This looks luxurious and impressive, but itโs only 6 ingredients and so easy to make. It takes just over 5 minutes to prepare to pop these ย into the oven โ itโs insane! The peanut butter filling is optional. I go nuts over peanut-butter anything, but you can easily just leave it out. That moment when you cut into thisย Peanut Butter Chocolate Molten Lava Cake and that molten centre comes running outโฆ pure wow!
ย โThe sight of the peanut butter and chocolate oozing out of the cake makes me weak in the knees.โ
I donโt bake sweet thingsย much. So when I do share a dessert recipe, you can be assured of two things:
1. Itโs really easy; and
2. It is worth the effort to make.
This lava cake knocks it out of the park on both counts. I used to see photos of lava cakes in gourmet magazines and just assume it was too hard. But then I was tasked with making dessert for a family dinnerย and a lava cake was specifically requested by someone. I was rather unenthusiastic when I started searching for recipes because I was sure it was going to require a lot of effort and science because surely a dessert that looks this impressive has to be annoyingly tedious to make. Right?
โThe batter for this can be made ahead which makes this a sensational desert for a fancy schmancy dinner party!โ
So you already know the ending to that mini story โ that I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was in fact ridiculously easy to make, and of the 15 times or so that Iโve made it since, it has never failed. Every time I make it, I almost expect it to fail and so I get reallyย excited when I cut into it and the โmoltenโ centre oozes out.
I think thatโs partly why I love this. The thrill of anticipation. The element of danger (ok, not danger. The risk of failure!).
I made this with a peanut butter lava centre because the sight of peanut butter and chocolate pouring out of the cake when I cut into it makes me weak at the knees. Itโs like all my favourite desserts rolled into one. Also the touch of saltiness from the peanut butter is aย contrast to the rich chocolate.
I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that these can be made ahead. The batter can be stored in the refrigerator for a few hours, then just bring it to room temperature and pour it into the moulds. Iโve only made it ย ahead by a few hours so Iโm not sure how it would be if made the day before. But even being able to make ahead a few hours is really handy when youโre entertaining. I have read in other recipes that you can refrigerate itย with the batter in the moulds, but I found that the cakes stick a bit more too the mould.
I have to sign off now. Thereโs a lava cake waiting for me.
Happy cooking! โ Nagi
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Peanut Butter Chocolate Molten Lava Cake
Ingredients
- 7 oz / 200g dark chocolate melts (note 1)
- 3.5 oz / 100g unsalted butter , chopped
- 2 eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup caster sugar
- 2 tbsp flour
- 5 heaped tsp smooth peanut butter
- Cocoa powder , for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200C/390F (standard) or 180C/350F (convection/fan forced).
- Place chocolate and butter in a bowl. Microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring in between. Stir well to combine butter and chocolate and leave to cool for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, generously grease 5 x 3/4 cup dariole moulds then dust with cocoa powder. (See notes 2 and 3)
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs (2 x whole eggs + 2 x yolks) and sugar.
- Add the chocolate mixture and mix until combined.
- Add flour and fold through until just combined. Do not over mix.
- Pour batter into dariole moulds until it reaches halfway.
- Drop a heaped teaspoon of peanut butter in the centre of each. Push down gently to mostly submerge.
- Top up with remaining batter until the dariole mould is 3/4 filled. Do not overfill! (Note 4)
- Bake for 16 minutes, or until the top springs back when touched gently. (Note 5)
- Turn out onto plate. If you dusted the mould with cocoa powder, it should slip out easily. If it does not, then run a knife around the edge.
- Serve immediately!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
ย
It doesnโt specify, is this unsweetened chocolate? And what is caster sugar?
Hi Jenny! Just ordinary chocolate melts / cooking chocolate which does have sugar in it. Caster sugar is very fine sugar. But ordinary sugar will work ok for this recipe, just be sure not to use the sugar that comes in big granules. ๐
Do you think the same ingredients can make a full-scale cake instead of 5 small portions? Great recipe, thanks.
Hi Leyla! Unfortunately no ๐ One large one is too fragile and it will collapse! Have you got a muffin tin? This works really well in muffin tins. I provided instructions in the recipe!
Oh.My.Gosh! I donโt dare show this recipe and your picture to my husband. He will literally be licking my computer screen if I do! He LOVES chocolate + peanut butter + cake!!!!
He he he!! You made me absolutely giggle out loud at this comment at the thought of your husband licking the computer screen!! TOO funny!! ๐
This looks fabulousโฆ can I confirm that the peanut butter is just right out of the jar? Iโm just amazed that it looks so lava smooth and not thick at all.
Hi Lyn! It sure is peanut butter straight out of the jar ๐ I donโt know any other way to use it! ๐
Hi, Nagi. Can this be made ahead of time and then reheated? Thanks!
Hi Kelly โ the cooked cake is not suited to reheating because the inside becomes fudgey and when reheated, it doesnโt pour out like in the photo. Instead, it is like a fudgey brownie โ still delicious but not the intended way! However you can make the batter ahead and store it in the fridge. Just bring it to room temperature prior to pouring into ramekins. This is what I do when I have dinner parties!
OMG!!! Itโs like a giant lava peanut butter cup!!! And itโs towering โ I think this may be the tallest lava cake Iโve ever seen! Absolutely ridiculous! I donโt know how you do it, but keep it up!
Thanks Kathleen!! Thatโs what I should have called it โ a Giant Lava Peanut Butter Cup!! Ha ha ha!!
It looks beautiful and very impressive Nagi! Love it and would like to try it soon! Gorgeous photo!
Thanks Mira! So nice of you to say!
MMMM so simple and decadent! I have to try this on a Friday night in where I curl up with a bowl of this cake, hot tea, and watch a movie.
Canโt think of a better way to spend a Friday night!
Gโday! Decadently delicious! I have always wanted to try these and based on your photo and recipe, it is now on the list to do! Thank you! Cheers! Joanne
Hope you do try it Joanne! Love to know what you think ๐
What a great idea! Love molten cakes. I bet it is distinctively fabulous! I have made them with different flavors and chocolate but have never tried peanut butter combination. Nagi , this is drool worthy!
highly recommend giving peanut butter filling a go โ it is seriously to die for Imma, promise!!
I am a US cook so I wanted to confirm . The oven is really at 390 degrees F? Not a usual temp for baking but I wanted to name sure.
Thanks for your recipes!
Hi Cindy! Yes, definitely 390 F which is 200 C. The hotter oven makes the outside cook faster while keeping the inside gooey. One of my friends accidentally baked it at 350F/180C which is the usual baking temperature and the cake collapsed when she turned it out because the cake exterior hadnโt cooked enough. Hope you give this a go!!
Couldnโt resist anything with peanut butterโฆ !!
I hear you!! I have a weak spot for anything peanut butter!!
This sight makes me knees weak as well. Iโm pinning this and I will give it a try, looks too yummy! Thank you for sharing!
Oh thank you!! I am so glad to hear it isnโt me that goes weak at the knees at the sight of this!!
This molten lava cake is incredible Nagi! I love molten cakes but never have made or tried a peanut butter centered version.. wish I had one to devour right now, my chocolate cravings have definitely kicked in!
Thanks Thalia! You are great at baking, this is a perfect one for you to try!!
What an impressive dessert! Canโt believe it only takes 6 minutes to make it!
Actually, it takes just over 20 minutes โ 5 minutes to mix up the batter then 15 minutes to bake. Super fast!
wowโฆ..youโre the best Nagi! amazing dessert. Iโve made chocolate lava cake once, and it was fail (to long in oven), I should try your recipe, the peanut butter makes me crazy ๐
Thanks Amallia! Yes, the peanut butter in this is the BEST!!
Oh Nagi, this is simply my dream dessert! I just love that you can make the batter ahead โฆ and that it never fails. Iโve just got to give this one a try โฆ pinning FOR SURE!
Thought this one might appeal to you after seeing your self saucing Caramello Koala cupcake!!
You took the words right out of my mouthโฆluxurious and impressive! This is a must-make! Thank you!
thanks Annie! So kind of you to say ๐