Red velvet molten lava cakes are a delightful twist on the classic chocolate version, offering a rich and indulgent dessert experience. These individual-sized cakes are baked to perfection, creating a warm and gooey center that oozes out when you dig in with a spoon. The velvety red cake and the molten chocolate center create a truly decadent treat that is perfect for special occasions or a cozy night.
If you want to impress your guests or satisfy your sweet tooth, red velvet molten lava cakes are the perfect choice. Making these delectable treats involves carefully combining the red velvet batter with a luscious chocolate filling and baking them until the edges are set but the center remains gloriously molten. The red velvet lava cake step-by-step guide will walk you through the process of creating this irresistible red velvet molten lava cake in your own kitchen.
Prep Time
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes
- Cooking Time: 10 minutes
- Type: Dessert
- Style: American cuisine
Ingredients
Butter: Adds richness and moisture to the cakes, creating a tender texture.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate: Provides deep, rich chocolate flavor and contributes to the molten center.
Large Egg: Acts as a binder, adding structure and stability to the cake.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake, balancing the bitterness of the chocolate.
Salt: Enhances the overall flavor by balancing sweetness and intensifying chocolate taste.
Vanilla: Adds a subtle, aromatic flavor that complements the chocolate.
All Purpose Flour: Provides structure to the cake, giving it a soft, cakey texture.
Red Gel Food Color: Gives the cake its vibrant red hue, making it visually appealing.
Butter To Coat The Ramekins: Prevents the cakes from sticking to the ramekins, ensuring easy release.
Directions for Making Red Velvet Molten Lava Cakes
- Preheat the oven to 450F (conventional) and prepare 2 6 oz ramekins by generously brushing butter inside them.
- Combine chocolate and butter in a heat-safe bowl, then microwave in 20-second increments until melted. Stir well.
- In a separate bowl, mix the egg, sugar, salt, and vanilla with an electric hand mixer for 2-3 minutes until light and frothy.
- Pour the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and whisk until just combined.
- Sift in the flour, then gently fold with a rubber spatula until mixed in. Avoid overmixing.
- Gently fold in the red food color, adjusting the quantity based on preference.
- Divide the batter between the ramekins and bake for about 10-11 minutes until the edges are set but the center is still molten.
- Allow the cakes to cool in the ramekins for 1-2 minutes, then carefully turn them out onto dessert plates.
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
- Enjoy your delicious molten lava cakes!
The Story Behind This Red Velvet Volcano Cake
I’ve come to understand that labeling these as “red velvet” might not be entirely accurate, since they’re essentially chocolate lava cakes with red food coloring. However, it does make me wonder, what truly defines a red velvet cake. Some might argue that it’s simply a lightly chocolate-flavored cake with a touch of red color!
I was eager to create red velvet chocolate lava cakes as they sound and look more thrilling. Therefore, I decided to explore a few possibilities for these velvet molten cakes:
- Use white chocolate instead of dark chocolate and add red food color.
- Modify the recipe by reducing the sugar and increasing the cocoa powder.
- Make a chocolate lava cake and add food color to it.
- Use semi-sweet chocolate instead of dark chocolate for a better color payoff.
- You can also use milk chocolate for the lava cake recipe.
The great thing is, you don’t even need to use red food coloring to enjoy these delicious red velvet cakes simply skip it and whip up some amazing chocolate molten lava cakes instead!
Variations of Red Velvet Lava Cake Recipe
Here are some ways you can personalize this red velvet molten cake and give it your own touch:
- Substitute white chocolate for semi-sweet and adjust cocoa powder and sugar amounts.
- Include a chocolate truffle in the center for a more dramatic molten interior.
- Place a scoop of chilled ganache in the middle.
- Top with cream cheese frosting.
- Omit red food color for the most incredible chocolate molten lava cakes.
Tips And Tricks
Here are my top suggestions for mastering this recipe:
- Ensure that your ramekins are generously coated with butter to prevent the cakes from sticking and spilling over.
- Opt for gel food color, as it provides incredible value and delivers a strong color payoff.
- Pay attention to the baking time, especially with molten lava cakes. They can quickly go from perfect to overbaked, so make sure your oven is properly preheated and calibrated. Bake until the top and edges of the cake feel set, but there’s still a slight wobble when you gently shake the ramekin.
- If you’re unsure about the baking time for a larger batch, bake one cake as a test before proceeding with the rest. This will help you adjust the baking time to achieve the perfect result.
- Serve the cakes immediately! Allow them to cool for just 1 minute in the ramekins, then carefully turn them out and serve while they’re still hot.
Try Out My Other Recipes!
Molten Lava Chocolate Mug Cake
Red Velvet Molten Lava Cakes – Made for Two Persons
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter 56g
- 100 g semi sweet chocolate chopped
- 1 large egg
- 1-2 tablespoon granulated sugar depending on your preference for sweetness
- Pinch of salt
- ¼ tsp vanilla
- 2 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1-2 teaspoon red gel food color
- Butter to coat the ramekins
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450°F.
- Brush butter inside two 6 oz ramekins.
- Melt chocolate and butter in a heat-safe bowl using the microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring each time.
- In another bowl, whisk the egg, sugar, salt, and vanilla with an electric hand mixer for 2-3 minutes until light and frothy.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and whisk until just combined.
- Sift in the flour and gently fold it with a rubber spatula until mixed. Do not overmix.
- Add red food coloring and gently fold it in.
- Divide the batter between the ramekins.
- Bake for 10-11 minutes until the edges are set but the center is still wobbly.
- Let the cakes cool in the ramekins for 1-2 minutes, then turn them out onto dessert plates.
- Dust with powdered sugar and serve.
Notes
- If you prefer, you can substitute milk chocolate for semi-sweet in this recipe. However, it’s a good idea to consider reducing the amount of sugar.
- For the best results, I highly suggest using gel food color. Liquid food color may not be strong enough to achieve a vibrant red color in the chocolate batter.
- Feel free to double or triple this recipe if you need to make more servings. It’s quite easy to adjust the quantities.
- If you want to prepare these red velvet molten lava cakes in advance, you can refrigerate or freeze them in the ramekins before baking. Just remember to adjust the baking time accordingly.
- Don’t hesitate to experiment and make this recipe your own. Feel free to customize it to your liking!