Divine Chocolate Lava Cake Cookies Recipe

Heavenly Divine Chocolate Lava Cake Cookies Recipe For Dessert Lovers

Warm chocolate aromas waft through the kitchen as these decadent chocolate lava cake cookies promise pure indulgence.

Rich, molten centers surprise with each delightful bite.

Soft, gooey chocolate melts seamlessly from the first gentle touch.

These cookies combine the best elements of classic lava cake with the convenience of handheld treats.

Dark chocolate creates a luxurious depth that elevates the entire experience.

One taste transports you to a world of pure chocolatey bliss – prepare to be amazed by this irresistible dessert.

Tools to Make Lava Cookies Ooze Perfectly

  • Large mixing bowl: Essential for creaming butter and sugars, and mixing cookie dough.
  • Whisk: Perfect for blending dry ingredients smoothly and eliminating cocoa powder lumps.
  • Electric mixer or hand mixer: Helps cream butter and sugar quickly and creates fluffy texture.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Precise measurements for accurate ingredient quantities.
  • Baking sheet: Used for placing and baking cookie dough.
  • Spatula: Helps scrape down bowl sides and fold ingredients together gently.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Lava Cake Cookies

  • Cream Butter and Sugars

Grab your mixing bowl and blend butter with brown and white sugar until the mixture becomes light and airy, creating a smooth foundation for your delectable cookies.

  • Introduce Moisture

Crack in an egg and splash of vanilla, stirring until everything merges into a silky, harmonious mixture.

  • Combine Dry Elements

In another container, swirl together flour, dark cocoa powder, baking soda, and a pinch of salt, creating a rich, chocolatey powder blend.

  • Merge Ingredients

Slowly fold the dry mixture into your creamy base, gently stirring until a soft, decadent dough emerges with a deep, luxurious chocolate color.

  • Shape and Prepare

Roll the dough into delightful little balls, placing them carefully on a baking sheet, ready to transform into gooey, molten-centered cookies.

  • Bake to Perfection

Slide the tray into a preheated oven, letting the heat work its magic until the edges turn slightly crisp while the centers remain deliciously soft and liquid.

  • Cool and Enjoy

Remove the cookies, allowing them to rest momentarily, then savor the warm, flowing chocolate center that makes these treats truly extraordinary.

Tricks to Keep Lava Centers Soft

  • Soft Dough Secret: Chill the cookie dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and enhance the rich chocolate flavor.
  • Gooey Center Technique: For extra molten chocolate, insert a chocolate truffle or chocolate chunk in the center of each cookie before baking.
  • Gluten-Free Option: Swap wheat flour with almond flour or a gluten-free all-purpose blend to make the cookies celiac-friendly without losing texture.
  • Vegan Modification: Replace butter with coconut oil, use a flax egg instead of regular egg, and select dairy-free dark chocolate to create a plant-based version of these decadent cookies.
  • Portion Control Trick: Use a small ice cream scoop for uniform cookie sizes, ensuring consistent baking and a professional bakery-style presentation.

Serving Lava Cake Cookies Warm and Gooey

  • Luxurious Dessert Pairing: Serve these decadent chocolate lava cake cookies alongside a scoop of rich vanilla bean ice cream, creating a heavenly contrast of warm, gooey cookie and cool, creamy sweetness.
  • Elegant Beverage Companion: Pair the cookies with a steaming mug of dark roast coffee or a smooth espresso to enhance the deep chocolate flavors and provide a sophisticated tasting experience.
  • Presentation Perfection: Dust the cookies with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar just before serving, adding a delicate and elegant touch that makes the dessert look as incredible as it tastes.
  • Indulgent Sharing Platter: Arrange the cookies on a beautiful wooden board with fresh berries, chocolate shavings, and a small dish of caramel sauce, creating an irresistible dessert spread perfect for gatherings.

How to Store Lava Cake Cookies Without Drying Out

  • Quick Refrigeration Strategy: Store these delicate cookies in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 5 days, ensuring they maintain their soft, gooey chocolate center and prevent moisture loss.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cookie dough in advance and refrigerate for 24-48 hours before baking, allowing flavors to intensify and develop a richer chocolate profile.
  • Freezing Technique: Wrap individual unbaked dough balls in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months, baking directly from frozen state by adding 2-3 extra minutes to cooking time.
  • Room Temperature Tips: Let cookies cool completely before stacking in storage containers, placing parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking and maintain their delicate chocolate texture.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Calories: 184 kcal

Servings: 12

Chocolate Lava Cake Cookies Ingredient Rundown

For Wet Ingredients:
  • Butter: Creamy base that adds richness and helps bind the cookie's texture together, choose high-quality unsalted butter for best flavor.
  • Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar: Provide sweetness and help create a soft, chewy cookie with caramel-like undertones, look for fine-grain sugars for smooth mixing.
  • Egg: Acts as a binding agent and adds moisture, ensuring a cohesive and tender cookie texture, select fresh, room-temperature eggs.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor complexity, bringing depth and warmth to the chocolate base, opt for pure vanilla extract for authentic taste.
For Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Structural foundation of the cookie, providing necessary texture and stability, sift to remove any lumps.
  • Cocoa Powder: Delivers intense chocolate flavor and deep color, choose Dutch-processed cocoa for richer taste.
  • Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and spread, creating a soft and tender crumb, ensure it's fresh for maximum leavening power.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies other flavors, use fine sea salt for even distribution.
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Divine Chocolate Lava Cake Cookies Recipe

Divine Chocolate Lava Cake Cookies Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 33 reviews

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Gooey chocolate lava cake cookies combine rich molten centers with crisp edges for a decadent dessert experience. Melted chocolate and buttery dough create an irresistible treat you’ll savor with pure delight.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 oz (113 g) semi-sweet or dark chocolate
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ cup (1 stick or 113 g) unsalted butter (softened)
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • Powdered sugar (for dusting)
  • Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Mixing Base: Whip butter with brown and granulated sugars until the mixture transforms into a fluffy, pale cream with a silky texture.
  2. Binding Ingredients: Blend egg and vanilla extract thoroughly into the sugar-butter mixture, creating a smooth, homogeneous foundation for the cookie dough.
  3. Dry Component Preparation: Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together, ensuring a uniform distribution of dry ingredients with no clumping.
  4. Dough Formation: Gently integrate dry ingredients into wet mixture, folding with minimal stirring to maintain a rich chocolate-colored dough that holds together without becoming dense.
  5. Chilling and Shaping: Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes to enhance flavor complexity and firm up the texture, then roll into uniform balls and create a slight indentation in the center to mimic a lava cake’s molten core.
  6. Baking Process: Position cookies on a lined baking sheet, maintaining adequate spacing, and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for 10-12 minutes until edges appear set but centers remain slightly soft.
  7. Finishing Touch: Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack, ensuring the signature gooey center remains intact.

Notes

  • Prevent Overmixing: Stir dry and wet ingredients just until combined to maintain a soft, tender cookie texture without developing tough gluten.
  • Chocolate Quality Matters: Use high-quality cocoa powder and dark chocolate for a more intense, rich chocolate flavor that elevates the entire dessert.
  • Proper Chilling Technique: Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and help cookies maintain a perfect shape with crisp edges.
  • Temperature Control: Remove cookies from oven when edges are set but center still looks slightly underbaked to achieve the signature gooey “lava” center characteristic of these decadent treats.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 190
  • Sugar: 12 g
  • Sodium: 75 mg
  • Fat: 9 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
William Hawkins

William Hawkins

Founder & Culinary Director

Expertise

  • Modern American and Southern Cuisine
  • Farm-to-Table Practices
  • Restaurant Concept Development
  • Culinary Education and Mentorship​

Education

Sullivan University, Louisville, KY

  • Degree: Associate of Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Focused on mastering culinary methods and food science, immersive externships, hands‑on training in industry‑standard kitchen labs, and equipping graduates for roles in restaurant operations.

William Hawkins isn’t just a chef, he’s a storyteller through food. From his hometown of Louisville, KY, he’s spent years refining his craft, turning local ingredients into something extraordinary. 

With classical training from Sullivan University and a career marked by innovation, mentorship, and Southern soul, William approaches every recipe with purpose. His kitchen is where old techniques meet fresh ideas, and where comfort food gets a thoughtful, modern twist. 

When he’s not building dishes from the ground up, he’s out gathering inspiration from nature, markets, and the stories people share around the table.

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