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Lava Cakes

Quick recipe for French classic Moelleux au Chocolat - better known as molten lava cakes with 5 basic quality ingredients. Easy to prepare, yet elegant to whip up in 30 mins for family or special occasions.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
33 mins
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 268 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French

Ingredients

  • 180 g (6oz) dark, bittersweet chocolate (good quality; min. 64% cocoa solids)
  • 70 g (3oz/ ⅓ cup) butter unsalted
  • 1 teaspoon Instant espresso coffee powder (or good pinch fleur de sel salt)
  • 4 fresh medium eggs organic
  • 60 g (2.5oz/ ⅓ cup soft brown sugar
  • 40 g (1.5oz/ ¼ cup) plain (all-purpose) flour (or replace with 20g cornflour to make gluten free)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 210°C/190°C fan/410°F
  2. Break the chocolate into a glass bowl and add the butter, chopped roughly into bits. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water (bain-marie), ensuring that the chocolate doesn't touch the water underneath. Add the coffee powder or salt and stir gently with a spatula. As soon as it melts, take off the heat.
  3. Add the sugar, then gradually break the eggs into the mixture, stirring well after each addition. Mix in the flour and stir until just combined (don't overmix).
  4. Pour the mixture into non-stick x6 muffin or demi-sphere moulds (here I use silicone briochette moulds). If using standard muffin moulds, then first grease them with butter.
  5. Bake for no more than 8 minutes for that moist, gooey centre. Remove from the oven and leave to rest for a couple of minutes then turn them out onto serving plates.

Notes

  • Make in advance: The batter can be prepared the day before or earlier in the day and kept in the fridge. Remove from the fridge and preheat the oven before starting your meal and when ready to prepare, bake in the oven.
  • To Serve: For a special celebratory touch, top with golden food lustre or edible gold leaf and serve with a dollop of whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, fresh raspberries, slices of mango or clementines.Also delicious served with homemade chestnut and vanilla ice cream.
  • Note on Measures: Cup measurements by volume are given as an approximate guide. I recommend weighing ingredients in grams using digital scales for the best, and consistent, results.