Make these miniature molten lava cakes with this easy recipe using standard muffin or cupcake tins! A great make ahead dessert for entertaining. Cute individual cakes that only take 10 minutes to prep with simple ingredients. These melt in the middle cakes will be the hit of your party!

A molten lava cake on a white plate with a gold spoon

When we’re having friends over, I often prepare individual make and bake desserts like cookie cobbler or peanut butter pie. It makes serving quicker and easier, allowing more time to enjoy guests.

This easy molten lava cake recipe can be made ahead, baked during dinner and served with ease.

To Make These Easy Mini Molten Lava Cakes, You Will Need:

You just need a few simple pantry staples to make these fun cakes!

  • Butter, cream, chocolate chips
  • Eggs: Free run / organic if you can
  • Sugar
  • Vanilla extract: Pure is preferable over imitation
  • Salt and flour

How to Make Easy Mini Molten Lava cakes

It takes just 10 minutes to prep these individual desserts!

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Spray cupcake tins with cooking oil.
  3. Combine butter, chocolate chips & cream in microwave safe bowl & warm in 30 second increments, whisking vigorously until smooth. Allow to slightly cool.
  4. In a large bowl, combine eggs, sugar, vanilla, salt, & flour.
  5. Gradually add chocolate mixture to egg mixture. Pour into cupcake pan & bake 8-10 minutes {for standard size cupcake tins}.
  6. Wait one minute, then invert onto a cookie sheet & transfer to plates with a spatula. Serve immediately.

How to Serve These Lava Cakes

For the holidays, I top them with a scoop of peppermint ice cream – chocolate and peppermint just might be my favorite flavor of the season! Lava cake is also incredible with my two ingredient vanilla ice cream.

An individual molten lava cake recipe topped with ice cream

These Individual Cakes are Perfect For Entertaining

I love serving individual desserts like these mini lava cakes, it makes guests feel special, having a special dessert made just for them! These cakes are restaurant quality and I guarantee they will impress your guests. Everyone will think you’ve spent hours in the kitchen, but in all honesty, you’ve spent minutes!

Easy Melt In The Middle Cake Recipe

These molten lava chocolate cakes couldn’t be any easier to make if I tried, yet they are for sure, a restaurant quality dessert. When you cut into the mini cake, chocolate comes oozing out of it for a real show stopping dessert. It’s the perfect way to finish off your holiday meal!

Can You Make Mini Molten Lava Cakes Ahead Of Time?

You can pour the mix into the muffin tins a couple of hours ahead of time and keep them covered in the fridge – just let them come to room temperature before serving. You can also bake these cakes ahead of time and then just gently reheat them in the oven or microwave before serving.

Pin it!A mini molten lava cake served on a white plate with ice cream

Top Tips To Make Mini Molten Lava Cakes

  • Be sure to spray the tin with cooking spray for easy removal.
  • You can melt the chocolate in the microwave or in a bain-marie on the stove.
  • Bake in a pre-heated oven for the best results.
  • Serve immediately or reheat in the microwave or oven before serving.

For more cake recipes:

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Easy molten lava cake recipe in cupcake tins
4.57 from 16 votes
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Mini Molten Lava Cakes

Make these miniature molten lava cakes with this easy recipe using standard muffin or cupcake tins! A great make ahead dessert for entertaining.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 9
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Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Spray cupcake tins with cooking oil.
  • Combine butter, chocolate chips & cream in microwave safe bowl & warm in 30 second increments, whisking vigorously until smooth. Allow to slightly cool.
  • In a large bowl, combine eggs, sugar, vanilla, salt, & flour.
  • Gradually add chocolate mixture to egg mixture. Pour into cupcake pan & bake 8-10 minutes {for standard size cupcake tins}.
  • Wait one minute, then invert onto a cookie sheet & transfer to plates with a spatula. Serve immediately.

Julie's Tips

  • Be sure to spray the tin with cooking spray for easy removal.
  • You can melt the chocolate in the microwave or in a bain-marie on the stove.
  • Bake in a pre-heated oven for the best results.
  • Serve immediately or reheat in the microwave or oven before serving.
Calories: 407.49kcal | Carbohydrates: 34.44g | Protein: 5.79g | Fat: 27.77g | Saturated Fat: 16.58g | Cholesterol: 170.91mg | Sodium: 324.86mg | Potassium: 62.37mg | Fiber: 0.73g | Sugar: 27.5g | Vitamin A: 870.29IU | Vitamin C: 0.12mg | Calcium: 52.76mg | Iron: 1.08mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

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4.57 from 16 votes (14 ratings without comment)

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22 Comments

  1. I love your site and your recipes all sound so wonderful. I have printed many of them. I am 80, live alone but always have family gatherings at my home. Christmas will be finger foods and everyone always brings a dish What is your easiest, favorite finger food that I can make to be the highlight of the party. I printed your chicken wrapped in bacon. I also am looking for a recipe from my childhood that my grandmother made. It was a yellow cake served with warm chocolate topping. Do you have anything like that in your collection. I am making your peanut butter fudge for gifts.
    Thanks and keep cooking.

    1. Hi Barbara! I love finger foods. I hope you had a great Christmas surrounded by family and friends. I wish I could help you – it sounds fantastic!

  2. Are these made in regular size muffin tins, or the miniature size. The title says miniature but the directions mention regular size.
    Thanks!