Chocolate Lava Cake Recipe

Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure it's hot enough for baking.

Melt the Chocolate and Butter

In a heatproof bowl, combine the dark chocolate and unsalted butter. Melt them together over a pot of simmering water (double boiler method) or in the microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth.

Mix the Eggs and Sugar

In a separate bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, large eggs, and egg yolks until the mixture is pale and slightly thickened.

Combine Mixtures

Slowly pour the melted chocolate and butter mixture into the egg mixture, stirring continuously to combine without cooking the eggs.

Add Dry Ingredients

Sift in the all-purpose flour and a pinch of salt, then fold gently until just combined. Finally, add the vanilla extract and mix until smooth.

Prepare the Ramekins

Grease four ramekins with butter and dust them with cocoa powder to prevent sticking. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared ramekins, filling each about 3/4 full.

Bake

Place the ramekins on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes, until the edges are firm but the center is soft.

Cool and Serve

Remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool for 1 minute. Carefully invert each ramekin onto a plate, allowing the lava cake to release. Serve immediately with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and sprinkle with chocolate shavings if desired.