Red Velvet Lava Cake

Highlighted under: Baking & Desserts

This decadent Red Velvet Lava Cake features a rich, molten center that's perfect for chocolate lovers. With its vibrant color and luxurious texture, this dessert is a showstopper for any special occasion or romantic dinner. The combination of red velvet cake and gooey chocolate ganache creates an indulgent treat that melts in your mouth. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate dessert experience.

Emma Johnson

Created by

Emma Johnson

Last updated on 2025-11-17T03:49:25.563Z

This Red Velvet Lava Cake not only tastes divine but also tells a story of indulgence and celebration. Every bite brings together the richness of chocolate and the delightful hint of vanilla, making it a perfect fit for romantic dinners and festive occasions.

Ingredients

Gather these ingredients before you start:

For the Red Velvet Cake:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon red food coloring
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vinegar

For the Chocolate Ganache:

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Now that you have your ingredients ready, let's move on to the steps.

Instructions

Follow these steps to create your delicious lava cake:

Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare 4 ramekins by greasing them with butter and dusting with cocoa powder.

Make the Cake Batter

In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the buttermilk, red food coloring, and vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.

Prepare the Ganache

In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream over low heat until it starts to simmer. Pour it over the chocolate chips in a bowl and let sit for a minute, then stir until smooth.

Assemble the Cakes

Pour a small amount of the red velvet batter into each ramekin, then add a spoonful of the chocolate ganache in the center. Cover the ganache with more cake batter until the ramekins are about 3/4 full.

Bake

Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges of the cakes are set but the center is still soft.

Serve

Let the cakes cool for a minute before inverting them onto plates. Serve warm, optionally topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy your indulgent Red Velvet Lava Cake!

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Questions About Recipes

→ Can I make this cake ahead of time?

It's best to bake the lava cakes just before serving for the gooey center, but you can prepare the batter and ganache in advance and assemble them before baking.

→ What can I use instead of buttermilk?

You can make a buttermilk substitute by mixing 1/2 cup milk with 1/2 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice and letting it sit for 5 minutes.

Red Velvet Lava Cake

This decadent Red Velvet Lava Cake features a rich, molten center that's perfect for chocolate lovers. With its vibrant color and luxurious texture, this dessert is a showstopper for any special occasion or romantic dinner. The combination of red velvet cake and gooey chocolate ganache creates an indulgent treat that melts in your mouth. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate dessert experience.

Prep Time20.0
Cooking Duration15.0
Overall Time35.0

Created by: Emma Johnson

Recipe Type: Baking & Desserts

Skill Level: Intermediate

Final Quantity: 4.0

What You'll Need

For the Red Velvet Cake:

  1. 1 cup all-purpose flour
  2. 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  3. 1 cup sugar
  4. 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  5. 2 large eggs
  6. 1/2 cup buttermilk
  7. 1 tablespoon red food coloring
  8. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  9. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  10. 1/2 teaspoon salt
  11. 1 teaspoon vinegar

For the Chocolate Ganache:

  1. 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  2. 1/2 cup heavy cream

How-To Steps

Step 01

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare 4 ramekins by greasing them with butter and dusting with cocoa powder.

Step 02

In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the buttermilk, red food coloring, and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.

Step 03

In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream over low heat until it starts to simmer. Pour it over the chocolate chips in a bowl and let sit for a minute, then stir until smooth.

Step 04

Pour a small amount of the red velvet batter into each ramekin, then add a spoonful of the chocolate ganache in the center. Cover the ganache with more cake batter until the ramekins are about 3/4 full.

Step 05

Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges of the cakes are set but the center is still soft.

Step 06

Let the cakes cool for a minute before inverting them onto plates. Serve warm, optionally topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Nutritional Breakdown (Per Serving)

  • Total Fat: 20g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Cholesterol: 80mg
  • Sodium: 250mg
  • Carbohydrates: 45g
  • Dietary Fiber: 2g
  • Sugars: 30g
  • Protein: 4g