The Best Air Fryer Molten Lava Cake

4.84 / 5 ( 25 Reviews )
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air fryer lava cakes

Molten Lava Air Fryer Cake from scratch!

These air fryer cakes are so delicious and dangerously easy to make. They are an incredibly easy molten chocolate cake to make and perfect for a new air fryer owner! If you want to choose a bit healthier dessert, find our list of 24 Healthy Air Fryer recipes!

Ingredients needed to make The Best Molten Lava Cake Recipe:

air fryer lava cake ingredients

  • Ghirardelli bittersweet 60% cacao chocolate baking bar 227 grams
  • Unsalted butter 141.8 grams
  • Large eggs
  • Egg yolks
  • Salt
  • Powdered sugar
  • All-purpose flour

Supplies for making molten chocolate lava cakes:

Can you bake a cake in an air fryer?

That’s a big yes! An air fryer can be pretty awesome for cake (and other air fryer desserts like these air fryer donuts or air fryer cookies!).

Why? Because there’s no need to preheat and it doesn’t heat up the whole house like an oven. The cook time is often less with an air fryer too because it circulates air more quickly than a convection oven. I have a Philips XXL Airfryer and love it!

How will I know when the air fryer cake is done?

About 10 minutes in the air fryer at 400 degrees F or 200 degrees C should do it. You can go a little less, at about 8 minutes, for a more runny center, or keep it at about 10 minutes for a thicker center. Note that after the first batch, your air fryer will be warmed up more, so a second batch may require a minute or so less cooking time.

The cakes are done when the tops look cakey with large cracks and the edges may be darker. There may be some molten chocolate oozing in some of the cracks too, but not necessary.

If you’re concerned about whether or not the cakes are done, especially with all of those eggs in there, know that eggs are considered safe when cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F or 71 degrees C. Use an instant thermometer to check your air fryer cake, if desired. When I checked, the cakes were definitely at a higher temperature than 160 degrees F or 71 degrees C.

how to make lava cakes in the air fryer

What size ramekins should I use?

I use 6-ounce ramekins in this recipe, but you can try using a 4-ounce or 8-ounce with cooking time adjusted accordingly. A smaller container will usually require less cooking time. The yield may also vary depending on the size of ramekin you use. Use an instant read thermometer and aim for an internal temp of 160 degrees F or 71 degrees C.

If you don’t own any ramekins, you can try using silicone baking cups, custard cups, or another similar small oven-proof container. I have the HIC 6-ounce ramekins.

What type of chocolate to use for chocolate molten lava cakes:

The flavor of these molten lava air fryer cakes is highly dependent on the chocolate you use, so choose a good quality chocolate. For this recipe, you’ll want to go with a bittersweet chocolate, about 60% cacao.

I highly recommend using two 4-ounce Ghirardelli Bittersweet 60% cacao baking bars. Find them at most grocery stores right next to the chocolate chips.

You can try using chocolate chips instead, but they may not melt or ooze as well as the high quality baking bar. And your results may vary because the ingredients in chocolate chips often vary!

How to make The Best Molten Lava Cake Recipe:

Step 1: Prepare ramekins and chocolate

Grease or spray six oven-safe 6-ounce ramekins.

Break the chocolate bars into pieces. Combine chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl and heat at half power for about 1 1/2 minutes, stirring about every 30 seconds, until smooth. Or use the double boiler method on the stovetop, if preferred.

Step 2: Create the chocolate mixture

Place all of the ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Mix everything together until they are just combined.

Step 3: Fill ramikens

Then, pour the cake batter into the ramekins as evenly as you can, and then place them in the air fryer.

Step 4: Cook lava cake

Cook at 400˚F or 204˚C in the air fryer for about 8-10 minutes. 8 minutes for more runny center and 10 for thicker. Top of cakes will look cakey with cracks and darker edges. Allow to set for 2 minutes.

Please be careful because those ramekins are HOT when the air fryer cake is done cooking! Use some sort of pot holder, oven mitt, or pit mitt to remove the ramekins from the air fryer.

Step 5: Remove and serve chocolate lava cakes

Run a knife around edged to loosen cakes. Invert onto a plate and tap the bottom of ramekin to help release cake. May need to gently wiggle it a little too. Don’t skip the tapping or part of your cake may stick to the ramekin.

Serve warm garnished with a dusting of powdered sugar or berries, whipped cream, or ice cream.

Note: They taste amazing, especially served with vanilla ice cream! I almost couldn’t believe this delicious chocolate cake came out of my air fryer. If you love this one, you’ll want to check out these other delicious air fryer desserts like this one!

Can I freeze air fryer cake?

Yes! Make sure the baked lava air fryer cakes cool completely first, then wrap them up and freeze them for up to 3 months.

You can make the batter ahead of time! Store the batter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. For best results, allow the batter to come to room temperature before cooking in the air fryer.

More air fryer dessert recipes:

See more of our favorite air fryer recipes!

Final Thoughts

These lava cakes are super simple to make up and taste amazing, especially served with vanilla ice cream! I almost couldn’t believe this delicious chocolate cake came out of my air fryer.

If you love this one, you’ll want to check out these other delicious air fryer desserts like this one!

Delicious snacks to make in the air fryer:

air fryer lava cakes

The Best Air Fryer Molten Lava Cake

You won't believe how quick and easy this delicious chocolate molten lava air fryer cake recipe is! Enjoy for a special occasion or just a special treat!
4.84 / 5 ( 25 Reviews )
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 6
Adjust Servings: 6

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Grease or spray six oven-safe 6-ounce ramekins.
  • Break the chocolate bars into pieces. Combine chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl and heat at half power for about 1 1/2 minutes, stirring about every 30 seconds, until smooth. Or use double boiler method on the stovetop, if preferred.
  • Add salt, powdered sugar, and flour. Stir until well combine. Mixture will be very thick, like cookie dough.
  • Add eggs and egg yolks and whisk until well combined. Batter will be fudgy and thick, but pourable.
  • Divide batter evenly among ramekins. Place as many as fit in your air fryer into the air fryer basket.
  • Cook at 400˚F/204˚C in the air fryer for about 8-10 minutes. 8 minutes for more runny center and 10 for thicker. Top of cakes will look cakey with cracks and darker edges. Allow to set for 2 minutes. The ramekins will be hot!
  • Run a knife around edged to loosen cakes. Invert onto a plate and tap the bottom of ramekin to help release cake. May need to gently wiggle it a little too. Don't skip the tapping or part of your cake may stick to the ramekin.
  • Serve warm garnished with powdered sugar, berries, whipped cream, or ice cream.

Recipe Notes

If using salted butter, decrease salt to 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 ml)

Nutrition

Calories: 574kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 36g | Sodium: 239mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 49g
Ingredients: All-purpose flour, Butter, Chocolate, Egg, Powdered Sugar
Meal Type: Desserts, Christmas, Easter, Fall, Father's Day, Mother's Day, New Year's Eve, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, Meatless
Categories: Cakes and Cupcakes, Air Fryer

Comments & Reviews

  • c’est interessant et merci

  • So easy
    So delish
    Can’t wait for grandkids to lick their plates – means success in Nana terms
    I’ve ordered this on occasion out in a restaurant.
    We loved it – I’m not afraid to do this – I can do this! |you can too

  • This was delicious with a deep chocolate flavor. I did a review of this on my YouTube channel, The Real Deal Recipe Reviews, where I always try to make recipes as written. I’ve always wanted to make molten lava cakes and when I saw this in the air fryer, it was time – and I wasn’t disappointed!
    Cathy was the one who got us going when we got our air fryer years ago and we always enjoy her recipes. I plan to review her air fryer whole chicken recipe in the near future (heads up – it’s wonderful!)

4.84 from 25 votes (23 ratings without comment)

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