Decadent Valentine’s Chocolate Cherry Lava Cups
Rich molten chocolate lava cups with a sweet tart cherry filling, perfect for romantic occasions like Valentine’s Day. Easy to make with simple ingredients and delivers a gooey, indulgent dessert experience.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Total Time: 34 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (50g)
- 6 oz semisweet or dark chocolate chips (170g)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (65g), sifted
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (150g)
- ½ cup unsalted butter (113g), melted and slightly cooled
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup fresh or frozen tart cherries (150g), pitted
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
- Fresh cherries or mint leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cherry Lava Filling: In a small saucepan, combine cherries, sugar, almond extract, and cornstarch. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until thickened and bubbling gently (5-7 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Melt Chocolate and Butter: Using a double boiler or microwave in 30-second bursts, melt chocolate chips and butter together until smooth. Stir well and set aside to cool slightly.
- Make the Chocolate Batter: In a mixing bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and slightly frothy. Add melted chocolate mixture and stir until incorporated. Gently fold in sifted cocoa powder and flour until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Ramekins: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Grease ramekins thoroughly with butter or nonstick spray and dust lightly with cocoa powder.
- Assemble the Lava Cups: Spoon about 2 tablespoons (30g) of chocolate batter into each ramekin. Add a heaping teaspoon of cherry lava filling in the center. Cover with another 2 tablespoons of batter, smoothing the tops gently.
- Bake: Place ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 12-14 minutes. Edges should be set but center should jiggle slightly when shaken.
- Cool and Serve: Let rest for 5 minutes. Run a knife around edges and invert onto plates. Dust with powdered sugar and garnish with fresh cherries or mint if desired.
Notes
Use room temperature eggs and butter for best texture. Avoid overbaking to keep the molten center. If cherry lava is too runny, add more cornstarch. If batter is too thick, add a splash of milk. For gluten-free, substitute almond flour for all-purpose flour. For dairy-free, use coconut oil and dairy-free chocolate chips.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 lava cup
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Protein: 5
Keywords: chocolate lava cake, cherry lava cups, romantic dessert, Valentine's Day dessert, molten chocolate, easy chocolate dessert, cherry filling, homemade lava cake