• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Kitchen 335

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Summer
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Summer
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Cake

    Published: Feb 13, 2021 · Modified: Sep 11, 2023 by Ellie Haley · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Peanut Butter Lava Cakes

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Peanut Butter Lava Cakes are soft chocolate cakes with molten chocolate and peanut butter centers.  They are made with six simple ingredients and can be ready to eat in less than 25 minutes! They are a great easy, quick, and satisfying dessert.

    a peanut butter lava cake with a spoon in it taking a scoop out on white plate.

    Chocolate Lava Cakes are one of my favorite dessert recipes. They come together really easily, require very few ingredients, but they don't skimp on flavor. When you add peanut butter into the mix you get a simple twist that makes a delicious difference.

    If you're looking for more tasty chocolate recipes check out these Ice Cream Sandwiches, Chocolate Pots de Crème, or S'mores Hand Pies.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • Step-By-Step Instructions
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Recipes You'll Love
    • Recipe

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • The delicious chocolate and peanut butter flavor. It is like Reese's in cake form! If you want more Reese's recipes you should try my Reese's Skillet Cookie.
    • The warm chocolate and peanut butter center is irresistible.
    • They are quick and easy to make. Just like my Fudgy Brownies!
    • The cakes can be topped with a variety of things. Like ice cream, caramel, or whipped cream.

    Ingredients

    all of the ingredients laid out and labeled on a grey background.

    Ingredient Notes

    • I used semi-sweet chocolate, but you can use whatever you prefer.
    • Adding sugar to the ramekin will add a slight crunch and some extra sweetness to the lava cakes.
    • Be sure to use creamy peanut butter. You can find more peanut butter in my No-Bake Cookies with Peanut Butter Glaze.

    See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

    Substitutions and Variations

    • The flour can be left out to make the chocolate lava cake gluten-free. It will affect the texture of the cakes, but they will taste the same.
    • You can make one large lava cake in a large ramekin or small baking dish. The baking time will be longer.
    • The peanut butter can be swapped out for almond butter, cashew butter, or the nut butter of your choice.

    This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!

    Step-By-Step Instructions

    scoops of peanut butter on a white plate.

    STEP 1: Scoop heaping teaspoons of peanut butter onto a small plate. Place in freezer until ready to use. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F).

    a ramekin that has been oiled and coated with sugar on a grey background.

    STEP 2: Prepare 4 small ramekins by spraying them with non-stick spray. Then pour a couple of spoonfuls of sugar into one of the ramekins and spin around until the bottom and sides are coated. Pour the remaining sugar into the next ramekin and continue until all 4 are coated. This will make a crunchy sugar crust on the outside of the cakes.

    the butter and chocolate melted down in a saucepan on a grey background.

    STEP 3: In a small saucepan combine the chocolate and butter. Place over low heat until melted. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

    the eggs and sugar combined in a glass bowl on grey background.

    STEP 4: In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar until the mixture is slightly thickened.

    the completed lava cake batter in a glass bowl on a grey background.

    STEP 5: Add the cooled chocolate mixture and whisk until thickened. Add flour and mix until combined.

    the lava cake with the ball of peanut butter in the center before being baked.

    STEP 6: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared ramekins. Place one ball of peanut butter in the center of each lava cake and press it down so it is covered by the chocolate batter.

    STEP 7: Place the ramekins on a cookie sheet and bake for 15-17 minutes or until the outside is set and just the very center is jiggly. The frozen peanut butter will cool down the cakes so they may take a little longer to bake.

    STEP 8: Remove from oven and serve in the ramekins or turn the ramekins over onto a plate. The easiest way to do this is to place a ramekin on a potholder in your hand, flip a plate over on top of it and then turn the whole thing over. You might have to lightly shake the ramekin in order to get the cake out.

    Expert Tips

    • Watch the lava cakes closely while they bake. They can go from underbaked to overbaked quickly and you will lose the gooey chocolate center.
    • Use an oven thermometer. Most ovens run either hot or cold. Using an oven thermometer ensures that you are baking your chocolate lava cakes at the perfect temperature.
    • Don’t use cold ingredients. Ensure that all of your cold ingredients are at room temperature before making your lava cakes. The ingredients will combine much easier.
    • Weigh your ingredients. One of the most common baking mistakes that I see is measuring incorrectly. The best way to get accurate measurements every time is to weigh them with a kitchen scale.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I make Peanut Butter Lava Cakes ahead of time?

    Absolutely! But I wouldn't recommend baking them ahead of time. You can prepare them up to the point of baking and the refrigerate them for a couple of days or freeze for up to two weeks. If you freeze you will need to allow them to thaw before baking.

    Is the center of a lava cake just unbaked cake?

    Yes and no. While it is liquid at the center and technically unbaked the internal temperature still reaches 160 degrees (F), so it is safe to eat!

    Can I eat the cake cold?

    You can. I think they taste better warm, but you really can't go wrong with chocolate lava cake!

    What if I don't have ramekins?

    You can use a muffin tin instead of ramekins. Just be aware that the chocolate lava cakes may bake faster because a muffin tin is thinner than a ramekin.

    How can I serve the cakes?

    There are lots of simple additions you can make to peanut butter lava cakes when serving to amp up the flavor. You can dust the lava cakes with powdered sugar, top with whipped cream or ice cream.

    Can I make Peanut Butter Lava Cakes in the microwave?

    I have never tried this, but I definitely think it could work! I would put the batter into a mug and microwave for 1 and a half minutes, check the cake and then add another minute or 2 accordingly.

    How do I store the lava cakes?

    Room Temperature: The cakes can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days.
    Refrigerator:
     If stored correctly in an airtight container the Peanut Butter Lava Cakes will last up to 1 week in the fridge.
    Freezer
    : I wouldn't recommend storing these in the freezer after baking, but you can freeze the batter in the ramekin. Store the ramekins in an air-tight container and they can stay in the freezer for up to 2 months.

    a peanut butter lava cake cut open with peanut butter spilling out of it on a white plate with a fork next to it.

    More Recipes You'll Love

    • two brookies on a piece of parchment paper.
      Brookies
    • a brownie mix cookie with a bite out of it on a metal baking dish with other cookies around it.
      Brownie Mix Cookies
    • several sourdough chocolate chip cookies on a metal cooling rack.
      Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • two banana chocolate chunk muffins stacked on top of each other. One has a bite out of it and there are other muffins around them.
      Banana Chocolate Chunk Muffins

    If you tried these Peanut Butter Lava Cakes or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the  comments below. I so appreciate hearing from you!

    Recipe

    a peanut butter lava cake with a spoon in it taking a scoop out on white plate.

    Peanut Butter Lava Cakes

    Ellie Haley
    Peanut Butter Lava Cakes are soft chocolate cakes with molten chocolate and peanut butter centers.  They are made with six simple ingredients and can be ready to eat in less than 25 minutes! They are a great easy, quick, and satisfying dessert.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 cakes
    Calories 500 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    For Lava Cake:

    • 4 teaspoons creamy peanut butter
    • 1 stick (113 grams) unsalted butter
    • ⅔ cup (113 grams) chocolate I used semi-sweet
    • 2 large eggs
    • 2 egg yolks
    • ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
    • 1 tablespoon (8 grams) all-purpose flour
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    For Lava Cake:

    • Scoop heaping teaspoons of peanut butter onto a small plate. Place in freezer until ready to use.
    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Prepare 4 small ramekins by spraying them with non-stick spray. Pour a couple of spoonfuls of granulated sugar in the sprayed ramekin and roll around so that it coats the bottom and sides. This will create a sugar crust on the lava cake.
    • In a small saucepan combine the butter and chocolate. Place over low heat until melted. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar until slightly thickened. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and whisk until thickened. Add the flour and mix until combined.
    • Divide the batter evenly between the prepared ramekins. Place one ball of peanut butter in the center of each lava cake and press it down so it is covered by the chocolate batter.
    • Place the ramekins on a cookie sheet and bake for 15-17 minutes or until the outside is set and the very center is jiggly.
    • Remove from oven and carefully flip the ramekins over onto a plate or serve in the ramekins.

    Notes

    • Watch the lava cakes closely while they bake. They can go from underbaked to over baked quickly and you will lose the gooey chocolate center.
    • Don’t use cold ingredients. Ensure that all of your cold ingredients are at room temperature before making your lava cakes. The ingredients will combine much easier.
    • The provided nutrition information is an estimate. The calorie accuracy is not guaranteed.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cakeCalories: 500kcalCarbohydrates: 32.2gProtein: 8.4gFat: 38.7gSaturated Fat: 22.5gCholesterol: 265mgSodium: 248mgPotassium: 190mgFiber: 1.3gSugar: 27.7gCalcium: 84mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Delicious Cake Recipes

    • an italian cream cake on a wooden board sprinkled with pecans and shredded coconut.
      Italian Cream Cake
    • a slice of Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake on a white plate with a fork next to it.
      Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake
    • a slice of lemon curd cake on top of two stacked white plates with a drip of lemon curd coming down the side.
      Lemon Curd Cake
    • a slice of the coconut cake recipe on a two stacked grey plates with a fork next to it.
      Coconut Cake Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Desirée Wagoner says

      November 02, 2024 at 9:45 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent recipe! Super easy my family loved it!! 😋

      Reply
    5 from 6 votes (5 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Ellie!

    I am a classically trained pastry chef with a deep desire to bring delicious and beautiful recipes to the homes of others. I aim to make being in the kitchen approachable instead of intimidating

    More about me →

    Summer Recipes

    • several lemon brownies on a piece of parchment paper. One has a bite out of it.
      Lemon Brownies
    • a lemon curd cookie with a bite out of it on a light background.
      Lemon Curd Cookies
    • several lavender cookies on a metal cooling rack.
      Lavender Cookies
    • two scoops of strawberry cheesecake ice cream in a metal dish with an ice cream scoop on top.
      Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
    • several raspberry and white chocolate and fresh raspberries, one has a bite out of it.
      Raspberry and White Chocolate Cookies
    • a strawberry cinnamon roll that has been cut into on a white plate with a fresh strawberry beside it.
      Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls

    Popular Recipes

    • a small black and tan yorkie smelling a dog cake with a lit candle in it
      Dog Birthday Cake
    • a closeup of fudgy brownies sprinkled with salt on parchment paper
      Fudgy Brownies
    • Strawberry Macarons
    • a brownie pie with a slice taken out of it on a black metal cooling rack.
      Chocolate Brownie Pie
    • Earl Grey Macarons
    • Banana Baked Donuts with a brown butter glaze
      Banana Donuts

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2025 Kitchen 335

    a peanut butter lava cake with a spoon in it taking a scoop out on white plate. It says peanut butter lava cakes across the top.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.