It's the best (and easiest!) chocolate cake you've ever had.

Published on February 13, 2026

Credit:

Jake Sternquist / Food Styling: Holly Dreesman

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Tender cake on the outside, warm, melty chocolate on the inside. These lava cakes have everything you love in a rich chocolate cake but require minimal effort–all you need is six ingredients and 20 minutes. Keep in mind: the secret to the iconic ooey-gooey chocolate center is to avoid overbaking them.

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Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. salted butter, softened

  • 8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

  • 3/4 cup salted butter

  • 3 eggs

  • 3 egg yolks

  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 tsp. vanilla

  • 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

  • Powdered sugar and/or unsweetened cocoa powder

  • Strawberries (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease six 8- to 10-oz. ramekins, soufflé dishes, or custard cups with the 2 Tbsp. softened butter. Place ramekins in a 15x10-inch baking pan.

  2. In a small heavy saucepan combine chocolate and the ¾ cup butter. Cook and stir over low until chocolate melts. Remove from heat.

  3. In a large bowl beat eggs, egg yolks, granulated sugar, and vanilla with a mixer on high until thick and lemon color, 8 to 10 minutes. Fold about one-third of the chocolate mixture into egg mixture. Fold remaining chocolate mixture and flour into egg mixture. Spoon about ⅔ cup batter into each prepared ramekin.

  4. Bake until cake edges feel firm, about 12 minutes. Cool in ramekins on a wire rack 2 to 3 minutes. Using a knife, loosen cakes from sides of ramekins. Invert onto plates. Sift with powdered sugar and/or cocoa powder and, if you like, serve with strawberries. Serve immediately.