Easy Molten Lava Cake Recipe
Don’t you dare tell me that you’ve never had a Molten Lava Dessert at Chili’s. Don’t. You. Dare. A few years ago, I was in Hawaii and we were STARVING, and the first and only restaurant that we found was a Chili’s. Random, eh? We had this molten lava cakes for dessert and they were so delicious!
Molten chocolate lava cakes are moist chocolate cakes filled with a delicious fudge sauce that are topped with ice cream a homemade magic chocolate shell. Lava cakes are served warm, and the cold ice cream is a delicious contrast.
To make the molten lava cakes, you’re just going to use a boxed cake, which we will doctor up using sour cream. It makes a really moist cake that holds up well to the fudge inside.
In order to make a molten lava cake you need to fill it with hot fudge and then freeze it for a bit so that when you warm up the cake the fudge pours out versus being absorbed by the cake. Does that make sense?
Think about poke cakes, you don’t want the fudge absorbed, though that is delicious, instead it’s best to freeze it so that it stays in the center until you want it to come pouring out.
We’ve also included a great hot fudge recipe in the recipe card below, but I wont even blink an eye if you skip it and just buy hot fudge from the ice cream section at the store. Though I do think homemade magic shell is far too easy to not do yourself you could buy that as well.
To make homemade chocolate magic shell you just need chocolate chips, we prefer both milk and semi sweet or straight semi sweet and then coconut oil. Melt, stir and set aside.
If you need to store your magic shell in the fridge as you aren’t serving right away, just melt it down again and let it sit before spooning it over the ice cream. It will start to harden right before your eyes and then all you have to do is dig in to your own chocolate molten lava cake!
Molten Lava Cake Ingredients
The ingredients needed to make the molten chocolate lava cakes are pantry staples, making it far too easy to whip up a batch of these babies at a moment’s notice.
Here’s what we used in this copycat Chili’s molten lava cake recipe:
- Boxed hot fudge cake mix (we prefer Duncan Hines)
- Eggs
- Milk
- Vegetable oil
- Sour cream
- Hot fudge, for filling
- Ice cream, for topping
- Magic shell, for topping (detailed recipe included in the recipe card below)
How to Make Lava Cakes
Even after making these chocolate molten lava cakes as many times as I have, I’m still shocked at how simple they are to make at home! Here’s the basic rundown of how to make lava cakes:
- Whisk together the dry cake mix, eggs, sour cream, milk and oil.
- Fill greased cupcake tins 3/4 full, then bake the cakes according to package instructions.
- Once baked, turn the cakes onto their tops. Gently cut a hole in the middle.
- Fill each chocolate lava cake with hot fudge (homemade or store-bought works).
- Freeze the filled cakes for 30 minutes.
- Reheat in the microwave for 30 seconds, until warmed through and the hot fudge center is gooey.
- Top with ice cream and chocolate magic shell, if desired.
Can I Prep Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes in Advance?
Yes, you can make this molten lava cake recipe ahead and freeze the cakes for up to 2 days. Then reheat them in the microwave like you normally would.
Can I Reheat Molten Lava Cakes in the Oven?
If you don’t have a microwave, you can certainly reheat these molten chocolate lava cakes in the oven. Set you oven to lowest temperature it’ll go, then place the lava cakes on a baking sheet and gently cover with foil so they don’t dry out.
Place the covered chocolate molten lava cakes into the oven and warm for about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how hot your oven is.
Can I Make Lava Cakes From Homemade Cake?
Yes, if you’d rather not use a boxed cake mix you’re welcome to use your favorite homemade chocolate cake instead.
Can I Use Another Type of Boxed Cake Mix?
You likely can, although we recommend using a chocolate cake mix of some kind. If you use another boxed cake mix and it turns out well for you, please let us know by leaving a comment down below!
Tips for Making Molten Lava Cake
First and foremost, please note that the boxed cake mix in this recipe is added to the lava cake batter as a dry ingredient. You do NOT add the ingredients called for on the side of the box. You use only the dry cake mix itself in this molten lava cake recipe.
Also, I think you could make mini cakes in whatever you want, but mini bunt pans, or Texas-sized Cupcake pans work fantastic. We use this jumbo muffin pan which I got off of Amazon. It was cheaper than at other stores and better quality. Yes, quality matters as you don’t want a pan that will quickly brown the cakes.
When filling the lava cakes with hot fudge, I first tried to slice off a little from the bottom so that the cakes sat flat, but I found that the sauce seeped through some of them. Instead, I just hurried and turned them out onto a wire rack upside down and because they were still hot it just flattened the dome for me.
I also think it would be wise to remind you that when you are making your domes you should be very mindful of how far down your knife reaches. As you are cutting it’s easy to forget and accidentally poke through the bottom of the chocolate cakes.
More EASY CAKE RECIPES:
Copycat Chili’s Molten Lava Cakes
Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes
Description
Ingredients
Molten Lava Cakes
- 1 Box Duncan Hines Fudge Cake Mix
- 3 Large Eggs
- 1 Cup Milk
- 1/2 Cup Oil
- 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
- Vanilla Ice Cream, , for serving
- Chocolate Shell Ice Cream Topping, , for serving
- Caramel Sauce, , for serving
Hot Fudge
- 1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk, 14-oz.
- 1 bag Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips, 12-oz.
- 4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 pinch Salt
Magic Shell
- 2 Cups Chocolate Chips, (we do half milk, half semi-sweet or all semi-sweet)
- 1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
Instructions
Make the Lava Cakes:
- In a large bowl, stir together the dry cake mix, eggs, sour cream, milk and oil.
- Spray a large Cupcake pan with nonstick spray and evenly distribute batter 3/4 way full. Bake according to package directions.
- Turn the cakes out onto their tops creating a "volcano" and allow to cool.
- Using a pairing or serrated knife, gently cut a hole out of the center without going clear to the bottom.
- Fill with hot fudge that is cool and then slice off the bottom circle of the piece of cake you removed and place it on the hot fudge hole like a lid.
- Freeze for 30 minutes, up to 2 days with plastic wrap over the pan of cakes.
- Remove the cakes from the freezer and reheat in the microwave until warm, about 30 seconds.
- Top with ice cream, caramel, and magic shell.
Make the Hot Fudge:
- Melt all of the ingredients in a medium sauce pan over medium heat.
- Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
- Continue to boil and stir for two minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and continue to stir for one minute.
- Allow the fudge sauce to cool.
Make the Magic Shell:
- Place the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl along with the coconut oil and slowly heat for 30 second intervals, stirring often until melted.
- Serve over cold ice cream and it will harden.
Notes
Nutrition
Recommended Products
Kelly
Just made these for my daughter’s birthday tomorrow. Can these be kept in the fridge it’ll must they be frozen until use? Will they become soggy or something if refrigerated rather than frozen?
Sweet Basil
Hi Kelly! They will be fine in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Enjoy! And happy birthday to your daughter!
ted
Amazing! Thanks for this quick and easy lava cake recipe.lava cakes are such a delicacy ,right? It can be the perfect choice for the upcoming christmas. I appreciate your idea of simplifying the ingredients. The one point I would love to mention is that I would prefer using ghee clarified butter as an oil substitute. Ghee will give this recipe a distinct nuttiness and an excellent flavor.
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much for the feedback Ted! It would make a perfect Christmas dessert! Happy holidays!
Tiffany Ellis
Is the nutrition information for the entire recipe or per serving?
Sweet Basil
Hi Tiffany! That is the nutrition information for 1 large molten lava cake.
Michelle
Can you store the extra hot fudge in the refrigerator and how long will it last?
Sweet Basil
Yes you can store it in the fridge. It will last for 3-4 days.
Diane
I want to make the copycat Chili’s molten lava cakes and I like to watch the video how you make it. It says VIDEO beside the name of the recipe but no where can I watch the video. The videos that are shown are Best Roasted Turkey recipe, chili recipe, grilling corn??? Can you help me and tell me where I can watch the video for the lava cakes….thank you in advance
Sweet Basil
Hi Diane! I’m so sorry about that! I’m working on getting it fixed in the post. In the meantime, here is a link to the video on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=search&v=3912769332087829&external_log_id=9b1b6b68-014f-4218-8ad7-f2ae202954fc&q=chili%27s%20copycat%20molten%20lava%20cakes%20sweet%20basil
Cat B.
Made this last year for my husbands birthday. He’s obsessed with Chili’s and especially their lava cake. He was so impressed with this and heavily praised it for weeks. Naturally, I’m making it again this year. Very easy to do and tastes like the real thing! I did go ahead and buy the large cupcake tin, and I’m glad I did since I’ll probably be making this once a year for the rest of my life.
Sweet Basil
This totally makes me day Cat! Happy birthday to your husband! So glad you enjoy this recipe and thank you so much for taking time to leave a comment!
Angie Jhin
Delicious!!
Sweet Basil
Thank you!
Daniela russell
What oven temperature do you bake those in?
Sweet Basil
We follow the instructions on the box for it, I believe it is 350
Anne Augustine
Hi, looks DELICIOUS! I’m going to try it asap.
Can you use a regular bundt cake to make this too? I’m wanting to try it both ways.
Thank you in advance
Anne
Sweet Basil
That is a great question! We’ve never tried it but I don’t see why not! Just back the cake according to the directions on the cake mix for a bundt cake. Let us know how it goes!
Susan
Too much fudge. Can I store in fridge and how long will it keep? I’ll have to say this dessert is my favorite!
Heather
What a fun dessert to make at home!!!
Sweet Basil
Thanks!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes)
This cake is amazing!!
Deborah
Can you please tell me what pan you used, could not get the link to work. Went on Amazon there were quite a few Texas Muffin pans, don’t want to choose a dud. Can’t wait to make these as a surprise treat for my daughter, she goes to Chili’s just for the lava cake. Thanks!
Sweet Basil
Oh thank you for the heads up! I’ll fix it right away, but here’s the link http://amzn.to/2tdinZd
That’s the one we prefer as our other pan is dark (like in the video) and it doesn’t bake as evenly as this one.
Pauline
Can you replace vegetable oil for the coconut oil in the magic shell? And are the cakemix ingredients listed in the recipe? Or is the milk eggs and oil extra?
Sweet Basil
Yes, you definitely can, though we have seen coconut oil turn out a little better. 🙂 You just use the cake mix with the ingredients listed. 🙂
Jenn
I have never had one of these at Chili’s, but I don’t care for Chili’s as they put pepper on everything :/
Sweet Basil
Do they? That’s not fun. Hope you’ll give this a try at home 🙂
jamba
milk or semisweet chocolate?
Sweet Basil
Whichever you prefer is fine, but we usually do a combination or just milk.
Anna C
What would you recommend if I wanted to reheat these cakes all at once in the oven? What temp and for how long?
Sweet Basil
Hi Anna, I would do the lowest heat your oven will go to, place them on a baking sheet and cover with foil and then warm for about 10-15 minutes depending on how low your oven goes.
Anna C
Thanks! These lava cakes were FANTASTIC!!! I think I will always have a stash of them in my freezer for an emergency 😉
Sweet Basil
What a great idea, Anna! Maybe we will do that too and they will always be on hand!
Asma Firfirey
we don’t get ready made fudge cake box. Which other cake recipe I can follow?
Sweet Basil
you can make any chocolate cake or even these banana chocolate muffins turn out great! https://ohsweetbasil.com/double-chocolate-banana-muffins-recipe.html http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/the-best-chocolate-cake-recipe/
Haley Lundberg
How many mini cakes does this recipe make?
Patricia
Sorry to ask this question what is Texas size muffin it is not cupcake pan again I am sorry .thank you
Sweet Basil
It’s just an extra large muffin pan. So just bigger than a regular muffin pan.
Sharon Dees
Thank you soooo much chocolate is my sin!! And I have not been able to find the thick thick kind of Hot Fudge you used to be able to get. Your version of Home made Fudge looks just like what I remember my Mom and Grandmother serving. Thick, sweet only got thinner if you heated it up again. Then would cool on ice cream to really thick sauce. Not just run. Well some would but it was soooo good!! I have to try this and the whole recipe. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe with all of us. : )
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Sharon!
ayman
Hello I loved or recepi but can u pls share the recepi of cupcakes other than the cakemix for above molten cake pls
Kelly
love the look of the homemade version…do you have a recipe for the homemade magic shell??
Sweet Basil
Hi Kelly, we just do 2 cups chocolate to 1/4 cup oil and melt in the microwave
ghassan hamzi
For the hard shell, is regular oil or coconut oil?
Sweet Basil
You can use either. 🙂
Honey
Love this cake!! Can’t wait to try out this recipe.
Just one question… What is the fudge sauce from krysta? Is it a recipe or a ready-made fudge sauce from the store?
Sweet Basil
It is the hot fudge recipe listed in the ingredients. 🙂
Fariha Akif
I’m trying to make these tomorrow, I don’t have Duncan Hines fudge cake where I am, but i did find Betty crockers chocolate fudge cake mix. Can I use that instead and keep the wet ingredients same as mentioned for the Duncan Hines in your recipe ?
Sweet Basil
Yes absolutely! We just found the Duncan Hines flavor matches Chili’s the closest, but it will be delicious with any cake mix! Enjoy!
Tracy
How much is a cube of butter?
Sweet Basil
It’s 1/2 cup 🙂
Liz
Look delicious ! Guess I’m a little behind finding the recipe. Company coming Sat night..these will be
Dessert. Thanks !
Carrie
I just made these. These were absolutely delicious! Your hot fudge sauce is so much better than that stuff you get in the jar.
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I would imagine 1 stick (1/2 cup)
Sharon H of Tenn
Looks YUMMY, cant wait to try. But can you please tell me what a CUBE of butter is?????
Sweet Basil
Hi Sharon, a cube of butter is 1/2 cup of butter
Shawn @ I Wash…You Dry
Mmm! I love this variation! I like how you can freeze them and have one whenever you want! Brilliant!
Leslie
I used to work at Chilis and had WAY to many of these 🙂
YUM
Jennifer
I seem to remember a couple of other details from that visit…like the waiter being astonished at how fast we ate that yummy dessert & how we could barely refrain from licking the plate!
Red Couch Recipes
Never had one, although I do make one very similar, but add berries and whipped cream. Yours looks yummy and it does look like a volcano! Joni
Jacquelineand….
Okay, I won't tell you I've never had one of these (although I've never been to Chili's…)but thanks to your recipe I'll never have to (not) say it again!