These simple chocolate molten lava cakes taste rich and decadent with a gooey chocolate filling. They’re made without flour or refined sugar but you would never guess! It’s the perfect easy treat to make for Valentine’s Day or whenever you’re craving something ultra chocolatey. Gluten free, grain free, and paleo friendly.
I’ve gotten many requests for a paleo version of classic, gooey rich chocolate molten lava cakes.
And now that we’re just a few days away from Valentine’s Day, it’s the perfect time to indulge!
It’s surprisingly easy to make these individual chocolate cakes paleo since there’s not much flour involved to begin with, and the cakes rely heavily on eggs to get their texture.
If you use a paleo friendly dark chocolate like Hu Kitchen or Eating Evolved you can make these decadent cakes fully paleo friendly. Of course they’re still a major treat, but free of refined sugar, gluten, grains, and dairy.
What You Need to Make Paleo Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes
The ingredients are relatively simple and probably in your pantry already if you’ve made a few of my baking recipes.
A note on the ghee – while not technically dairy free, most of the dairy proteins have been removed, so I consider it to be paleo friendly.
If you are greatly sensitive to dairy and cannot have ghee, vegan butter can be used in its place.
Alternatively, if you don’t have ghee and prefer to use grass fed butter, this will work well too.
Here’s everything you’ll need to prepare the cakes:
- bittersweet or dark chocolate (use Hu Kitchen Chocolate Bars or Eating Evolved to keep it paleo)
- ghee
- blanched almond flour
- maple sugar, or coconut sugar
- fine sea salt
- eggs
- cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting the ramekins
- Toppings! (see below)
How to Make Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes
To prevent sticking, cut out four small circles of parchment paper to fit the bottoms of 4 6oz ramekins. I like doing this for “insurance” so I know my cakes will not stick! After lining the bottoms, spray the sides and bottom lightly with coconut oil spray or grease lightly with ghee, then dust with cocoa powder.
Preheat your oven to 425°F. Place the ghee into a medium microwaveable bowl, and add the chopped chocolate. Microwave on high in short 10-15 second increments, stirring vigorously between each one until melted and smooth.
Whisk the flour, sugar, and salt together in a small bowl. Whisk the eggs and egg yolks together until combined in another small bowl. Pour the flour mixture and eggs into the bowl of chocolate. Slowly stir everything together using a silicone spatula until a smooth batter forms.
Spoon the chocolate batter evenly into each prepared ramekin.
Place the ramekins onto a baking sheet and bake for 13 minutes, or until the cakes are set on the sides and still soft in the centers.
Allow the cakes to cool for in the ramekins for about 1 minute, then gently run a paring knife around the edges of each cake to loosen the sides if they appear stuck. Place an upside down dessert plate on top of each one, and using an oven mitt, carefully flip them and slowly remove the ramekins.
Toppings for These Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes
To keep things paleo, you can top these lava cakes with coconut whipped cream, berries, and my chocolate fudge sauce.
A scoop of coconut vanilla ice cream is also delicious (shown in the photos with chocolate sauce).
To keep it simple, dust a little organic powdered sugar or powdered monk fruit on top of the cakes and serve with raspberries.
I hope you’re ready for an easy decadent and gooey chocolate treat that’s sure to become a new favorite paleo dessert!
Gather your ingredients and preheat your oven because it’s time to bake – let’s go!
Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes {Paleo, Gluten Free}
Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes {Gluten Free, Paleo}
Ingredients
- 6 oz bittersweet or dark chocolate roughly chopped - use Hu Kitchen Chocolate Bars or Eating Evolved to keep it paleo
- 1/2 cup ghee at room temperature (or vegan butter for a dairy-free version, if needed)
- 4 tablespoons blanched almond flour
- 1/2 cup maple sugar my preference for texture and flavor, or coconut sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 2 large egg yolks at room temperature
- cacao powder for dusting the ramekins
- Toppings coconut vanilla ice cream berries, and chocolate sauce, as desired
Instructions
-
To prevent sticking, cut out four small circles of parchment paper to fit the bottoms of 4 6oz ramekins. I like doing this for “insurance” that my cakes will not stick! After lining the bottoms, then spray the sides and bottom lightly with coconut oil spray or grease lightly with ghee, then dust with cocoa powder.
-
Preheat your oven to 425°F. Place the ghee into a medium microwaveable bowl, and add the chopped chocolate. Microwave on high in short 10-15 second increments, stirring well between each one until melted and smooth.
-
Whisk the flour, sugar, and salt together in a small bowl. Whisk the eggs and egg yolks together until combined in another small bowl. Pour the flour mixture and eggs into the bowl of chocolate. Slowly stir everything together using a silicone spatula until a smooth batter forms.
-
Spoon the chocolate batter evenly into each prepared ramekin.
-
Place the ramekins onto a baking sheet and bake for 13 minutes or until the cakes are set on the sides and still soft in the centers.
-
Allow the cakes to cool for in the ramekins for about 1 minute, then gently run a paring knife around the edges of each cake to loosen the sides if they appear stuck. Place an upside down dessert plate on top of each one, and using an oven mitt, carefully flip them and slowly remove the ramekins.
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Add your toppings of choice and serve right away. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*Find my recipe for chocolate sauce here.
Nutrition
Want More Paleo Chocolate Desserts? Try One Of These!
Triple Chocolate Fudge Brownies {Vegan}
Paleo Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Chocolate Frosted Chocolate Cupcakes
Chocolate Frosted Chocolate Donuts
Double Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
Double Chocolate Paleo + Vegan Cheesecake
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Anxious to try these! Can you make cake batter ahead of time & put in ramekins, refrigerate and bake just before serving? Or do you suggest baking & reheat in microwave? Thanks!
I made mine ahead of time and it turned out great!
I should rephrase that I made my batter ahead of time, and baked when I was ready. They turned out amazing!
Hello,
How can I convert the almond flour to either cassava or coconut flour. Can’t do almond or arrowroot flour, but tapioca starch/flour is okay.
Thanks!
These look incredible! I would love to try the recipe, but I don’t have ramekins. Do you have a recommendation of something else to use in place of ramekins…? Would a muffin pan potentially work?
Can you make these without sugar?
Surely there’s a way 🙏
I’m curious about this as well, I can’t have coconut sugar. maybe monk fruit/erithitol blend? Or stevia/erithritol blend? Would love to know your thoughts.
Is it possible for you to add a PInterest Pin to your recipes? It would make saving them so much simpler! Thanks!
Any suggestions for egg substitute for the cake?
Mary, just add pinterest to your extensions in your task bar- then you can pin anything on any site:)
I love the food you share. very new and interesting.
This recipe is AMAZING!!! I made this tonight for Valentine’s day and it was one of the best desserts I have had in awhile and super easy to make! I made it ahead of time and put in the batter in the ramekins in the refrigerator. Nobody would know this is GF and Paleo, as it is chocolate gooey wonderfulness in a ramekin. This will be my new Go to recipe for sure!
Oh my gosh, Michelle!!! This is the dessert of my dreams, paleo or not. It was the absolute perfect ending to our Valentine’s Day. Thank you!!
I made these for Valentine’s Day and they were decadent! Would like to make them for a small dinner we are hosting … how far in advance can you make the batter?
Perfect ending to a great meal! Fantastic flavor.
The recipe doesn’t specify tapioca flour, although it’s mentioned as an ingedrient in the text above.
It says “whisk the flours” but you only have one flour in your ingredient list. Should the recipe call for more than just Almond flour, or is it a typo?
Have you ever tried eating them right out of the ramekins, rather than fussing with plating them up?
Is there a paleo icecream? I have not been able to find anything like that. Every time I see one that is made with coconut milk, it is also made with “Organic cane sugar…” rather than coconut sugar. Am really craving some ice cream!
There is a brand called coyo. But it is in Australia. Do you live in Australia by any chance? Otherwise do a Google search or try contacting your health food store and see if they can help
I made this for a Valentine dessert for my family tonight. It was a hit even with my teenagers!! Loved it and will make it again. Thank you!
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i am definitely gonna try this one… have tried or been influenced by your recipes… Blessings & thanks.