This Individual Melting Chocolate Cake is life-changing! They come together with minimal prep, can be baked or microwaved and best of all — that gooey, melty chocolate center! Don’t forget the scoop of ice cream. Includes how-to recipe video
SO. In case you missed it (or tried to avoid my Instagram posts while you were shoveling snow or huddled in your cozy blankets), we had the most amazing holiday this winter on a Carnival cruise in the Southern Caribbean (see more about our holiday here!).
Naturally, I came home with a list of recipes I wanted to recreate and this was my first project.
If you’ve ever been on a Carnival Cruise, you know the famous Melting Chocolate Cake.
It’s a ramekin of the meltiest, chocolatiest cake you’ve ever had and cannot be eaten without a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It comes hot straight from the kitchen and literally melts in your mouth. It is simply the best chocolate cake you could ever eat.
Essentially, it’s a lava cake minus the difficult removing-from-the-ramekin part.
So I got home and went straight to the kitchen as soon as the holidays were over (Boxing Day, in fact!), and threw a few ingredients in a bowl. I figured I need a lot of chocolate (melted and cocoa powder), eggs, flour and sugar to start. I think a bit of coffee really brings out the chocolate flavor, so I threw in a touch of that for good measure.
I was really determined to create a recipe that could be baked and microwaved (because we all know those times you need chocolate and can’t stand to wait even 10 more minutes!), but my first microwave experiment burned. My second microwave experiment I cooked for only 45 seconds and it was overcooked too!
I decided to cook the recipe in one mug in the microwave and had much better results. You’ll find additional instructions for microwaving cooking in the notes below the recipe!
But as soon as I took it my first oven test out I knew it was bang on. My husband and I were taste testing and really couldn’t believe how much it tasted like the real deal!
And because it’s January and we all had a few too many cookies last month, I calculated the nutrition information for you and each cake (½ the recipe) comes in at 326 calories. It’s not the skinniest dessert out there, but I think it’s pretty reasonable considering how incredibly decadent it tastes!
WARNING: This recipe is highly dangerous. You may find yourself eating more and more Melting Chocolate Cake, simply because it’s so easy to whip up a single serving or two. Please bake and share responsibly, particularly during the post-holiday diet craze.
*Disclosure: My family and I traveled with Carnival free of charge so that I could share our experience with you. I was not compensated for my time in creating this post.
Individual Melting Chocolate Cake (Carnival Copycat)
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup milk chocolate chips 45g
- 1 teaspoon canola oil
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 45g
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour 35g
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 6g
- 1 tablespoon leftover coffee or water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease 2 7oz/200ml ramekins (for microwave instructions, see notes below).
- In a medium bowl, stir together chocolate and oil. Microwave on high for 10-20 second intervals, stirring well each time, until completely smooth. Stir in sugar and set aside to cool slightly (about 5 minutes).
- Stir in egg until completely combined. Add flour and cocoa powder and stir until smooth. Slowly stir in coffee.
- Divide evenly between the 2 prepared ramekins and bake for 10-12 minutes, until the outer ½” appears dry but the center is glossy. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving with ice cream.
Notes
You may also divide into 2 servings to cook in the microwave, but because it cooks so quickly and the servings are small, I had better results microwaving in one large mug.
Nutrition Information
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Wanda says
Can you make the batter ahead & refrigerate I would like to make for a sit down dinner party but time is an issue.
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Wanda! I haven’t tried making them ahead, but I think it would be fine for a few hours in the fridge 🙂
Dolly V. says
Hi, Ashley! This looks so amazing…I want to make it right now! Would you tell me the measurements of the flour and choco chips? I’m not sure if it’s 1/4 or 1/2 cup each. Thanks and I love your recipes
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Dolly! Just follow the measurements listed by each ingredient and you should be fine! Let me know how you like them!
Kara says
I just made these, and let me just say…WOW!!! Deliciously rich chocolate…and easy! I made them in the oven, and they came out perfectly. I may try the microwave next time (probably tomorrow ;)). My family loved them, as well. This may be a “dangerous” recipe to have in my repertoire! Love it! Thanks for another fantastic recipe. 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so glad to hear that! It has been a dangerous recipe for us to have around here too — my 4 year old asks about 8 times a day if I’ll make the “melty cake” again!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
That melting cake is seriously one of the highlights of my cruise this summer! SOOO good – yours looks so extra melty and delicious. You have me craving one again 🙂
Chloe says
Lol I know right
Michelle | A Latte Food says
Ooh, yes please! I’ve never been on a Carnival cruise (or any cruise for that matter), but I might go on one just for these, lol. They look amazing!
Ashley Fehr says
Totally worth it!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
I am SUCH a sucker for gooey lava cake and this looks absolutely insane, Ashley! I love that it’s so much lighter on the calories so I don’t have to feel so bad about demolishing one in like…2 seconds. Haha!
Ashley Fehr says
Haha! Gooey chocolate anything is the BEST!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Lava cakes are my absolute favorite! I’ve only made it once before, but I need to do it again after seeing this recipe. Now I’m craving this for breakfast! Sounds so delicious and so easy to make, too. What a fun dessert to have on your trip!
Ashley Fehr says
What I love about these is that you don’t have the pressure of trying to dump them out onto the plate! Lol. You can just dig right in. We definitely indulged more than a few times!