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Air Fryer Lava Cakes Recipe

4.5 from 138 reviews

Deliciously rich and gooey Air Fryer Lava Cakes featuring a molten chocolate center, perfectly baked in just 8 minutes. This easy-to-make dessert is ideal for a quick indulgence, topped with fresh berries and powdered sugar for an elegant presentation.

Ingredients

Scale

Chocolate Mixture

  • 3 ounces unsalted butter
  • 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

Batter

  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons flour

Toppings

  • Berries (for topping and decoration)
  • Powdered sugar (for topping and decoration)

Instructions

  1. Prepare pans and preheat air fryer. Liberally spray your mini pans or ramekins with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F to ensure even baking.
  2. Melt chocolate and butter. Combine the chopped semi-sweet chocolate and unsalted butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat at 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each until fully melted and smooth, about 2 minutes total.
  3. Mix wet ingredients. Add the room temperature eggs, sugar, baking powder, and vanilla extract to the melted chocolate mixture. Whisk until the batter is smooth and uniform in texture.
  4. Add flour and combine. Gently stir in the flour until just combined. Be careful not to overmix to avoid tough cakes.
  5. Fill pans with batter. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans or ramekins, filling each about 3/4 full to accommodate rising.
  6. Air fry the lava cakes. Place the filled pans inside the air fryer basket and cook at 350°F for 8 minutes. The cakes should have set tops but still have slightly jiggly centers to maintain the molten texture.
  7. Cool and unmold cakes. Carefully remove the pans from the air fryer. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 3 minutes before flipping them onto serving plates.
  8. Serve with toppings. Garnish the lava cakes with fresh berries and a dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant and flavorful finish.

Notes

  • Use room temperature eggs to ensure the batter mixes smoothly.
  • Do not overmix the batter after adding flour; overmixing can make the cakes dense.
  • If you don’t have an air fryer, these can also be baked in a conventional oven at 350°F for about 10-12 minutes.
  • Ensure the centers are slightly jiggly to achieve the signature molten lava effect.
  • Use mini ramekins for best results; standard size may require adjustment in cook time.

Keywords: lava cake, air fryer dessert, molten chocolate cake, quick dessert, chocolate lava cake, easy air fryer recipes