Molten Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake has a gooey chocolate center and a hint of coffee; A delicious Instant Pot dessert that’s super easy to make.
[Update: Since I first made this recipe, I’ve discovered that I don’t need to make the lava cakes in two separate batches. I just stack the ramekins, staggered, with three on the bottom and one on top. I’ve updated the printable recipe card, but not the step by step photos.]
Dessert in your Instant Pot
? Yeeesss! These molten Instant Pot chocolate lava cakes are such a wonderfully decadent treat! We were in the mood for dessert and of course now that everything in my kitchen revolves around the Instant Pot, I just HAD to come up with an Instant Pot dessert. I thought about making an Instant Pot cheesecake recipe because I know they turn out really well. But because I’m the only one in my family who loves cheesecake, I would probably end up eating it all. Not cool. So because everyone loves chocolate, I decided to try out this recipe which I normally make in the oven.I actually prefer the Instant Pot version because I didn’t have to turn on the oven just to make 4 little ramekins. The centers of these molten Instant Pot chocolate lava cakes are soft and gooey (hence the name ‘lava cake’!) This recipe uses instant coffee granules and I think it adds a nice counter-balance to the chocolate. But I’m a coffee drinker and love to get my coffee fix! My kids, on the other hand, are not coffee drinkers and they like these chocolate lava cakes without the coffee. If you don’t care for coffee either, you can easily leave it out. The list of ingredients is short and so is the time required for prep, so I would consider this an easy recipe! The only downside is that I make the molten lava cakes in two batches because I can only fit two ramekins in my Instant Pot.
I make a lot of curries and highly spiced dishes in the Instant Pot and one thing I’ve found is that the Instant Pot sealing ring retains the smell of whatever I cook. I’ve tried all kinds of tricks and they work okay but not perfectly. So I ordered a second Instant Pot silicone sealing ring
If you’re new to the Instant Pot and aren’t familiar with how to use it, do try and read the Instant Pot Manual / Beginner’s Quick Start Guide blog post first and then come back here to learn how to make Instant Pot chocolate lava cake.
Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake Ingredients
Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake Step-by-Step Instructions
- In a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl, microwave butter and chocolate on medium heat for about 1 minute. Stir and repeat heating at 15-second intervals, until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
- Stir in confectioner’s sugar.
- Whisk in eggs, yolks, coffee and vanilla.
- Stir in flour and salt.
- Grease the bottom and sides of four 6 oz. ramekins. Coat each with sugar.
- Divide batter among the ramekins.
- Pour 2 cups water into the Instant Pot’s main compartment (inner pot) and place trivet in water.
- Place 2 ramekins on the trivet.
- Close the Instant Pot.
- Make sure the steam release handle is in the ‘Sealing’ position.
- [Update: you don’t have to make these lava cakes in two batches. You can place three ramekins on the bottom layer and one on top of them, in the middle (staggered).]
- Press ‘Manual’ (or ‘Pressure Cook’) and ‘+’ or ‘-‘ until display reads ‘9’ (9 minutes).
- Instant Pot display will change to ‘On’.
- Once the Instant Pot is pressurized, the float valve will go up.
- The display will count down from 9 to 0; it will switch to ‘Keep Warm’ mode and display ‘L0:00’.
- To open the Instant Pot, first move the steam release handle to ‘Venting’. I like to place a folded towel over the steam release handle and move it to the venting position.
- When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.
- Press ‘Cancel’ and open the Instant Pot.
- Open the Instant Pot.
- Remove the ramekins carefully. I just lift the trivet to remove them.
- Return the trivet to the Instant Pot and repeat process with remaining 2 ramekins. [If you are cooking them in two batches.]
- Dust the Instant Pot chocolate lava cakes with powdered sugar.
- Serve warm!
Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 4
These molten Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cakes have a gooey chocolate center and a hint of coffee; A delicious Instant Pot dessert that's super easy to make.
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
- 4 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 tsp instant coffee granules
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 6 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Grease the bottom and sides of four 6 oz ramekins. Coat each with sugar.
- Melt chocolate and butter: In a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl, microwave butter and chocolate for about 1 minute on medium power. Stir and repeat heating at 15-second intervals, until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
- Stir in confectioner's sugar.
- Whisk in eggs, yolks, coffee and vanilla.
- Stir in flour and salt.
- Divide batter among the ramekins.
- Pour 2 cups water into the Instant Pot’s main compartment (inner pot) and place trivet in water.
- Place 3 ramekins on the trivet and place 1 more on top of them, in the middle (staggered). Close the Instant Pot. Make sure the steam release handle is in the ‘Sealing’ position.
- Cook on 'Manual' (or 'Pressure Cook') for 9 minutes.
- Do a Quick Release of steam and open the Instant Pot.
- Use the trivet to remove the ramekins. Gently dab off any condensation from the surface of the cake.
- Dust the Insant Pot chocolate lava cakes with powdered sugar.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- If you have a larger Instant Pot, you might be able to fit all 4 ramekins in one layer.
Courses Dessert
Cuisine Instant Pot
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 lava cake
Amount Per Serving | ||
|---|---|---|
Calories 560 | ||
% Daily Value | ||
Total Fat 36 g | 55% | |
Saturated Fat 21 g | 105% | |
Cholesterol 233 mg | 78% | |
Sodium 80 mg | 3% | |
Total Carbohydrates 58 g | 19% | |
Dietary Fiber 2 g | 8% | |
Sugars 49 g | ||
Protein 7 g | 14% | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
I am not a certified nutritionist. I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers. If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons, I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.
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