with batter and refrigerate for 45-60 minutes, allowing flavor development and optimal texture formation.
- Oven Preheating: Position the oven rack centrally and heat to 200°C (390°F), creating the perfect environment for lava cake perfection.
- Baking Precision: Transfer chilled ramekins to the preheated oven and bake for 8-11 minutes, watching for a set exterior with a tantalizingly molten center.
- Serving Artistry: Immediately invert cakes onto serving plates, letting them rest briefly before revealing their decadent chocolate core, optionally garnishing with powdered sugar or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- Chocolate Quality Matters: Use high-percentage dark chocolate (70% cocoa) for rich, intense flavor that elevates the entire dessert.
- Chill Before Baking: Refrigerating the batter helps create the signature molten center by stabilizing the cake’s structure and preventing overcooking.
- Timing is Critical: Watch the baking time carefully – even 30 seconds can transform a perfect lava cake into an overdone dessert.
- Serve Immediately: These cakes lose their magical molten center quickly, so plate and serve the moment they come out of the oven for maximum deliciousness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 498
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 186 mg