Lava Cake Near You

What Is Lava Cake?

If you're unsure what volcanos and lava have to do with a cake, we'll explain in a bit.

There is this outstanding dessert which is a chocolate cake filled with liquid chocolate in its center. So, just as volcanoes pour out lava, so does this cake with chocolate. Hence the name - lava cake!

But that's not its only name. Alternative ones include chocolate lava cake, molten lava cake, chocolate coulant, or even volcano cake.

As for its ingredients, this lava cake consists of butter, eggs, flour, sugar, and as we already mentioned, chocolate. But there may also be some additional ones for flavor such as vanilla, cinnamon, ice cream, chocolate syrup, and more.

The preparation method involves melting the chocolate with the butter, while the eggs are whisked with or without the sugar. The former creates a thicker pastry, while the latter a lighter one. From there, the cakes are baked in ramekins or even a coffee cup.

Needless to say, this all results in a dessert that not only tastes amazing but looks really cool, too. So, keep reading below to learn more about its history as well as where to find some near you.

Who invented lava cake?

The lava cake was invented in the 1980s and there are two chefs credited for it, both French.

What's interesting is that each had their own different recipe but the result was the same.

One of them is Michel Bras who first created this special cake back in 1981.

This didn't come out of anywhere though. In fact, Michel was trying it out for about two years. His inspiration? A group of people who had enjoyed some hot chocolate after skiing.

The other one is chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. He came up with his lava cake recipe in 1987. And he did so in New York.

This occurred when he was baking a chocolate sponge cake and he took it out of the oven too soon. However, he discovered that the undone texture in the center was rather delicious. Naturally, he pushed forward this new dish of his. And the lava cake became a staple dessert in prominent restaurants across New York during the 1990s.

As mentioned earlier, these two recipes were quite different even though the resulting cake was much alike.

The Michel Bras version is made by baking a frozen chocolate glaze and rice dough in a mold. Whereas the Jean-Georges one is created with regular dough and the cake batter is baked quickly.

Considering the Jean-Georges recipe is easier to make, it has become more popular.

On that note, the lava cake even became a sought-after dessert in Disneyland. It was first featured in 1997 but only in the fancier parts of the park. Fortunately, five years later, everyone who visited could grab some on the go.

Also, if you're wondering if there are any variations of the lava cake, the answer is - yes. And the difference is usually in the filling. So, instead of chocolate, you can get orange, caramel, or some other fruit.

How many calories are in a lava cake?

A single lava cake of 154g consists of about 660 calories. This includes 41g of total fat or 53% of the daily value based on a 2000-calorie diet.

In addition, there are 304mg of cholesterol (101%) and 234mg (10%) of sodium. As for the amounts of total carbohydrates and protein, it is 66g (24%) and 10g respectively.

Lastly, we have 6% of vitamin D, 5% calcium, 22% iron, and 5% potassium. Plus, there is 20.4mg of caffeine.

Where can I find lava cake near me?

By now, we're sure you'd love to try some lava cake for yourself. And we're here to help you find it quickly.

For those of you in Chicago, a great place to get this fantastic dessert is Burger Boy Lounge. You can find them on W Devon Ave and they're open 7 days a week. Or you can also order for takeout or delivery via Slice.

And if you're in New Jersey, we have to recommend Casa Mia. This amazing restaurant is located on White Deer Plaza in Sparta Township. They are open 7 days a week, offer pickup and delivery, and you even save 10% on any online order through Slice!