Some things just feel like home.

For me, an abundance of rich hand-baked desserts is a sign I am back home and among loved ones. There is something special about simply sitting with those you love. There is also something special about lava cakes: they have lava! 🙂

In ours, we elected to use sunflower seed butter, but you can use any nut butter! The ‘stronger’ butters generally work better in this recipe, in my opinion. We liked sunflower seed butter and peanut butter more than almond butter.

Sitting down in front of a Christmas movie with a hand-baked dessert and the warmth and smiles of family members is a comforting feeling.

These lava cakes are especially comforting as they bring me back to moments like these.

Happy Holidays to you from us at the Estero Story. Hope you enjoy our lava cakes.

Print Recipe

Mom’s Lava Cakes

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 5 tbsp cane sugar
• 2 tbsp melted coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 pinches sea salt
• 4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp unbleached all-purpose flour
• 4 tbsp semisweet chocolate chips melted
• 8 tsp nut/seed butter (2 tsp per ramekin)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 F.
• Grease four 6-oz ramekins with cooking spray and dust with cocoa powder.
• Activate vinegar and almond milk by mixing together in a small bowl.
• In a large bowl mix applesauce, vinegar-almond milk mixture, sugar, coconut oil, and vanilla extract until smooth.
• Add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt to mixture.
• Fold in melted chocolate.
• Pour mixture into prepared pans.
• Top with nut/seed butter and use a spoon to slightly press it down into the batter. Some may still be exposed.
• Place ramekins onto a baking sheet and bake for 12-13 minutes until the sides appear solid and firm. The top may still look slightly soft. Allow to cool for 1 minute, then cover each with an inverted plate and turn over. Use an oven mitt because those ramekins are hot! The cakes should release easily from the ramekin.