Instant Pot molten chocolate lava cakes

These molten chocolate lava cakes (also known as chocolate fondants) hide a core of gooey chocolate inside their sponge shell. A delicious and easy dessert in your Instant Pot or oven.

Ingredients

• 180 g | 1 cup dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
• 114 g | 1 stick unsalted butter cubed
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla paste or extract
• 185 g | 1 1/2 cups icing sugar
• 7 tbsp plain flour
• 1 tsp instant Espresso powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 teaspoons cocoa powder
• cake release spray or melted butter for the moulds

Serve with

• 2 tbsp Baileys optional
• vanilla ice cream optional

Instructions

Chocolate lava cakespressure cooker method

1. Put the chocolate and butter in a bowl and microwave for 30 second bursts, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Alternatively set the bowl over a pot of barely simmering water and allow the chocolate to melt gradually (double boiler method). Set aside to cool slightly.
2. Add the eggs and vanilla. Mix together using a small balloon whisk. The chocolate will thicken.
3. Sift the flour, icing sugar, espresso powder, ground cinnamon and salt over the chocolate. Fold together until you have a glossy, thick batter and no dry streaks remain.
4. Spray four ramekins or dariole (metal pudding) moulds with cake release or brush with melted butter. Add a scant teaspoon of cocoa powder in each and swirl to cover. Discard any excess cocoa powder.
5. Divide the batter between the prepared ramekins or moulds.
6. Place the metal trivet in your pressure cooker and add 250ml (1 cup water). Place the ramekins on the trivet - you should have enough space to fit them all in a single layer but if not you can stack them.
7. Set vent to sealing and cook for 10 minutes at high pressure. Release the steam manually and remove them lava cakes from the cooker. If any condensation has collected on top of the cakes, pat it dry with kitchen paper.
8. Leave to cool for a couple of minutes before serving. Carefully invert the lava cakes on plates (the moisture from the pressure cooker makes them really easy to release).
9. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side and perhaps a little Baileys drizzled over.

How to cook chocolate lava cakes in the oven

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).
2. Put the chocolate and butter in a bowl and microwave for 30 second bursts, stirring in between, until melted and smooth. Alternatively set the bowl over a pot of barely simmering water and allow the chocolate to melt gradually (double boiler method). Set aside to cool slightly.
3. Add the eggs and vanilla. Mix together using a small balloon whisk. The chocolate will thicken.
4. Sift the flour, icing sugar, espresso powder, ground cinnamon and salt over the chocolate. Fold together until you have a glossy, thick batter and no dry streaks remain.
5. Spray four ramekins or dariole (metal pudding) moulds with cake release or brush with melted butter. Add a scant teaspoon of cocoa powder in each and swirl to cover. Discard any excess cocoa powder.
6. Divide the batter between the prepared ramekins or moulds.
7. Place the ramekins or dariole moulds on a heavy baking tray (one that will not warp in the oven) and cook for 18-20 minutes. The lava cakes will rise slightly – if they are very soft and squidgy on top you might need to cook them for a couple of minutes more.
8. Leave to cool for two minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edge of the mould. Invert onto plates and serve.

Notes
Chocolate lava cakes tips and troubleshooting

1. Oven temperatures can vary greatly – if your oven runs hot these cakes will cook faster and they will become firm in the center which is not what you want. You might want to test the recipe with one before baking the rest.
2. Do not use milk chocolate or chocolate substitutes in this recipe 
3. Leftover lava cakes can be reheated for just few seconds in the microwave before serving.
4. If cooking in an Instant Pot, some condensation will collect on top of the cakes. You can dry this off with kitchen paper, it doesn’t affect the texture or taste.
5. Making lava cakes for two or one 😉 Make the recipe and freeze the extras for another chocolate emergency or as a back-up dessert.
6. If your lava cake is really squidgy and soft on top then it probably needs a another minute to cook. Leave to cool for a couple of minutes before serving.

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