Ultimate Chocolate Lava Cookies
These ultimate chocolate lava cookies combine a soft cookie exterior with a gooey molten chocolate center, perfect for a quick and indulgent dessert treat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (50g) packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup (95g) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup (25g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (175g) chocolate chunks or chips (mix of semi-sweet and bittersweet recommended)
- Optional: sea salt flakes for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1/4 cup packed brown sugar together using an electric mixer or whisk until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add 1 large room temperature egg and 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract. Beat until fully combined, about 1 minute.
- In a separate bowl, sift together 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the butter mixture gently with a rubber spatula until just combined.
- Fold in 1 cup chocolate chunks or chips.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon, portion dough balls about 2 tablespoons (30g) each and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set but centers look soft and slightly underbaked.
- Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
- Optional: Sprinkle sea salt flakes on top while cookies are still warm.
Notes
Chilling the dough before baking is crucial to prevent spreading and maintain the molten center. Do not overbake; the centers should look slightly underbaked for the perfect gooey texture. Use high-quality chocolate chunks for best flavor and melt.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 110
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 23
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
Keywords: chocolate lava cookies, molten chocolate cookies, easy chocolate dessert, molten center cookies, chocolate cookie recipe