Chocolate Lava Cakes Espresso (Printable)

These individual chocolate cakes feature a molten center and a subtle espresso note, offering a truly indulgent and sophisticated dessert experience.

# Components:

→ Chocolate Mixture

01 - 4 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
02 - ½ cup unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing

→ Batter

03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 2 large egg yolks
05 - ½ cup granulated sugar
06 - ¼ cup all-purpose flour
07 - 1 tsp instant espresso powder
08 - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
09 - Pinch of salt

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Grease four 6 oz ramekins with butter and lightly dust with cocoa powder, tapping out the excess.
02 - In a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter together, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, egg yolks, and sugar until pale and thickened, about 2-3 minutes.
04 - Stir the espresso powder and vanilla extract into the chocolate mixture.
05 - Gently fold the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture.
06 - Sift in the flour and salt, folding gently until just combined—do not overmix.
07 - Divide the batter evenly among the prepared ramekins.
08 - Place ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 11-13 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers are still soft.
09 - Let cakes rest for 1 minute. Run a knife around the edges to loosen, then invert onto dessert plates. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The molten center creates that restaurant quality moment at your dinner table without any fancy techniques
  • Each cake is individually portioned so everyone gets their own perfect dessert
02 -
  • I once baked these for 14 minutes and lost the molten center entirely, so set your timer and trust it
  • The espresso powder dissolves best in warm chocolate, so add it before folding into the eggs
03 -
  • Room temperature eggs incorporate better than cold ones, so set them out while you prep everything else
  • The instant espresso powder is optional but if you skip it, you're missing out on what makes these special
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