Paleo Vegan Molten Lava Cake
Healthier Paleo Vegan Molten Lava Cake for the ultimate Valentine’s Day dessert! Completely nut free, gluten free, dairy free, and refined sugar free, this is the best flourless lava cake recipe!
Is there anything better than a warm molten lava cake?
With a gooey and chocolatey center, oozing out melted chocolate encased in a soft and deliciously sweet cake?
Nope, I didn’t think so 🙂
Let me tell you, this is the key to anyone’s heart: just bake these easy (I seriously mean it: they’re ready in 22 minutes tops start to finish) and decadently sinful yet healthy molten lava cakes and you’re set!
Plus, no one will know that these vegan molten lava cakes are indeed gluten free, Paleo, dairy free, grain free, nut free, and refined sugar free.
I mean, that’s a feat! Even your traditional Ghirardelli lovers will fall for this creation 🙂
Why is this the best Paleo vegan molten lava cake recipe:
So I’ll let you in on a little secret. I’ve been making these Paleo vegan molten lava cakes for Jared and for about 6 months now. I know, I know, how could I wait that long before putting them on the blog?!
Well, life got a little in the way, I was super excited about a few other recipes to launch, and I also wanted to make sure this lava cake was absolutely tip top shape perfect for anyone to recreate.
So that’s reason number 1 why this healthy lava cake is the best and only chocolatey vegan dessert recipe you need.
But wait, I have more!
- You’d never know that these cakes are completely dairy free, along with being nut free, Paleo, vegan, soy free, refined sugar free, and with the option of a lower sugar option.
- These flourless lava cakes use minimal ingredients, and at that, simple ingredients, so that anyone and everyone can make them.
- They’re ready in 18 minutes, which is just enough time to clean dinner while they’re baking.
- And the second best reason of all: it’s an ultra rich bite of melted chocolatey goodness in every bite of this Paleo vegan lava cake recipe that will even turn non chocolate lovers!
Now if those aren’t good enough reasons to start your oven, I don’t know what is!
How to make vegan lava cakes that are gluten free and Paleo:
Like I mentioned, this Paleo lava cake recipe is insanely easy to make.
You’ll start with a little prep by making sure that your ramekins are coated in oil and cassava flour, and that your oven is preheated to 425F.
Next, you just have to make the batter:
- In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the applesauce and coconut sugar until well combined.
- Pour in the melted chocolate and fold the chocolate into the applesauce coconut sugar mixture.
- Add in the cassava flour and mix until there are no more clumps.
Then pour the batter into each ramekin cup, and place about a tablespoon of vegan chocolate chips into the middle of each.
For brand recommendations, I recommend using either Pascha 100% chocolate chips (which I’ve used here, and I recommend as my top choice for the most decadent lava cake), Lily’s sweets for a low sugar vegan option, or Enjoy Life for a Paleo friendly vegan option.
Bake the lava cakes in the oven then serve with a dusting of cacao powder and a scoop of Paleo vegan ice cream.
Healthy lava cake tips:
Making molten lava cakes completely flourless seems like a daunting task, but I promise with these tips, you’ll be set up for chocolatey success!
- Make sure that you dust each ramekin with a little flour before pouring the batter in. This is just as if you’re making regular lava cakes and will ensure that your lava cakes come out perfectly.
- Use 100% chocolate chips for lower sugar. And basically the ultimate chocolatey flavor!
- If you can’t do cassava flour, you can absolutely swap in regular flour. To keep it Paleo, you can use 3/8 cup almond flour, 1/8 cup coconut flour.
- For nut free, make sure you use coconut oil rather than vegan butter (for the vegan butter, I always recommend Miyoko’s).
- For Paleo vegan caramel molten lava cakes, swap in my Paleo vegan caramel sauce in lieu of a chocolate filling.
- Serve with a scoop of Paleo vegan ice cream for an a la mode version!
I hope you love these lava cakes as much as I do! They’re the perfect treat for date night, a healthier Valentine’s Day dessert, or just an anytime treat 🙂
If you make these vegan molten lava cakes, please let me know down below in the comments section, as well as giving it a rating so that others may find it!
As always, I love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there!
Happy lava cake eating!
More healthy chocolate recipes:
Paleo vegan almond butter cups
Paleo vegan sweet potato brownies
Gluten Free Vegan Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Easy Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake
Baked Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake
Want to save this recipe for later? Add it to your favorite recipe board on Pinterest!
Paleo Vegan Molten Lava Cake
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 18
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
Description
Healthier Paleo Vegan Molten Lava Cake for the ultimate Valentine’s Day dessert! Completely nut free, gluten free, dairy free, and refined sugar free, this is the best flourless lava cake recipe!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp vegan butter or coconut oil, separated
- 2/3 cup Paleo vegan chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup cassava flour
- 1 tbsp cassava flour, for dusting
- 1/2 cup Paleo vegan chocolate
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425F and prepare your ramekins with 1 tbsp melted vegan butter and 1 tbsp flour.
- In a microwave safe bowl, heat the vegan butter or coconut oil until melted and hot. Add in the chocolate chips and stir until melted. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the applesauce and coconut sugar until well combined.
- Pour in the melted chocolate and fold the chocolate into the applesauce coconut sugar mixture.
- Add in the cassava flour and mix until there are no more clumps.
- Fill the ramekins 3/4 of the way full with batter. Add 1 heaping tbsp of chocolate chips into the middle of each bowl.
- Add the remaining batter on top, and place the ramekins onto a baking sheet and into the oven to bake for 16-18 minutes, or until the middle just begins to set.
- Remove from the oven and let cool and set for 10 minutes.
- Use a knife to run along the edges of the cake (use oven mitts if the ramekins are hot) and flip over gently onto serving plates.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 276
- Sugar: 3.5 g
- Sodium: 1.6 mg
- Fat: 9.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 45.4 g
- Protein: 6.8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: vegan molten lava cake, paleo lava cake, healthy lava cake, best flourless lava cake
Wow I am speechless! I LOVE this cake so much! I’m so excited to make this for Valentine’s Day!! Thank you for making one of my all-time favorites that my partner and I can enjoy together 🙂
★★★★★
Aw I’m so happy to hear that!!! I hope you both love!!
Please clarify what you mean by the “1/2 c. Paleo/vegan chocolate that is folded in.” Is this just more chocolate chips? A powder? chopped chocolate? or some sort of liquid version I’m not familiar with? If it’s a solid chocolate or chip, should it be finely chopped up first so it melts in? A little confusing since more chcolate chips are sprinkled in top at the end too. Thanks!
Hi Jennifer! I apologize for the confusion! The second 1/2 cup chocolate chips is for the filling. It can be chopped, or chocolate chips, but not powder. Just keep it solid, as it will melt while baking!
I made this for Valentine’s Day and it was so delicious!! However I think something was off, they were very oily (and it took forever to bake)…can you clarify what you mean by “1/2 cup + 1 tbsp vegan butter or coconut oil, separated” . I was hoping to remake these this weekend as a treat and I want to get this perfect!
Thank you!
★★★★★
Hi Krista! Aw I’m so sorry to hear something was off (although happy to hear you still thought they were delicious!). So the 1 tablespoon should be used to coat the ramekins before putting the batter in there. The 1/2 cup is used for the batter! Let me know if that helps!
Is there another type of flour that could be used? I do not have cassava flour.
Hi Laura! You can use regular flour or gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour 🙂
Hi I want to use almond flour but I’m not sure how the 3/8 cup is with my measuring cup I only have 1/4 cup etc.
and then I just want to confirm the 2/3 cup chocolate chips should be melted, the 1/2 paleo chocolate is not melted and mixed in the batter. And then there is an additional 1 tbs chocolate chips in the middle of each?
Hi Susan! I’m so sorry I’m not sure I understand- so you want to swap in almond flour for the cassava? Unfortunately, you’ll have to pair a second flour with that, such as coconut flour, as cassava acts very much like a gluten flour, while almond flour does not. I haven’t personally tested this combo so I can’t make any strong recommendations! I can only recommend that all purpose or gluten free 1-to-1 flour can be swapped here. The 2/3 cup chocolate chips should be melted, and the 1/2 cup chocolate will be added into the middle of each ramekin! So sorry for the confusion!