Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (2024)

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Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (1)

Cheryl MalikPosted: 01/24/18Updated: 05/15/22

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This paleo molten lava cake is the perfect for a paleo Valentine’s Day recipe. Gooey, rich centers surrounded by perfect chocolate cake, this healthy Valentine’s Day dessert is super easy and quick. Grain-free and dairy-free, this is one of my all-time favorite paleo dessert recipes.

Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (2)

I just can’t pass up a molten cake.

That gooey center, the melty ice cream that soaks into the tender cake? I just can’tnot with molten cakes. And paleo molten cakes? It’s like, take me to Target on pay day and walk me past the throw-pillows aisle… then tell me it’s all free. It’s almost not fair. Paleo dessert recipes: 1; Cheryl: 1 MILLION. Because hey… these are healthy, gluten-free, refined-sugar-free, dairy-free, and grain-free! There are literally no losers here.

Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (3)

Like, I’ve gotnofight against this cake. But y’all, with this paleo molten lava cake, just let it happen. No refined sugar, no grains, no gluten, no dairy… in other words, no bloat, no stomachache, no lingering guilt, no unpleasant symptoms parading as your nightcap.

And when it comes to Valentine’s Day desserts, feeling good afterward is key. For like, no reason…

Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (4)

Do you get what I’m saying? Are you pickin’ up what I’m puttin’ down? You buyin’ what I’m sellin’? Are we, like, on the same page about what I’m alluding to here oh ok good.

I whipped up these paleo molten lava cake recipe because, duh, Valentine’s Day is coming up, and there is just no better way to sayI’m into you than to serve this paleo dessert recipe up to your sweetie pie sugar buns. Especially if you’re coming off a Whole30, you can close your eyes and basically pickany dinner recipe from my best paleo Valentine’s Day recipes roundup, and you’re off to a phenomenal start. End dinner with these paleo molten lava cakes, and you better be ready to fend your partner off, y’all, because this stuff is serious.

Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (5)

Why this recipe is so good

  • The lava cakes are super gooey and rich in the center, surrounded by tender, chocolatey cake.
  • These paleo dessert recipes come together super easily, and you could make them ahead of time, baking right before serving.
  • These molten lava cakes are paleo, gluten free, grain free, and refined sugar, making them a pretty darn healthy Valentine’s Day dessert!

How To Make It Ahead

If you do make these lava cakes ahead of time, you might have to bake them just a smidge longer, since they’ll be cold coming from the fridge. Better yet, make them ahead of time, then bring the ramekins out from the fridge onto the counter while you make and eat the rest of your dinner. By the time you’re ready to bake, they’ll be room temperature and perfect for the ooey, gooey molten melting.

Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (6)

How To Make It

Preheat the oven to 450º Fahrenheit. If you’re making these ahead, skip this part, of course!

Grease 2 ramekins with refined coconut oil and set aside.

Microwave your chocolate chips and coconut oil in a medium bowl. Start with 60 seconds, then stir, then continue microwaving in 30-second bursts, stirring well in between, until just melted and smooth.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, coconut sugar, and salt. Fold the melted chocolate into the eggs and sugar, stirring to just combine. Stir in the tapioca starch and almond flour and stir until well combined. Split the batter evenly between the two prepared ramekins and bake 12 minutes or until the sides are set but centers are still very soft.

Remove from oven and let cool 1 minute. Run a thin knife around the edge then place an inverted plate on top; carefully flip and let stand 10 seconds. Remove ramekin and serve immediately.

Hey – you’ve made it this far, so now we’re basically best friends! If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below. Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook, too!

Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (7)

5 from 14 votes

Paleo Molten Lava Cake Recipe

Prep:10 minutes minutes

Cook:12 minutes minutes

Total:18 minutes minutes

Tender chocolate cakes with gooey, rich centers, these paleo molten lava cakes come together quickly and easily, making them one of our favorite paleo dessert recipes.

2 cakes

Ingredients

  • cup refined coconut oil
  • ½ cup vegan chocolate chips like Enjoy Life
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 egg yolk
  • ¼ cup coconut sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 tablespoon tapioca starch
  • 3 tablespoons almond flour
  • coconut milk ice cream for serving

Equipment Needed

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 450°. Grease two 6-ounce ramekins with coconut oil. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet.

  • Place coconut oil and chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave 60 seconds then stir well. Continue microwaving in 30-second bursts, stirring very well in between, until chocolate is completely melted and smooth. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs with the egg yolks, coconut sugar and salt well.

  • Fold the chocolate mixture it into the egg-sugar mixture, then stir in the tapioca starch and almond flour. Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared ramekins and bake for 12 minutes, or until the sides of the paleo molten lava cake are firm but centers are still very soft. Remove form oven and let cakes cool in the ramekins for 1 minute. Run a very thin steak or paring knife around the edge of each cake. Cover each with an upside-down dessert plate then carefully turn each one over. Let stand for 10 seconds then unmold. Serve immediately with plenty of vanilla ice cream.

Notes

To make these ahead, prepare cakes up until baking then chill. 30 minutes before baking, remove from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature.

Alternately, bake cakes immediately out of refrigerator, adding about 1-2 minutes to baking time. Monitor closely so as not to under- or over-bake.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 772kcal, Protein: 12g, Fat: 63g, Saturated Fat: 43g, Cholesterol: 261mg, Sodium: 106mg, Potassium: 60mg, Total Carbs: 51g, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 34g, Net Carbs: 47g, Vitamin A: 365IU, Calcium: 117mg, Iron: 4.7mg

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (8)

Meet Cheryl Malik

In addition to being a certified health coach, certified yoga instructor, and mom of 3, Cheryl is also the recipe developer, editor-in-chief, food photographer, and passionate foodie behind 40 Aprons. Having spent the last 10+ years as a food blogger, she's become known for her flavorful recipes, detailed instructions, gorgeous photography, and down-to-earth approach to food and cooking in general.

Read more...

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  1. Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (12)Sonya says

    Love it! Turned out awesome. I used sunflower oil instead of coconut. Plus I used the lanko sugar free sweetener to reduce the sugar.
    Easy and tasty. Cooked in countertop oven.
    I was craving chocolate cake and this hit the spot!Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (13)

    Reply

    • Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (14)Anna Claire | 40 Aprons Team says

      So glad you enjoyed this recipe! This is a great way to satisfy those chocolate cravings. 🙂Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (15)

      Reply

  2. Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (16)Heidi says

    I don’t love baking, but this recipe was so successful, anyone could make it! My kids couldn’t get enough of it. It was the perfect ratio of cake to gooey inside. I would totally feel confident making these for guests.

    Reply

  3. Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (17)Nikki says

    Are there really 772 calories and 63g of fat in these?? My mind is blown. ?

    Reply

    • Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (18)Cheryl Malik says

      Yes!

      Reply

Older Comments

Molten Lava Cake Recipe (Paleo, Healthy, Gluten Free) (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between molten cake and lava cake? ›

Lava cakes are typically small individual-sized cakes baked in a ramekin. In summary, molten cake is a broader term that can refer to cakes with a liquid center, whereas lava cake is a specific type of chocolate cake with a melted center.

Are molten lava cakes safe to eat? ›

Is the molten center of lava cake safe to eat? Answer: Yes, while the molten center is not fully cooked it still reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Therefore, it is perfectly safe to enjoy.

Can you reheat molten lava cakes? ›

Wrap well in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month. You can thaw frozen lava cakes overnight in the fridge and reheat them in the oven at 350°F for about 8 minutes. Alternatively, you can reheat them from frozen in a preheated 400°F oven for 15-18 minutes.

What is lava cake made of? ›

Lava Cake Ingredients

Eggs: Three eggs add more moisture and help bind the batter together. Sugar: This sweet dessert calls for ⅓ cup of white sugar. Flour: All-purpose flour gives the batter structure. Cocoa powder: Cocoa powder is key to this lava cake's rich, chocolatey flavor.

What is a fancy name for lava cake? ›

Molten chocolate cake is a French dessert that consists of a chocolate cake with a liquid chocolate core. It is named for that molten center, and it is also known as mi-cuit au chocolat, chocolat coulant ("flowing"), chocolate lava cake, or simply lava cake.

Is lava cake raw in the middle? ›

This is a tricky one. The technical answer is no, molten lava cake is not raw in the middle.

Is lava cake good for anxiety? ›

Among medicinal marijuana consumers, Lava Cake is cherished for its stress and pain-relieving properties. In other words, it may be beneficial to people dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, migraines, headaches, and chronic pain.

Are Lava Cakes just uncooked? ›

The molten centre isn't just raw cake batter, it's melted chocolate. No more stress about overcooking the molten centre – because chocolate will always ooze.

Does molten lava cake need to be refrigerated? ›

Yes, both unbaked and baked Lava Cakes should be refrigerated. Can I double or triple the recipe? Yes! You can double or triple the recipe, but the cakes will likely need an extra minute or two in the oven.

Why did my lava cake sink in the middle? ›

If you over mix the cake batter, your molten lava cake is going to collapse or sink in. Reason being when you over mix the batter, you are incorporating too much air bubble into the batter resulting it in losing its structure to hold the cake together.

What is the difference between a souffle and a lava cake? ›

Lava cake has a runny center, whereas a soufflé incorporates whipped egg whites that puff up as it cooks to create a pillowy texture. Density: Lava cake, because of the gooey center, is a much wetter and denser cake.

What country is lava cake from? ›

The history of chocolate lava cakes is a bit of a mystery. Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten claims to have invented it at his restaurant in New York City in the 1980s. However, fellow New York-based French chef Jacques Torres argues that this dish already existed in France.

What is Dominos lava cake? ›

Today, it's a menu favorite. Imagine a rich chocolate cake with a slightly crunchy crust and a warm liquid chocolate center that flows out at the nudge of a fork. Now don't imagine it: Order it. Domino's Chocolate Lava Crunch Cakes come in pairs for sharing — or for eating one now and saving one for later.

What can you use instead of a ramekin for a lava cake? ›

Can I make my chocolate lava cakes without ramekins? Yes! If you have a large 6-count jumbo muffin tin you can use that instead, see my notes in the recipe.

What is the meaning of molten lava cake? ›

A molten lava cake, also known as a chocolate lava cake or a molten chocolate cake, is a popular dessert that features a rich, decadent chocolate cake with a gooey, melted chocolate center.

Why is my lava cake no lava? ›

If the Lava Cakes are left in the ramekins any longer, you risk a nonexistent lava center. Gently loosen the cakes from the ramekins by sliding a knife around the edges of each cake, then invert the cakes onto serving plates.

Is it melted or molten chocolate? ›

“Molten” is now usually used of hard materials liquified by very high heat, like lava, glass, and lead. Most other substances are “melted,” though some people like to refer to “molten cheese” and a popular dessert is called “molten chocolate cake,” perhaps to emphasize its gooey, lava-like character.

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