Delicious Brownie Molten Lava Cakes — gooey miniature cakes (made in a muffin tin) filled with oozing chocolate and flavored like a brownie! Only FOUR ingredients needed.
The toddler’s favorite dessert EVER are Chili’s molten lava cakes. He begs to go to Chili’s and will literally eat anything off the menu if he can have a cake at the end.
The speed at which he then inhales the cake is nothing short of impressive.
So, obviously I’ve had to try and re-create those molten cakes for him!
It has been a much bigger challenge than I thought! I’ve tried and adapted dozens of recipes and none have matched his expectations. In my opinion, some of the ones we’ve tried have been better than Chili’s, but he’s not a fan of the bittersweet or dark chocolate (which I love). Since he likes the ultra sweet and very chocolatey cakes, it has eliminated quite a few recipes!
So, finally, I’m so excited to share the molten lava cakes that win them all. He goes CRAZY over these and they’ve been my favorite as well. I think these blow Chili’s cakes out of the water! 😉 
They are rich, fudgy, and only require FOUR ingredients! Seriously, it doesn’t get much easier than that!
AND, you don’t need any special ramekins or dishes to make these — just a regular-sized cupcake/muffin tin.
The most important thing to note with this molten lava recipe is you must have the right sized brownie mix. I like Ghiradelli best, but you can use another brand so long as it is 18.75 ounces. You’ll also want to make sure you use large eggs. If you get those both, you’ll be golden for this recipe!
ENJOY!
"Brownie" Molten Lava Cakes -- gooey miniature cakes (made in a muffin tin) filled with oozing chocolate and flavored like a brownie! Only FOUR ingredients needed.
- 6 large eggs, separated (some yolks only)
- 1 box (18.75 ounces) Ghiradelli Chocolate Supreme Premium Brownie Mix
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup milk chocolate bar, coarsely chopped
- Optional: vanilla ice cream, hot fudge topping
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Very generously grease a regular sized cupcake or muffin tin (with 12 cavities) and set aside.
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In a small microwave safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and butter. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir until melted. (Return to the microwave for 15 second increments until fully melted if not completely melted after first 30 seconds.)
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In a large bowl, add in 3 full large eggs and then 3 YOLKS ONLY. Discard the 3 egg whites (or reserve for another recipe). Whisk the eggs and yolks until smooth and frothy.
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Add in the DRY brownie mix (do not use any ingredients listed on the back of the brownie mix) and whisk until combined (it will be a little lumpy). Set aside the fudge mixture in the brownie mix (you can use this to top the cakes after they are baked)
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Now slowly add in the melted chocolate + butter mixture, whisking constantly.
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Stir gently until ingredients are completely combined.
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Divide the mixture evenly among the muffin tin. You should fill them most of the way full and use all of the batter on the 12 tins.
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Bake for 10-12 minutes being careful to not overbake. Remove and allow to sit at room temperature for 2 minutes. Use a spoon to loosen the edges of each cake (very important).
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Now take a large tray and place on top of the muffin tin and cakes. Flip the muffin tin upside down onto the tray. Let stand for a minute so gravity can do its job!
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All of the cakes should have loosened and be on the tray now. Use a spatula to move the cakes to individual plates.
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If desired, top with ice cream and reserved fudge from the brownie mix. Eat quickly after plating to enjoy the fudgy molted center!
More Amazing Dessert Recipes:
More Molten Cake recipes from around the web: Low Carb Peanut Butter Molten Lava Cakes and Crockpot Chocolate and Peanut Butter Lava Cake.
chelseamessyapron says
January 22, 2014 at 9:25 amHi Kristi! Oops, totally forgot to add that in! Thanks so much for the comment. I put in 1/2 tsp. in these cakes, but you can add more for a darker red color if you want. Thanks again and have a great day 🙂
chelseamessyapron says
January 22, 2014 at 9:27 amThanks so much Taylor! Okay sorry I haven’t responded to your email, working on it now 🙂
Happy Valley Chow says
January 22, 2014 at 11:22 amGeez almighty your recipes always make me hungry…that looks amazing!
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
chelseamessyapron says
January 22, 2014 at 6:45 pmHaha!! Thanks so much Eric
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
January 22, 2014 at 1:37 pmThis looks crazy good. Like real crazy good, I’m talking steal my heart good. Amazing job girl!
chelseamessyapron says
January 22, 2014 at 6:40 pmHaha love this comment! Thanks so much Pamela 🙂
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
January 22, 2014 at 11:49 amLove molten lava cake! These are gorgeous!
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps says
January 22, 2014 at 1:55 pmI’m looking for desserts for the hubs on Valentine’s Day, this could be it! These look SO flippin’ delicious!!
chelseamessyapron says
January 22, 2014 at 6:36 pmThanks so much Nicole! 🙂 You are way on top of the ball already planning what you are making your hubs for Vday!
Christine @ Cooking with Cakes says
January 22, 2014 at 2:24 pmseriously, your pictures just keep getting more and more gorgeous, I’m suffering from serious envy!! also, how in the world do you stay thin girrrrl? I’d be 300lbs by now with all these tasty desserts laying around the house 🙂
chelseamessyapron says
January 22, 2014 at 6:34 pmHaha you are so nice Christine! I feel like I have sooo much work on my photography to get it where I want! But I super appreciate that! Haha and that is why I run 2340203 miles a day 🙂
chelseamessyapron says
January 22, 2014 at 6:41 pmThank you so much Kelly! 🙂 It’s nice how quick it comes together. The only hard part is waiting for it to be finished baking!
chelseamessyapron says
January 22, 2014 at 6:45 pmHaha definitely dangerous! Especially when I tried the recipe so many times to make it perfect…there are one too many cakes lying around my kitchen haha.
Alex says
January 22, 2014 at 5:48 pmLove this! Perfect treat for valentine’s. Perfect with the cherry on top!
chelseamessyapron says
January 22, 2014 at 6:31 pmThanks so much Alex! 🙂
Jen @ YummyHealthyEasy says
January 22, 2014 at 10:34 pmOh my heavens, Chelsea! I HAVE to make this! My husband would love this for V-Day! Pinning to my desserts board – thanks for the recipe!
chelseamessyapron says
January 23, 2014 at 7:12 pmHaha! Thanks so much Jen, and thanks for the pin 🙂
chelseamessyapron says
January 23, 2014 at 7:16 pmYou are so welcome, thanks for stopping by and for the comment Monet!
chelseamessyapron says
January 23, 2014 at 7:16 pmThanks so much Anna! 🙂
Kelli B says
February 16, 2014 at 11:48 amI made this for my husband for Valentine’s Day and we loved it! Thank you for the recipe! Mine wasn’t nearly as pretty as yours but I guess it’s the taste that matters 🙂
chelseamessyapron says
February 17, 2014 at 9:11 pmOh I am so happy to hear you tried it and liked it! Yay 🙂 Hope you had a wonderful Vday with your husband!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
February 4, 2015 at 2:50 pmErmagherd this sounds amazing Chelsea!!! Pinning this and wishing heavily that I could reach through the screen and take a bite of this!
Stephanie says
February 4, 2018 at 12:40 pmI was searching for Valentine’s Day desserts and came across this gem of a recipe! Love how easy it is to make, yet looks super fancy for a special meal. Since the lava cakes are meant to be eaten right away, and there’s no way a family of two can eat a dozen, is it possible to refrigerate some of the cake batter?