by Contributing Writer, Sarah Outlaw
It’s almost Valentine’s Day! It’s a time to recognize the one you love with some extra special attention and maybe even a little gift like flowers or candy.
Now, hopefully you are showering your spouse daily with the love and attention they deserve and not just waiting for this one itty-bitty day! It’s so important to tell the ones you love how much you appreciate them regularly, and show them not just through words, but through actions!
In my family, I don’t see this as a day where I should get a bunch of stuff. While I do love to get flowers to pretty up my home, I prefer to make this a family holiday. I cook a special dinner for the six of us, complete with homemade decorations and a delicious dessert that we all will enjoy.
This year we are cutting down on the amount of grains we eat, so I came up with individual grain-free chocolate lava cakes. It is a variation of something I have been making for years on our Family Valentine’s Day and it’s highly anticipated! To be honest, I like this grain-free version better than the one with regular flour!
This recipe may seem complicated but it is really very easy. The “specialty” ingredients can easily be found at a local health food store or online at Amazon. I promise, you will not be slaving in the kitchen, but it will seem like you have when you taste these little chocolate gems!
Grain-Free Chocolate Lava Cakes
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup bittersweet, dark or semi-sweet chocolate
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter or coconut oil
- 2 whole eggs plus 2 egg yolks
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 coconut sugar, sucanat or evaporated cane sugar
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 4 tablespoons blanched almond meal/flour
- 2 tablespoons gelatin hydrolysate (optional)*
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch/flour or tapioca starch/flour
- Powdered sugar (optional) – {I use coconut sugar powdered in a food processor.}
- Strawberries (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° F.
- In a small saucepan on medium heat and stirring constantly, melt chocolate and butter (or coconut oil). Remove from heat.
- In a medium mixing bowl, blend all of the remaining ingredients in order. Stir until smooth.
- Add the melted chocolate to batter and mix again until smooth.
- Butter 4-5 (1/4 cup capacity) ramekins and pour batter to the top of each.
- Place ramekins on a cookie sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cook slightly on a baking rack.
- These can either be served in the ramekins, or take a knife around the edges and flip them upside-down onto a plate. (They should be gooey in the middles)
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired and arrange strawberry slices on top.
- Serve warm.
*The gelatin used in this recipe does not “gel”. It is a hydrolysate (read more about it here) and simply adds extra nutrients into the cake.
These adorable and luscious little chocolate lava cakes are the perfect ending to any meal, not just on Valentine’s Day. Make them anytime you want for a quick and easy treat!
Enjoy!
