Peanut Butter Lava Cakes
These little love cakes are like a hug in a bowl, a cake you make with care for those you love. The best part is how incredibly easy they are and how impressively delicious they turn out. This is a dessert that needs to be eaten right as it comes out of the oven, making it a recipe that roots you right in the present moment. A cold scoop of ice cream that slowly melts into the lava like middle completes the delight.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
2.5 oz. bar of dark chocolate or chocolate chips
2 eggs
2 tablespoons coconut sugar
1 teaspoon flour (yes, that little!)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt
2-4 tablespoons peanut butter (one per cake)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425. Melt together the butter and chocolate. I like to use a simple double boiler by placing a stainless bowl over a pot of simmering water. In the bowl, place the butter and chocolate and allow it to melt slowly. As the chocolate and butter melt, in another bowl whisk the eggs and sugar together until light and frothy. Set it aside and allow the melted chocolate mixture to cool slightly. Take 2-4 large ramekins or dishes (I use 8 ounce ramekins, but you could use mason jars or oven safe mugs). Butter the dishes so the cake doesn’t stick. Add the chocolate mixture to the egg and sugar mixture and fold together until it’s shiny and smooth. Add the flour, vanilla, and pinch of salt. Stir briefly until combined and pour evenly into the baking dishes. Add a tablespoon of peanut butter to the middle of the cake batter.
Place the cakes into the oven. I like to put them all on a baking tray so they don’t tip over on the oven racks. Bake for 7 minutes The middle will still be a bit jiggly, but that’s how you want it! Let cool for a minute then serve with a scoop of ice cream on top!
