Chocolate-Peanut Butter Lava Cakes for 2 are for serious dessert lovers only! Tender cake surrounds molten chocolate and peanut butter in this easy yet irresistable gluten-free dessert recipe. Sponsored by Enjoy Life.
My Grandma turns 100 years old in just under a week and a half! Pause to think about that for a second. She has been on this earth for ONE. HUNDRED. YEARS. A century! It’s difficult to wrap my mind around all the things she’s seen and experienced in her lifetime – from men landing on the moon, to living through the great depression. World wars, prohibition, and even the invention of the iPad, which she is most likely reading this post on.
Happy early birthday, Grandma – you are a WONDER! <3
She’s having a party in Ohio next week to celebrate so I baked a little cake in her honor – Chocolate-Peanut Butter Lava Cakes for 2. Grandma, I wish we could devour these individual-sized cakes with molten chocolate and peanut butter centers together in person, but for now a virtual date will have to do!
I’ve always loved that my Grandma’s birthday falls around Valentine’s Day – is there a sweeter time of year? Especially when chocolate and peanut butter are involved? That said, there’s no need to look any further for a special Valentine’s Day dessert idea. These little cakes are pure decadence and the recipe makes just enough for two.
So, grab your Gran, spouse, partner, gal pal or ‘it’s complicated’ and feast on these truly special treats. They’re easy to make, gluten-free, and easily made dairy-free, too!
The recipe for Chocolate-Peanut Butter Lava Cakes for 2 is sponsored by my friends at Enjoy Life. Enjoy Life baking chocolates are certified gluten-free, free from 14 common allergens, and certified vegan and paleo-friendly. As you know, we use Enjoy Life chocolates in our house constantly for baking and dessert projects on account of Lincoln’s dairy allergy and my Celiac Disease. Their taste and quality are top notch.
For this dessert, I used their teeny-tiny semi-sweet mini chips because they melt quickly and evenly, helping to create a tender chocolate cake with a drippy molten center. Did I mention they’re spiked with peanut butter? These cakes taste like giant Reese’s Cups and I am HERE FOR IT!!!
Since we’re on the topic of Valentine’s Day, Enjoy Life is now offering chocolate minis in Dark Chocolate, Ricemilk Chocolate, Ricemilk Crunch, and a variety pack, that are perfect for the classroom, especially. This year Lincoln is the only child in his class with a food allergy (in previous years there were at least one or two others,) and he’s really feeling being “different”. Not that this kind of stuff doesn’t build character and resilience, but to see your kid bummed out week after week because he can’t have the birthday cupcakes other students bring in kind of stinks.
That said, even if your child doesn’t have food allergies, I urge you to think about picking up a bag of these allergy-friendly chocolates for them to pop into their classmate’s Valentine’s Day boxes. They’re cute and most importantly, super tasty. (What you can’t see in the photo below is the corner of the Ricemilk Crunch chocolates bag ripped open because Ben was still hungry after polishing off the variety pack. Ok, I helped a little (cough, a lot) with the variety pack.)
Anyway, let’s bake!
Start by adding 4 Tablespoons butter or vegan butter and 1/3 cup Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Mini Chips to a medium-sized bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds then stir, and then microwave in 10 second increments until the chocolate is smooth and fully melted.
Next add 1/2 cup powdered sugar and stir to combine.
Add 1 whole egg plus 1 egg yolk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla then stir to combine, and then add 1/4 cup gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour plus a pinch of salt and stir to combine. I use Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 GF Baking Flour blend, FYI!
Divide the batter between two, nonstick sprayed, 6oz ramekins or custard cups then place onto a foil-lined quarter or half sheet pan in case of spillovers. There shouldn’t be, but better to be safe then sorry.
Lastly, dollop a heaping teaspoon peanut butter into the middle of each cup. Speaking of food allergies, if you’re working around a peanut allergy, feel free to use the nut butter of your choice OR just leave it out entirely!
Use your finger to sink the peanut butter down into the center of the batter then bake for 12 minutes at 425 degrees, or until the centers are soft but not jiggly.
Let the cakes cool for 10 minutes before inverting the cups onto plates then topping with fresh berries and more powdered sugar if you please. The berries add a pop of freshness that I really love in contrast to the rich and fudgy dessert, and I highly recommend.
However you serve it, I hope you love this DECADENT, seriously delicious dessert recipe for 2! Enjoy!
Kombucha Mule
What’s Cookin’ Good Lookin’? 10+ Recipes to Make This Valentine's DayChocolate-Peanut Butter Lava Cakes for 2
Description
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Lava Cakes for 2 are for serious dessert lovers only! Tender cake surrounds molten chocolate and peanut butter in this easy yet irresistable gluten-free dessert recipe.
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons butter or vegan butter
- 1/3 cup (2oz) Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Mini Chips
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 whole egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour blend with binder
- pinch of salt
- 2 heaping teaspoons peanut butter (or other nut butter)
- Fresh berries for serving
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a quarter sheet pan or half sheet pan with foil then set aside. Spray two, 6oz ramekins or custard cups with nonstick spray then set aside. Whisk together whole egg plus egg yolk in a small bowl then set aside.
- Add butter and mini chips to a medium-sized bowl then microwave for 30 seconds. Stir then microwave in 10 second increments, stirring between increments, until chocolate is smooth and melted. Add powdered sugar then stir to combine. Add whisked eggs and vanilla then stir to combine. Add flour and salt then stir to combine. Divide batter between prepared cups (about 1/2 cup batter each) then scoop 1 heaping teaspoon peanut butter into the middles. Use your finger to help sink the peanut butter into the center of the batter.
- Place cups onto sheet pan then bake for 12 minutes or until tops are soft but not jiggly. Let lava cakes cool for 10 minutes then overturn onto plates and serve with fresh berries. FYI - the longer the cakes sit, the more the "lava" firms up. I like a 10 minute resting time before overturning.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
This looks so yummy! If I doubled or tripled this recipe to make it as a special treat for my family, do you think that I would need to adjust the baking time at all?
You might just want to tack on an extra minute or two (assuming you’d just put all the custard cups on the same baking sheet?)
Thank you. Yes, I was thinking that I would put them all on the same baking sheet and bake them all at the same time. Just tricky to tell for sure when they are “done” since they aren’t like a normal cake. Can’t wait to try them!
My Great Grandmother was born in 1898 and passed away in 2001 when I was 18 years old. I always in awe of the things she experienced and the fact that she lived in THREE different centuries. Happy 100th Birthday to your sweet Grandma! What an accomplishment that is! :)
That is remarkable – so much to learn and listen to from our grandparents and great-grandparents!
I saw the photo and said outloud to no one “yeah, get it girl.”😂😂😂😂. In other words, it looks spectacular😍
Hahahaha – drippy chocolate and peanut butter will do that to a girl! ;) Hope you get a chance to try the recipe, Donna!
Made it tonight…probably will make it again tomm😂😂. It was PERFECT!!!❤️😋
My girlfriend’s son had many allergies, so at class celebrations she had a some frozen cupcakes the teacher could thaw that morning of the celebration so he wasn’t left out. Just fyi, maybe your school would let you keep a small stash of treats for your son?
He’s got a box of individual sized bags of oreos that his teacher keeps for him in the classroom. Don’t get me wrong, he likes oreos, but wants to eat what all the other kids eat and not feel like the odd man out! :/
Our grandma’s are almost the same age! Mine turned 100 in December. She’s such an inspiration! Happy Birthday to your grandma! Blessings and good health to her!!
Love it!! H(belated)BD to your Grandma too! <3
Happy Birthday to your grandmother!
Our school does non-food treats only for birthdays – I think the primary motivator was to limit sweet treats, but it takes care of allergen issues too.
Ugh, I so, so wish the school districts around here would do the same. The amount of sweets these kids eat on a daily basis for snacks and celebrations is insane.
These look amazing!!!!!!!!! I need to make them ASAP. My mom and grandma’s bdays are also close to Valentine’s Day and my great-grandma lived to be 108, so I really enjoyed hearing about your grandma :)
Wow – that is incredible!!! Wonder what she would say her secret to a long life was?
lava cake, yaa! what a great idea and GF to boot, with peanut butter, wow, thank you for another wonderful recipe!
Hi! Looks delicious. If I want to make this with regular flour, do I need to add anything? Thanks!!
I was going to ask the same question! We’re not gluten free, but these look amazing and I would love to try them without having to buy a special flour blend.
You can just replace the gf flour with all purpose flour! :)
Off topic, sorry. I wondered what size plates you eat your meals from. Are they the salad size? If so, do you think it helps with portion control? Where did you find them? Thanks for your help and so many great recipes!
Hi Christine! I use regular sized dinner plates for meals. I often use salad plates for photos on the blog because they fit better in the camera frame and look better styled then dinner plates. :)
I like desserts like this that are yummy and I can whip up and bake quickly. And since it only makes 2, I won’t eat 10 of them. LOL.
Your original lava cake recipe is our Valentine’s Day tradition! We’ve made it every year since you posted it. Tonight is our “feast”. Table cloth, candlesticks, Steak, Caesar salads, French bagette. Switching out to these instead.
FANCY!!! Hope you enjoyed your meal, Jenn!
Hi Kristin!! First, I love your blog. I am sure it’s not always easy, especially with kids, so I just want to know I appreciate the work you put in! I will be in Des Moines this summer for my grandmother’s 100th birthday, too funny that your grandmother is turning 100 too! Are there any must eat at restaurants or workout classes in DM?! Thanks in advance! And happy birthday to your grandmother, it truly is an accomplishment! Best wishes, Mackenzie
Thank you so much, Mackenzie! I appreciate your kind and supportive words. :) I’m not the best person to ask about the most popular restaurants in town since I can only eat at a few, but here are some to consider. Happy early birthday to your amazing Grandma, too! :)
– The Riverwalk Hub – our favorite place to start a night downtown, especially in the summer. Grab a drink right on the river.
– Malo – amazing tacos (Al Pastor and Chorizo are my favorites,) fun drinks and a great patio. Service can be a little slow but the food/atmosphere is worth it.
– Black Cat Ice Cream – haven’t eaten here bc it’s not gluten-free, but people love this little hole in the wall
– Horizon Line – people seem to really love their coffee, teas, and homemade milks.
– RoCA – Great GF menu and drinks.
– Miyabi 9 – great sushi!
– Wasabi Tao – more great sushi!
– Dumpling Darling – haven’t eaten here but people seem to love it.
– Bubba – not GF so haven’t eaten here but again people rave.
– Harbinger – fancier dinner recommendation, mostly vegetarian and so so good.
– St Kilda – a super cute breakfast/brunch spot.
– La Mie – another very popular brunch/bakery spot.
– Eatery A. Really fun menu and great patio in the summer.
Favorite/popular bars/places to get a drink:
– The Republic on Grand – cool 6th floor bar. They open up a wall of windows when the weather’s nice and you have a great view of downtown DSM!
– Peacetree Brewing Taproom – love the laid back vibe here
– The Iowa Taproom – serve food here too
– Exile Brewing Company – really cool taproom
– Confluence Brewing – their Des Moines IPA is winning tons of awards
– Juniper Moon – fun, interesting vibe. Really good margaritas.
Hi! Making these tonight and super excited. Question – could I sub almond flour for the gf flour blend? Thanks!
Hi Katy! You would need some type of binder like xanthan gum so the cakes don’t fall apart. Additionally I think almond flour would make these cakes really dense!
I made these for Valentines Day and they they are delicious. Very rich but it will be my yearly v-day treat from now on! So easy to make too, bonus!
Can u tell me, how many carbs are in the cho chips? Thank you
I love your blog so much…maybe even more than I loved this recipe. Which is A LOT. Keep the recipes coming; you are a culinary wonder and a comic delight!
Such a lovely compliment, Cindy! Thank you so much!!