These Nutella lava cakes are just 4 ingredients and are easy to make in the Instant Pot. This recipe is easier than a baked oven version, and the batter is made in one bowl without a mixer. I’m making all my molten cakes in an Instant Pot from now on!
One of my favorite desserts is lava cakes. I love that they’re individually sized, and it’s so fun to break into the center of the cake so the molten center can ooze out. Normally, I bake them in the oven, but Instant Pot lava cakes are even easier!
I’ve made Nutella lava cakes before. While my traditional oven-baked recipe is also just 4 ingredients, it does take more prep. This lava cake recipe in the Instant Pot is even quicker.
Because these cakes are steamed at high pressure, it eliminates much of the prep work that usually goes into lava cakes.
Ingredients
- Large egg plus one egg yolk
- Granulated sugar
- Nutella
- All-purpose flour
Recipe Steps
For this recipe, I use a 6-quart Instant Pot and two 4-ounce ramekins for the cakes.
Whisk the eggs and sugar in a bowl. Mix in the Nutella and then add the flour. Combine the mixture until smooth.
Coat the ramekins with cooking spray and divide the batter between each.
Place the trivet in the Instant Pot. Add one cup of water. If you are using a different kind of pressure cooker, you should add the amount of water recommended by the manufacturer.
Place the ramekins on the trivet, secure the lid, close the vent, and set the manual setting to high pressure for 9 minutes.
Once it’s done, do a quick release by carefully opening the steam valve. The cakes will be very hot, so use tongs to lift the ramekins out onto a plate.
Place each cake on a small plate or coaster so it’s easy to turn them out of the container. Top each with a small plate and then carefully turn them over to release them from the ramekin. They should slide right out.
Serve the cakes while they’re warm.
Toppings and Garnish Ideas
They are great served with some powdered sugar on top, or you can add other toppings.
- Garnish with fresh fruit.
- Add a dollop of whipped cream
- Top it with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream
- Drizzle chocolate sauce over the top
I was so pleased with how these lava cakes turned out. The added moisture helped them slip right out of their containers and each one has a gooey molten lava center.
These are especially great for date night or a dinner party.
Instant Pot Cake Recipes
4 Ingredient Instant Pot Nutella Lava Cakes
Ingredients
- 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
- 2 tbsp granulated white sugar
- 1/3 cup Nutella spread or 3.5 weighted ounces
- 2 tbsp all purpose flour
Instructions
- Add egg and egg yolk to a medium mixing bowl. Mix with a whisk until smooth. Add in sugar and whisk until smooth. Add in Nutella spread and whisk again until smooth. Add in flour and whisk until smooth.
- Grease two 4 oz porcelain ramekins with cooking oil spray (do not use the baking spray that has flour added). Divide batter evenly between the two ramekins.
- Place trivet inside the inner pot of your Instant Pot and fill with 1 cup of water. (I use the 6 quart Instant Pot 7-in-1 Multi-Functional Pressure Cooker which requires 1 cup of water to come to pressure. It's my understanding that the larger version and other versions need different amounts of water so please add whatever the amount of water is stated in the instruction manual to allow the pot to properly pressurize).
- Place ramekins onto trivet. Seal Instant Pot and set to manual, high pressure, 9 minutes.
- When Instant Pot is done, do a quick release to prevent cakes from overcooking. Use tongs to remove ramekins from Instant Pot. Place each ramekin onto a separate coaster. This will allow you to invert the cake more easily while the ramekin is still hot. Place a small plate on top of each ramekin. Invert the ramekin by lifting the coaster with the ramekin and plate and gripping with both hands (like you're holding a sandwich) and flipping it upside down so the coaster side is now facing up and the plate is on a the bottom. Tap the ramekin a few times too loosen the cake. Cake should fall out inverted onto plate. Repeat with remaining cake. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with fresh fruit. Cakes are best enjoyed while warm.
Notes
- I used the I use the 6 Quart Instant Pot 7-in-1 Multi-Functional Pressure Cooker*
- If you don't have 4 oz ramekins*, you can also use 6 oz pyrex bowls*, which have the same bottom width as the 4 oz ramekins so that cooking time remains the same. I do find that the glass bowls don't cook quite as evenly as the ramekins though so I prefer using ramekins.
- This recipe makes two cakes. If you want to make more, you can cook several batches. You can attempt to cook 4 at a time, using the same amount of water and time. You likely won't be able to fit four onto the trivet, so you'd have to place three on the trivet and balance one on top of the other ramekins.
- *Some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links. Much like referral codes, this means I earn a small commission if you purchase a product I referred (at no extra charge to you).
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
I need to know amount of calories. Don’t see anywhere here.
Sorry, but we don’t have the nutrition estimate for desserts at this time. There are free online calculators you can use to get the info – hope that helps!
These look good! Question – am I supposed to cover the ramekins with fin foil or cook at hp with no cover?
Thank you
no need to cover the ramekins
This is the best lava cake ever! My family loves them. Thank you so much. It was so easy to make. Highly recommended
I’m so glad you liked this recipe!
Can I use this cooking method for matcha green tea flavor? Thanks.
A matcha flavored one would need a few different ingredient tweaks. Unfortunately without testing it, I can’t tell you the substitutions that would be needed.
How would you need to adjust for 6oz ramekins? I have an 8 qt pot. Thanks!
Unfortunately, I have not tested this with larger ramekins or in the 8 quart.
I just made this recipe using 7 oz ramekins in a 6 qt pot and it came out just fine.
I made this exactly as written, in a 6Q Duo with 4oz ramekins, and I did not get any lava at all – they were well cooked with a slightly soft bite in the center. I chose this particular recipe because I have 4oz ramekins, and many other recipes call for larger.
Do you have the newer model of the IP? I haven’t used the newer model but my understanding is that it is more powerful and cooks faster so you may need to reduce the time.
Can I make these without an instant pot?
https://kirbiecravings.com/2015/12/molten-nutella-lava-cakes.html
Just made these cakes and unfortunately they came out very eggy. Do you have any suggestions on adjustments if I want to try to make these again?
perhaps they needed to be cooked longer? If you are using smaller molds, the batter will be thicker and they could need a few more minutes. You also want to make sure you add in a full 1/3 cup of Nutella and the sugar. And make sure you eggs are large and not extra large eggs. I hope that helps.
Can you make this will silicone cups?
I don’t recommend the silicone cups as I found it harder to pop the cakes out.
This looks like a fun and easy dessert. I need to experiment more with my Instant Pot.
I think you’ll like it!