Yields: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
Ingredients:
For Cakes:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 6 ounces high-quality bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
For Peanut Butter Filling:
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Additionally:
- Softened butter and cocoa powder for preparing ramekins
- Vanilla ice cream for serving (optional)
Instructions:
Prep the ramekins:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C).
- Grease four (6-ounce) ramekins generously with softened butter.
- Dust the ramekins with cocoa powder, shaking out any excess. Place them on a baking sheet.
Melt chocolate & butter:
- Place the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
- Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.
Make the batter:
- Whisk together the eggs and sugar in a medium bowl until pale and slightly thickened.
- Slowly whisk the cooled chocolate mixture into the egg mixture until fully combined.
- Gently fold in the flour and salt until just incorporated.
Make peanut butter filling:
- In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter and powdered sugar until smooth.
Assemble lava cakes:
- Divide half the batter among the prepared ramekins.
- Drop a generous dollop (about a heaping teaspoon) of the peanut butter filling into the center of each ramekin.
- Top the peanut butter filling with the remaining batter, dividing it evenly.
Bake:
- Bake for 12-15 minutes. The edges should be set, but the center should still appear slightly soft and jiggly. Do not overbake.
Invert and serve:
- Let the cakes cool for 1-2 minutes.
- Carefully run a thin knife around the edges of each cake to loosen them.
- Place a serving plate over each ramekin and invert. The cake should release with the delicious molten center on top.
- Serve immediately with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.
Tips:
- High-quality chocolate: Use the best chocolate you can find for a richer flavor.
- Don’t overbake: The key to molten lava cakes is slightly underbaking them so the center remains gooey. Check them early!
- Variations: Experiment with other nut butters or add-ins like chopped nuts, peanut butter chips, or chocolate chips to the filling.
- Serving: Dust the cakes lightly with powdered sugar and serve while still warm for the best experience.
Enjoy this decadent chocolate peanut butter treat!
