Peanut Butter Lava Cakes

Peanut Butter Lava Cakes: The Ultimate Gooey Dessert You Need to Try

If you love classic lava cakes but want something extra, Peanut Butter Lava Cakes are a must-try! These rich, individual cakes combine deep chocolate flavor with a warm, gooey peanut butter center. Every bite is pure indulgence.

The best part? They’re incredibly easy to make with just a few ingredients. Perfect for date night, special occasions, or when you need a quick treat. Plus, they bake in under 15 minutes, so dessert is ready fast!

As soon as you cut into one, the molten peanut butter oozes out, blending with the soft, fudgy cake. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or a dusting of powdered sugar. The combination is irresistible.

Why wait? Let’s get baking and enjoy this chocolate-peanut butter masterpiece!

Recipe Yield: 2 individual cakes

INGREDIENTS

6 oz dark chocolate (60-70% cocoa), chopped
1/4 cup + 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
3 tbsp creamy peanut butter
6 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 tsp salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven: Set oven to 425°F. Grease two 6-oz ramekins with butter or nonstick spray.

2. Melt chocolate and butter: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chopped dark chocolate and butter in 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Let cool slightly.

3. Whisk eggs, yolks, and sugar: In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, egg yolks, and sugar until pale and slightly thickened (about 2 minutes).

4. Combine and fold: Slowly pour the melted chocolate into the egg mixture, whisking continuously. Gently fold in flour, salt, and vanilla until just combined.

5. Add peanut butter core: Fill each ramekin halfway with batter. Drop 1 ½ tablespoons of peanut butter into the center of each, then cover with remaining batter.

6. Bake to perfection: Bake for 11-13 minutes until edges are set but the center is slightly jiggly.

7. Serve warm: Let cool for 1-2 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and invert onto plates. Serve immediately!

Helpful Tips to Perfect This Recipe

• Choose High-Quality Chocolate: The flavor of your molten cake completely depends on the chocolate you use! For the best results, always opt for a high-quality dark chocolate (60-70% cocoa) because it delivers a rich, deep, and slightly bittersweet taste that pairs perfectly with the peanut butter. In addition, using good chocolate enhances the overall texture, making each bite more indulgent.
• Freeze the Peanut Butter for a Gooey Center: If you want the best molten effect, freeze small scoops of peanut butter for about 15 minutes before adding them to the batter. As a result, the peanut butter stays creamy so that it doesn’t blend too much with the cake while baking. This way, you get that irresistible molten center every time! Moreover, freezing helps the peanut butter hold its shape, ensuring a perfect lava-like flow when you cut into the cake.
• Don’t Overbake—Watch the Center! The key to a perfect molten cake ultimately comes down to timing. Ideally, remove it from the oven when the edges are set, but at the same time, the center should still be slightly soft and jiggly. Overbaking can easily result in a fully cooked cake, which means you’ll lose that gooey lava effect. So, it’s best to check at the 11-minute mark. Then, if necessary, adjust the baking time based on your oven’s performance.