Individual Molten Lava Cakes

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

This a quick and easy recipe that you can use to impress your friends and family. I looks great, taste great, and the warm creamy center puts it over the top for everyone.

Ingredients:

Cake Ingredients:

1/4 cup chopped pecans or your favorite nuts (optional)
2/3 cup chocolate baking chips ( I used semi-sweet)
1/4 cup of Butter
3 oz cream cheese (set out and let it get soft before you use)
1/3 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
3 Eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla flavor
1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Topping ingredients:

Chocolate, strawberry or carmel Sauce

Vanilla Ice Cream

Sugar cream sauce
Chopped nuts
Powdered sugar
Diced strawberries
Fresh blueberries

* NOTE: I like to drizzle the sauce on the plate and on top of the cake and Ice cream, It helps for presentation.

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Grease the ramekin dishes. I used butter for this. Be sure to get a generous amount on the bottom and sides of the dishes. Make sure you have butter in the seam where the walls and bottom meet. To me, this is the most important step in the recipe. If the cakes stick to the dishes after being cooked, they will bust open when you place them on the plate.

3. In a microwave safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and butter. Microwave for 1 minute stirring every 20 seconds until both items are melted and smooth. Add the cream cheese and mix with your mixer until smooth.

4. In a second mixing bowl, add the eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla. Mix with mixer until well mixed.

5. Add the chocolate mix and continue mixing until smooth. With mixer on low, slowly add the flour. Continue mixing until well mixed.

6. (If using nuts) Sprinkle the nuts evenly on the bottom of your ramekin dishes.

7. Divide the batter among the four ramekin dishes, filling each to 70% capacity.

8. Place ramekin dishes on a non-greased baking dish and place in the oven.

9. Bake cakes for twelve minutes or until the tops are puffy and cracked. Some ovens cook a little faster than others. If the tops have cracked open and feel a little firm, then they are ready.

10. Remove cakes from the oven and let cook for 5-10 minutes. ( You want to serve these warm, But if you don't let them set then the middles will be too runny.

11. Using a thin small knife, cut around the sides of each cake to release it from the ramekin dish.

12. Place your desert plate on top of the ramekin dish and invert both items at the same time.

13. Slowly remove the ramekin dish. This should leave the cake standing upside down in the middle of your plate.

14. Garnish with toppings of your choice and enjoy!