The best ever lava cake recipe, offering a decadent chocolate cake dessert with a surprise center of warm, melted chocolatey goodness,or peanut butter, or caramel, or Nutella. Yep, you read that right, four different options for a hot gooey, lava center. 

Molten lava cake puts all other cakes to shame.  The best news is this crave worthy, rich chocolate lava cake can be made quick and easily right in your Instant Pot. This is a dangerous tool to have, as once you realize how eazy peazy it is to make molten, you may find yourself eating them far too often. 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter 8 Tablespoons 
• 3 whole eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 Tablespoons  all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 1 Tablespoon  cocoa powder for dusting the ramekins

Caramel Lava Cake:

• 8 Caramel squares cut into small pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Peanut Butter Lava Cake:

• 4 Tablespoons Peanut Butter
• 1 Tablespoon butter
• 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar

For Nutella Lava Cake:

• 4 Tablespoons Nutella or chocolate hazelnut spread
• 1 Tablespoon butter
• 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar

Toppings:

Chocolate:

• Powdered sugar
• Berries
• Whipped cream

Peanut butter:

• Whipped cream
• chopped peanut butter cups

Caramel:

• Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
• Caramel drizzle

Nutella:

• Vanilla ice cream
• Nutella drizzle
• Chopped hazelnuts

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Procedure

Base Mixture

• In a large bowl, add chocolate chips and butter
• Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and combined (about 1 1/2 – 2 minutes).
• Add confectioner’s sugar to the chocolate mixture, and mix until smooth.
• Add 3 full eggs and 1 egg yolk and mix until well combined.
• Add vanilla, salt, and flour and mix until combined.
• Spray each 6 ounce ramekin with cooking spray, and sprinkle with sugar.

For Chocolate Lava Cake:

• Pour batter into each ramekin, dividing batter evenly between the 4.

For Peanut butter Lava Cake:

• Mix together 4 Tablespoons peanut butter, 1 Tablespoon butter, 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar.
• Pour batter half way in each cup
• Place Peanut butter mixture in the center.
• Cover with more chocolate batter.

For Caramel Lava Cake:

• Cut up the caramel squares so they are smaller and have a chance to melt.
• Pour batter half way in each cup and place caramel squares in the center and sprinkle with salt.
• Cover with more chocolate batter.

For Nutella Lava Cake:

• Mix together 4 Tablespoons nutella, 1 Tablespoons butter, 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar.
• Pour batter half way in each ramekin and spoon nutella mixture in the center.
• Cover with more chocolate batter.

Cook

• Place the trivet into your instant pot and add one cup of water.
• Place your ramekins on the trivet so they fit, with some space between. You may need to put 3 on the bottom, and one balanced on top of the other 3.
• Place lid on instant pot, and lock into place. Set valve to “sealing.”
• If using a 6 Qt pot, set pot to 9 minutes on Manual High Pressure. If you are using an 8 Qt pot, set time to 7 minutes on manual high pressure.
• When time is up, quick release pressure by carefully turning the valve to “venting”.
• Remove from the Instant Pot and rest for 3 minutes, then turn upside down on a plate, and remove ramekin.
• Top with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, and desired toppings (whipped cream and strawberries for the plain chocolate one. Whipped cream and chopped up peanut butter cups for the peanut butter one, A drizzle of caramel for the caramel one, a drizzle of nutella and some chopped hazelnuts for the nutella one.
• Serve immediately or the inside will no longer be lava.