Instant Pot Lava Cake

Instant Pot Lava Cake: 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 moltens, you may find yourself eating them far too often. 

Instant Pot Lava Cake is the perfect dessert to make when you are in the mood for a chocolate treasure that will satisfy the ultimate sweet tooth craving.  Don’t miss out on this chocolate lover’s dream dessert, the chocolate lava cake!

How Do You Make A Lava Cake?

Lava cakes aren’t any harder to make than a regular cake, really.  There are obviously some variations, but there are also some similarities too.

Just like with a regular cake, in a molten lava cake or chocolate lava cake recipe you need the staple ingredients like eggs, butter, flour, sugar, vanilla, and salt.

However in a lava cake you typically don’t use baking powder, like with other traditional cakes.

Also, in a lava cake you use an egg yolk in addition to the eggs, and of course with this type of cake you need the ever so important ingredient, the chocolate chips.

Chocolate chips are what really sets the lava cake apart from other cakes.  Those chocolate chips are melted with butter providing the lava cake a chocolatey delicious sauce that is the signature component of the molten lava cake.

Once you have these basic ingredients you are halfway there to this delicious dessert.

Whether you are using an Instant Pot or oven, there are some basic preparations that need to happen before cooking the lava cake.

How To Make This Lava Cake Recipe:

• In a large bowl melt butter and chocolate chips in the microwave.
• Add sugar to the chocolate mixture and mix until smooth.
• Add 3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk, mixing until well-combined.
• Mix in flour, vanilla, and salt until well incorporated into the egg mixture.
• Prep for baking.

Note:  When melting chocolate and butter, make sure to cook these ingredients in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between each interval until melted.

How Do You Make Lava Cake In An Instant Pot?

Once the lava cake batter is mixed together, the lava cake is ready to be baked.  Yay!

I love to make lava cake in the Instant Pot.  It’s quick and easy.

How To Make This Lava Cake Recipe In The Instant Pot:

• Add 1 cup of water to Instant Pot to help it pressurize.
• Spray each ramekin with cooking spray and pour batter up to the top of each. If you are changing the lava center you would fill the ramekin half way, add your new center and then top with more batter. 
• Place trivet in Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water.
• Place ramekins on trivet so they fit with space in between.
• Put lid on Instant Pot, lock into place, and put valve to “sealing”.
• Set pot to 9 minutes on manual high pressure. You may have to adjust this time based on your altitude to get the perfect lava center. Play around until you find the time that is perfect for you. 
• When time is up quick release pressure.
• Remove lava cakes from Instant Pot, place upside down on plate, and garnish with favorite toppings.

I know it seems like a lot of steps, but it’s really not, considering each step is really fast and easy to do.

Here are a few additional tips to help take the guess work out of using your Instant Pot for the first time with this recipe.

Molten Lava Cake Fillings:

I am a huge fan of a classic molten lava cake, but sometimes I want something a little different from the rich, oozing, chocolate center. And so for this recipe I have created 4 options for you:

1. Chocolate
2. Peanut Butter
3. Caramel
4. Nutella

Each of these 4 options will give you a gooey, oozing, molten lava center, and each will be delicious. And the fun part is they all use the same base recipe, so if you are really feeling adventurous you could make all 4 in one go. Then you would get the best of all four worlds.

The chocolate center just requires the basic lava batter. But for the other three flavors, you will mix up a separate filling mixture. Then, when filling the ramekins, you will fill half way, then add the center filling, then fill the rest of the way up.

Tips For Making Instant Pot Lava Cake:

Cooking times may vary depending on the Instant Pot model.

There are different Instant Pot models as well as other factors, like altitude, that could impact cooking time.  Depending on the model cooking times may vary slightly.  If you are unsure or doing this for the first time, set Instant Pot for 7 minutes instead of 9.  

Check lava cake and if it is underdone after 7 minutes, then pressure cook for another 1-2 minutes.

The beautiful thing is, it doesn’t take long to whip up a batch, so make a few and play with your pot to get the time to the perfect doneness for your pot and altitude as well as preference.

Larger Instant Pots can fit more ramekins in a single layer.

If you are working with a larger Instant Pot, then you may be able to fit all 4 ramekins in one layer.

If not, then you can do 3 and then carefully stack the 4th on top of the other 3, just be careful when removing them so you don’t end up with a molten lava cake mess.

For this recipe, 6 oz ramekins and a 6 quart or 8 qt Instant Pot Duo is used.

It is okay if you have a different Instant Pot model or don’t have 6 oz ramekins.  You can use a different size ramekin and a different Instant Pot model. You may just need to adjust cooking times.

When I was developing this recipe I used a 6 qt and 8 qt pot, and both worked really well. You will love making this lava cake recipe in the Instant Pot.  It comes out perfect and this lava cake will put joy in your mouth and belly.

Plus once you do one dessert in the Instant Pot, you will want to do another and another and another.

Does High Altitude Effect Cooking Time In The Instant Pot?

High altitude actually can impact the cooking times in the Instant Pot.  So, if you live in a higher altitude climate, no biggie you just may have to adjust cooking times slightly.

Why Do Higher Altitudes Effect Cooking Time In The Instant Pot?  

Basically, the higher the altitude is the less pressure there is in the pressure cooker, resulting in the need for longer cooking times.

When a climate is located at a higher altitude there is actually lower air pressure, resulting in the water boiling point to be lower.  

Specifically, the boiling point is at just under 1 degree lower per every 500 feet of higher elevation.

With this in mind, it only makes sense that food cooked at these higher altitudes would have to take longer to cook because their boiling point is lower. Which means instead of being boiling at 212 degrees it might only be 190 degrees. So it is cooking at a lower temp. 

Cooking food at lower temperatures equals longer cooking times needed.

How Do You Adjust Cooking Times In The Instant Pot For Higher Altitudes?

The answer is simple.  Just increase the cook time in the pressure cooker just by 5% for every 1000 feet above an elevation of 2000 feet. And if the math bugs you, just play around, test, and see what works! That is the best way to figure out the Instant Pot. 

How Long Do Lava Cakes Last?

This dessert is such a dream of deliciousness that it does not last very long in our house.  We eat the lava cake after dinner and we are lucky if there are ever any left overs. 

It is just that good.

However, I realize there are people who may be able to have the ability to exercise some restraint.  So, for those people rest assured that you can save your lava cake for left overs. The problem is, it won’t be very lava-y if you save it. This is the kind of dessert that should be eaten right away. 

However, if you want to save it, place it in an airtight container, and the molten lava cake can last for a couple of days. When you want to eat some more just put the cake in the microwave for about 10-20 seconds to reheat it.

Can I Make Lava Cake Batter Ahead Of Time?

Once again, if you are a person who can exercise restraint and are not counting down the minutes to eat this chocolate molten lava, or if you know life is busy and you just want to get a jump on things, the answer is yes, you can make lava cake batter a head of time.

Simply refrigerate the batter in a container with plastic wrap covering the top. It is better to make the batter ahead than the cakes, as the center is not going to stay lava, especially if you reheat, as this further cooks it. 

You can leave the batter  in the refrigerator for up to a couple of days.

Trust me though, once you make the batter, you will be dying to bake it in your Instant Pot immediately.

Is The Center Safe To Eat?  Isn’t It Raw?

I know as you are enjoying this delicious melted goodness in the center, it may cross your mind to think this is so good, but what am I eating exactly?

Should I be eating this?  

Is this chocolatey sauce raw batter?

The chocolatey sauce is fine to eat. The center part that seems raw is not.  Phew.

Remember the chocolatey sauce that you created prior to baking?  That’s what you are eating.

You are eating the chocolate and melted butter mixture you made in the microwave. Sure there might be other ingredients mixed in because you do mix it all together. But I have tested the temps over and over, and have not found it to be unsafe to eat. 

Also, just to further assure you, let’s address the concern of raw batter, even though we have established that what you are eating is not that.

Although I like to lick the spoon from time to time after making a cake, the reason why it is not a recommended practice is because usually raw batter contains raw eggs, which is not something you want to eat.

No one wants salmonella poisoning.  

Here is the thing though, even if you are still skeptical that it is in fact just chocolate sauce that you are eating, even if it was batter, salmonella dies once you hit 150 degrees.  

And I think we all know that we bake cakes at a far higher temperature anyway. So it might feel like raw batter, and is a little bit, but it is raw batter that has been heated in the pressure cooker to a safe to eat temp, killing anything that could cause harm. 

Does that make you feel better?

If you are still worried, you can opt to use pasteurized eggs of course.

Hopefully now that we have addressed these concerns, you will be able to dig in and enjoy that melted chocolate sauce, as it oozes out of the freshly cut molten lava cake.

Wait No Longer To Make The Best Chocolate Dessert Ever!

Instant Pot Lava Cake is a dream come true.  Accompanying two favorites, chocolate cake and a rich chocolate sauce, this cake is one to keep handy on your recipe card.

Now I realize that you can’t make this molten lava recipe every night, although you may want to.  Here are some other chocolate inspired favorites to try.

Try Texas Sheet Cake or Chocolate Pie. Both are worthy desserts to satisfy your chocolate cravings.

Instant Pot Lava Cakes

Instant Pot Lava Cakes: A chocolate molten lava cake and 4 filling options, chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, and nutella! This cake is a dream as it is made in the instant pot for almost instant satisfaction. 

5 from 5 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chocolate, chocolate cake, lava cake, molten lava cake

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 9 minutes

Total Time: 19 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 660kcal

Author: Rachael

Ingredients

Base/Chocolate Lava Cake

• ½ cup butter 8 Tbs
• 3 whole eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp salt
• 6 Tbs all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 1 Tbs cocoa powder for dusting the ramekins --optional

Caramel Lava Cake:

• 8 Caramel squares cut into small pieces
• ½ tsp salt

Peanut Butter Lava Cake:

• 4 Tbs Peanut Butter
• 1 Tbs butter
• 2 Tbs powdered sugar

For Nutella Lava Cake:

• 4 Tbs Nutella or chocolate hazelnut spread
• 1 Tbs butter
• 2 Tbs 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

Need:

• 4, 6 ounce ramekins
• Cooking spray
• 6 QT or larger Instant pot
• Trivet
• 1 cup of water to help instant pot come to pressure 1.5 cup if using an 8 Qt pressure cooker

Instructions

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 ½- 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 tbs peanut butter, 1 tbs butter, 2 tbs 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 tbs nutella, 1 tbs butter, 2 tbs 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 8Qt 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.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Adventures of a Nurse

Nutrition

Calories: 660kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Cholesterol: 235mg | Sodium: 402mg | Potassium: 333mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 19.5% | Calcium: 5.9% | Iron: 23.6%

Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.

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