Ube Lava Cake

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I discovered lava cake recipes years ago when I wanted to make something easy for Valentine's Day. It was a simple recipe where I had an opportunity to practice melting chocolate over a makeshift double boiler and tempering eggs with hot liquid. Also, lava cakes just taste so good!

Update Disclosure: This post has been updated for one or more of the following reasons: easier reading, updated photos, clearer instructions, and just plain ol' improvements to the recipe (as noted).

Jump to:

• Why Ube Lava Cake?
• Ingredients
• Substitutes
• Recipes Tips
• How to Make Ube Lava Cake 
• Ube Lava Cake Recipe
• Have You Tried This Recipe?

Why Ube Lava Cake?

Lava cake is already a pretty impressive feat! But it's surprisingly easy to make and requires a few ingredients. So it's a great dessert for a special night in.

Plus, these things come to mind:

• Gooey
• Indulgent
• Chocolate
• Rich!

Ingredients

You will need the following for this recipe:

• Eggs
• White Chocolate
• Granulated Sugar
• Unsalted Butter
• Ube Halaya
• Ube Extract
• Flour

Substitutes

• Ube Halaya: If a smoother texture is your thing and you really want a fine consistency, then you may not need ube halaya for this recipe and simply opt out of it.

Recipes Tips

• Remember to Preheat: Do this before anything else so you are ready. The mixing part of this happens pretty quickly.
  
  
• Create Your Setup: Make sure you have a double boiler set up. The simplest way to do this is to get a large glass bowl and stack it on top of a small pot filled with water.
  
  
• Checking Ube Lava Cake:
  • I would typically check the cakes by gently shaking one of the ramekins to decide if I need to add more time to the original eight minutes. The center of the ramekin should be jiggly, but the outer rim of the batter should be firm.
  • A lava cake is a semi-raw where you bake it just enough so that the center is still runny when you take a slice out of it. 
  • If the center does not run, baking time may need to be shorter. Do the jiggle test every time you make it, and you will eventually get a feel for the kind of movement to look for.

How to Make Ube Lava Cake 

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F).
2. Prepare ramekins by rubbing butter and then brushing on flour.
3. Combine sugar, eggs and whisk until the smooth.
4. Melt chocolate on the double boiler and add ube halaya.
5. Temper the eggs into the chocolate mix.
6. Add ube extract and flour, then whisk to combine.
7. Pour an equal amount of the batter into the ramekins.
8. Bake them in the oven to bake for eight minutes. 

How to Serve

After taking out the cakes from the oven, let them sit on the counter to cool for at least one minute. Loosen the sides of the cakes by sliding a thin knife around the ramekins. Then put a plate over the ramekin. 

Use a mitt to flip the ramekin over and gently shake the cake out. Sprinkle some powdered sugar on top of the cake. The center of the cake will continue to cook, the longer the cake sits. So serve it immediately if you want to present a very runny center.

Making Ube Lava Cake Ahead of Time

You can make the batter for the cakes up to two days ahead. Make the batter and fill the ramekins. Then cover them with cling wrap and place them in the fridge. When you are ready to bake the cakes, raise the temperature of the batter by letting it sit on the counter for ten minutes before baking.