Ooey Gooey Chocolate Filled Lava Cake

By: Amy Winkelmann

I believe food is a love language… and chocolate is the food of love. What better way to show your love to that special someone this Valentine's Day than baking them an "ooey gooey" chocolate-filled lava cake? 

Ingredients:  

4 TBSP Unsalted butter, plus more for greasing ramekins 

1 tsp cocoa powder 

4 oz dark chocolate (60% or higher) chopped 

1 large egg 

2 large egg yolks 

¼ cup granulated white sugar 

½ tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste 

1 tsp finely grated orange zest 

2 TBSP all-purpose flour 

Pinch of salt 

Instructions:

1) Heat the oven to 400 degrees on bake or convection bake setting.   

2) Lightly butter two 4” baking ramekins and dust each with ½ teaspoon cocoa powder, tapping out any excess.  

3) Fill a medium saucepan with 1 inch of water and turn on medium heat to simmer.
4) In a glass or metal bowl that will fit over the top of the saucepan, add the butter and chopped chocolate.
5) Gently place the bowl over the saucepan and whisk until the chocolate and butter are completely melted. 
6) Remove from heat.  

7) In a separate bowl, mix the egg, egg yolks, and sugar with a hand mixer or stand mixer with a whisk attachment for about two minutes until it is pale in color.   

8) Stir in the vanilla and orange zest.   

9) Fold the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture with a rubber spatula until fully incorporated.   

10) Mix in the flour and salt. 

11) Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared ramekins and bake for about 11-13 minutes.  

12) Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Note: The sides of the cakes should firm up, but you want the middle to be slightly wet/jiggly. Carefully run a knife around the outside of the lava cake and place your dessert plate over the top. Using an oven mitt or kitchen towel, carefully invert each cake. 

Serve immediately! + I like to top my lava cake with vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream and fresh berries.

Enjoy!  

Amy Winkelmann
Southern Belly Kitchen
www.southernbellykitchen.com
IG @southernbellykitchen

Amy was born and raised in Texas and grew up cooking alongside her great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother. Her passion for cooking grew through years of work in restaurants and entertaining friends.  With food as her love language, she pours that love into all of the dishes she creates and makes each and every event feel unique and special for her clients.