Gluten-Free Chocolate Lava Cake (With Strawberry!)

These Gluten Free Chocolate Lava-Cakes for 2 are a 15-minute dessert that feels SO fancy! They’re gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and better for you, too!

Gluten Free Chocolate Strawberry Lava Cakes for Two - These ooey-gooey, rich and FUDGY lava cakes are a 15 minute dessert that feels SO fancy! They're gluten/grain/dairy free and better for you too! | #Foodfaithfitness | #Glutenfree #Lavacake #ValentinesDay #Strawberry #DairyFree

It’s an EXPLOSION of ooey-gooey fruity and RICH chocolate up in here today.

Real life talk: why is that not how EVERY SINGLE MONDAY of life EVER starts? Pretty sure that Monday would read a 20 on the 1-10 scale of least favorite to most favorite days of the week then.

Friday? In the presence of melty chocolate strawberry bliss, that day would be SO 2017.

why you will LOVE this recipe

These little molten chocolate lava cakes are basically everything that your inner chocolate-covered soul could want out of life. They’re…

Gluten-free, grain-free, and dairy-free.
Nixing some of the coconut oil for lower-fat applesauce.
Dense and RICH and deep on the outside with MELTY CHOCOLATE LAVA ON THE INSIDE.
SWIMMING with chocolate strawberry YUMMINESS.
The inside is indeed baked. But it’s got that FEELING of eating the cake batter STRAIGHT from the bowl. Just like Momma used to tell you NOT to do.
Considering we have had a paleo chocolate lava cake recipe and low carb peanut butter chocolate lava cake recipe It’s no secret that I am a <3<3<3er of gluten free molten lava cake. They are the best of both worlds: chocolate cake and chocolate cake BATTER. You can even be crazy and make paleo PUMPKIN lava cakes!
The beauty of these lava cakes is that they feel like a VRY VRY fancy dessert except you can ACTUALLY make them in your real person-dessert-eating-life. AND IN ONLY 20 MINUTES.
Require you to under-bake them.
REQUIRE you to eat them basically as soon as they come out of the oven.

Easy Strawberry Gluten Free Chocolate Lava Cakes for Two - These ooey-gooey, rich and FUDGY lava cakes are a 15 minute dessert that feels SO fancy! They're gluten/grain/dairy free and better for you too! | #Foodfaithfitness | #Glutenfree #Lavacake #ValentinesDay #Strawberry #DairyFree

INGREDIENTS

3 oz dairy-free dark chocolate, I used 72% cocoa
1 tbsp coconut oil + additional for the ramekins
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
1/4 cup coconut sugar
3 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
2 tbsp cocoa powder + additional for the ramekins
4 tsp organic strawberry fruit spread

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Rub 2 Ramekins with coconut oil and sprinkle with cocoa powder so that the inside is fully covered. Set aside.
In a large, microwave-safe bowl, melt the coconut oil and chocolate in the microwave using half power and microwaving for 30 seconds at a time. Stir after 30 seconds and repeat until the chocolate is smooth and melted.
While the chocolate melts, beat together the egg, egg yolk, coconut sugar, applesauce, vanilla extract and salt, using an electric hand mixer, until the mixture lightens in color and the coconut sugar begins to break down, about 2 minutes.
Pour the egg mixture into the chocolate/oil mixture, whisk by hand constantly until everything is well mixed and the chocolate begins to thicken. Gently fold in the cocoa powder and whisk until well incorporated.
Divide the batter between the ramekins, filling just over half way up. Place 2 tsp of the fruit spread in the center of each ramekin and gently divide the remaining batter, so that the ramekins are just over 3/4 of the way full.
Place in the preheated over and bake until the outside is set, but the center looks a slightly soft and under-cooked, about 10 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let stand one minute. Then, gently run a knife along the outside of the ramekin and place a plate upside down on top. Gently turn the plate/ramekin over and the cake will slide right out.
DEVOUR immediately!

tips & tricks for making the perfect lava cake

Eat these immediately! I can’t stress this enough. Not doing so means you miss out on all that lava goodness
Be sure to GENTLY fold in the cocoa powder. If you are too aggressive with the process, your cakes will lose their lightness and turn out too dense.
So we’re clear, you will need TWO eggs for this recipe, though you will only need the yolk of the second one.

FAQs

what does it mean to ‘fold’?

In baking, folding is a gentle mixing technique used to combine two ingredients that are not meant to be fully mixed together, such as beaten egg whites and a heavier batter. The goal of folding is to evenly distribute the lighter ingredient throughout the heavier one without deflating the air bubbles that have been incorporated into the lighter ingredient. To fold, you typically use a rubber spatula or a spoon and carefully cut down through the center of the mixture, scooping some of the heavier mixture up and over the lighter one. Then, you rotate the bowl and repeat the process until the ingredients are evenly combined.

does the percentage of cocoa in the chocolate make a difference?

Yes, the percentage of cocoa in chocolate can make a difference when baking. The higher the percentage of cocoa, the more intense and bitter the chocolate flavor will be. This can be beneficial if you want a rich, dark chocolate flavor in your baked goods, but it can also be overwhelming if you’re not careful. Chocolate that is higher in cocoa is also better for you.

are fruit spread and fruit jam the same thing?

Fruit spread and fruit jam are similar products, but they are not the same thing. Both are made from fruit, sugar, and pectin, and they are both used as spreads for toast and other baked goods. However, fruit spread is typically made with whole or pieces of fruit, while jam is made from fruit puree. This means that fruit spread has a chunkier texture and may contain pieces of fruit, while jam has a smoother, more uniform texture. Additionally, fruit spread is usually made with less sugar than jam, which gives it a slightly tart flavor. Because of these differences, fruit spread and jam can be used interchangeably in some recipes, but they may not always produce the same results.

how to store lava cake

Well, hopefully, you don’t. This is one dessert you need to eat right away. BUT if you happen to have made too many, you store it in the refrigerator to prevent the chocolate and filling from spoiling. To do this, place the cake in an airtight container or wrap it in plastic wrap to keep out air and moisture. The cake will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When you’re ready to serve the cake again, you can warm it up in the microwave or in the oven. Be sure to check the cake carefully and make sure it’s heated through before serving. You can also serve the cake cold, straight from the refrigerator.