Eggless Chocolate Lava Cake

This eggless chocolate lava cake is rich and warm moist cake, with slightly crispy edges, and a soft molten chocolate center. This eggless recipe comes together quickly and is perfect for Valentine's Day, or anytime you are craving a decadent dessert!

Lava cake with ice cream on top with a bite taken to show the melty interior.

This chocolate lava cake needs no special equipment or complicated steps. The batter mixes in minutes, and the cakes bake so quickly. Serve it warm for the best molten texture - this one really hits all the right spots!

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Why You'll Love This Recipe

✨ This cake is totally irresistible with its soft crumb and melty chocolate center!

✨ It's eggless and easy! No fancy equipment or complicated steps.

✨ The batter comes together very quickly, and the cakes bake in no time, making this recipe perfect for last-minute desserts.

✨ Ideal for Valentine's Day, date nights, or anytime you want a dessert that feels special!

Recipe Ingredients

Labelled ingredients for making eggless chocolate lava cake.

Flour: All-purpose flour works the best here. You can also make this gluten-free using your favorite gluten-free flour.

Cocoa powder: Natural or Dutch-process, either will work well here.

Sugar: I used brown sugar, but regular white sugar will also work.

Milk: I used regular full-fat milk, but feel free to use homemade almond milk or any other plant milk you prefer.

Oil: I used sunflower oil. Olive oil works very well, too, as does coconut oil.

Chocolate: Opt for good-quality baking chocolate. I cannot emphasize enough the need for the best quality baking chocolate you can find. This will really elevate your lava cake flavor.

Vanilla extract: So wonderful for rounding up the flavors! Use store-bought or homemade vanilla extract.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations

  • A splash of rum in the batter for a boozy flavor.
  • Whisk in coffee powder along with the dry ingredients for enhanced chocolate flavor.
  • You can also add a dollop of peanut butter or Biscoff in the center of the batter!

How To Make Chocolate Lava Cake

Recipe Video

Step-By-Step Process

For all its intense decadence, the eggless chocolate lava cake is beautifully simple in preparation. In just about 30 minutes, start to finish, you get the ultimate fix to satisfy all your chocolate cravings. 

Step 1: Grease 2 ramekins well. Then dust them with cocoa powder.

Dry ingredients for making chocolate lava cake in a bowl.

Step 2: Sift all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, and baking soda together. Whisk in brown sugar.

A mixture of oil, milk, and vanilla extract in a bowl.

Step 3: In another bowl, whisk warm milk, oil, and vanilla extract. 

Chocolate cake batter in a bowl.

Step 4: Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients. Combine well to make a smooth, thick batter.

Chocolate batter in 2 ramekins with chocolates in the center.

Step 5: Transfer the batter into the ramekins. Place the chocolate in the middle of the batter. Gently push it in.

baked chocolate cakes in 2 ramekins on a tray.

Step 6: Bake for 15 -17 minutes.

Chocolate cake on a small plate.

Step 7: Let the ramekins cool for 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edges. Carefully invert on a plate. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

A hand holding a spoon of chocolate cake and a plate of cake with ice cream on top.

Pro Tips

  1. Sprinkling the ramekins with cocoa powder makes it easier to slide the cake out after baking.
  2. Make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature. 
  3. Milk should be slightly warm. This helps the cocoa and sugar to dissolve easily.
  4. Don’t overmix or beat the batter. What you are looking for is dry and wet ingredients well combined with no dry streaks visible. 
  5. The bake time is crucial. Bake the lava cake a few minutes longer, and you still have a delicious treat, but it’s not molten but rather cakey and fudgy. The trick is to catch the cake at the right moment. For me, it took almost 17 minutes.
  6. For the best and most consistent results, please use a kitchen scale.

How To Serve

Chocolate lava cake is best served warm! It's lovely on its own, with a dusting of powdered sugar or cocoa powder. And of course, it pairs so well with vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. I also love it with a scoop of my vegan coffee ice cream!

If you're in an extra indulgent mood, drizzle some delicious caramel sauce on top as I did on my sticky toffee pudding. Or even some melted Biscoff spread, as I did on my Biscoff cheesecake!

Recipe FAQs

What can I use instead of ramekins?

If you don’t have ramekins, use a muffin tray for baking the lava cake. Remember to grease it well.
Also, this recipe serves two, but it can be easily doubled or tripled. The muffin tray will allow you to bake more portions simultaneously. 

How to check if the lava cake is done?

The top of the cake should be set but soft with a very slight wobble. That’s when the lava cake is done; a minute more, and the cake overbakes. Let the cake cool for 5-6 minutes, then invert it and serve!

Recipe

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream on top on a plate with a spoon.

Eggless Chocolate Lava Cake

Natasha Minocha
Warm and rich, this eggless chocolate lava cake recipe is super simple to make. Soft chocolate cakes filled with gooey chocolatey centers, these cakes are perfect for Valentine's Day or anytime you're craving something decadent!
5 from 3 votes · tap the stars to rate!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Cakes, Dessert
Cuisine World
Servings 2 Servings
Calories 544 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1/2 cup All-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp Baking powder
  • 1/8 tsp Baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 2 Tbsp Cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup Brown sugar You can use regular white sugar too
  • 1/3 cup Milk, warm You can use any milk you prefer
  • 1/4 cup Oil
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 2 oz Chocolate squares or couverture chocolate chips You can add more chocolate if you prefer

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C/ 350 F. Grease 2 ramekins very well and dust with cocoa powder.
  • In a small bowl, sift all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, and baking soda together.
    1/2 cup All-purpose flour,1/2 tsp Baking powder,1/8 tsp Baking soda,1/4 tsp Salt,2 Tbsp Cocoa powder
  • Mix in brown sugar and set aside.
    1/3 cup Brown sugar
  • In another bowl, whisk warm milk, oil, and vanilla extract.
    1/3 cup Milk, warm, 1/4 cup Oil, 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients.
  • Combine everything to make a thick, smooth batter. Please don't overmix.
  • Transfer the batter into the prepared ramekins.
  • Place the chocolate chips or squares in the middle of the batter. Gently push them in the center of the batter till completely submerged.
    2 oz Chocolate squares or couverture chocolate chips
  • Bake for 15 to 17 minutes at 180 C / 350 F.
  • Let the ramekins cool for 5 minutes. Then carefully run a paring knife around the edges to loosen the cakes.
  • Place a serving plate on top of the ramekin and immediately invert. Tap the plate a bit, and the cake will slide out automatically.
  • Dust with cocoa powder ( optional) and serve with a scoop of icecream. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

    1. Sprinkling the ramekins with cocoa powder makes it easier to slide the cake out after baking.
    2. Make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature. 
    3. Don’t overmix or beat the batter. What you are looking for is dry and wet ingredients well combined with no dry streaks visible. 
    4. The bake time is crucial. Bake the lava cake a few minutes longer, and you still have a delicious treat, but it’s not molten but rather cakey and fudgy. The trick is to catch the cake at the right moment. For me, it took almost 17 minutes.
    5. For the best and most consistent results, please use a kitchen scale.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 ServingCalories: 544kcalCarbohydrates: 66gProtein: 6gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 16gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 493mgPotassium: 224mgFiber: 3gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 67IUCalcium: 152mgIron: 3mg

From your kitchens

10 readers wrote in

5.0 from 3 ratings

  1. Vinutha

    Lovely recipe. How to store them ?

    1. Natasha Author

      Thank you, Vinutha! You can refrigerate the cake and microwave for 30-60 seconds before serving.

      1. Sheryl

        Cool, was curious..we usually have desert a few hours after dinner …. And I making for my other half’s birthday!

        1. Natasha Author

          How wonderful, Sheryl! I hope you have a lovely birthday celebration and the lava cakes turn out amazing. I'd love to hear from you! xx

  2. Rhea Yesiah

    This is soo good

    1. Natasha Author

      Chocolate is always my weakness! I'm glad you like this as much as I do, Rhea 😀

  3. Priya Nathu

    making these for galentines day!

    1. Natasha Author

      Yayyyy! Your girlfriends will be so happy! Thank you for following along, Priya!

  4. Easyfoodsmith

    Your post reminds me, I need to bake this for my daughter. It is her favourite.

    1. Natasha Author

      I think all kids love it! I made these just for mine????

5 from 3 votes

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