• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Shop My Home
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

February 9, 2011

A perfect Valentine’s Day Dessert…Chocolate Nutella Lava Cakes!



So what do you do with a man who has broken the Cardinal Rule for being a good blogger husband?  Wait you didn’t know there was a Cardinal Rule for being a good blogger husband?



Well, I’ll tell you what it is then…never, never, ever take the camera of a blogger out of the house without telling her first. ever.  

Said blogger might have been planning on baking and photographing her Valentine’s Day dessert.  Said blogger might have chosen this time because the sun was FINALLY out and the natural light would have been so nice. 

Said blogger might have softened the butter to room temperature.  Let the eggs warm up.  Measured out the ingredients she needed.  Said blogger might have staged her setting.  Said blogger might have even put some of those ingredients in her mixer already.

Said blogger might now have to rush and bake her dessert first thing in the morning, when all the lovely natural light is gone, so she can post said dessert sometime today.

Said blogger now will be sharing that dessert with you…much later than she intended.
But trust me it will have been worth the wait!

Chocolate Nutella Molten Lava Cakes
a perfect Valentine dessert!




Chocolate Nutella Molten Lava Cakes-created by Paula @bell’a alimento


{Print this recipe}

Ingredients:

6 oz of bittersweet Chocolate (bar or chips) (I used Ghiardelli)
4 tbsp of Nutella
6 tbsp of Flour
11 tbsp of Unsalted Butter
3 whole eggs + 3 additional egg yolks
1/4 cup of sugar + 2 add. tbsp
Some type of berry for topping i.e. raspberries, strawberries, etc.

Directions:

Place your butter & chocolate chips into a double boiler & allow to melt completely over the steaming water. Stir frequently. 

While the chocolate butter is melting, place the eggs and sugar into the bowl of your mixer. 



Using the whisk attachment mix on medium-high speed until they become light & thick, about 8-9 minutes.  When light & thick add the flour & mix together. 

Slowly and gradually pour the chocolate/butter mixture into the egg mixture. 




Mixing on low until well combined & develops a glossy sheen about 5-6 minutes  Preheat your oven to 350°  while the mixture is finishing it’s final mixing and turning glossy.
Generously spray 4 small ramekins with cooking spray. 


When the batter is finished it is time to assemble.  Ladle batter into ramekins filling to half way up side. 



Then, spoon 1 Tablespoon of Nutella into each ramekin. 

(I confess…I licked all of the Nutella out of this spoon…
and I am not ashamed to admit it)

Finish ladling remainder of batter into each ramekin (do not overfill).




Place ramekins on baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes until outside is solid and top appears to be soft (but NOT jiggly) When cakes are ready carefully remove them from oven, allow to rest for 1-2 minutes. 




Place a plate on top of each one and quickly invert it.  Carefully remove the ramekin, (use a dishtowel if ramekin is still hot) and cake should fall right out. 



Garnish with berries or whip cream if desired. Dig in!


Some helpful hints offered by Paula: Please generously grease your ramekins, don’t be shy with this people, you want those babies to slide right out. If they stick your cakes will fall apart and you’ll have a plate of goo. It will be a tasty mound of goo, but not the presentation you’re going for! If you don’t have ramekins you can use Pyrex custard cups. Keep an eye on these while there in the oven. You’re looking for cooked outside & soft insides (soft does not mean jiggly) If it jiggles it needs to cook longer. But a minute can make or break you so start checking them for doneness at 10 mins & then every min after. I know it’s high maintenance, but in this case, it’s worth it.


Please take a moment to go visit Paula’s beautiful site! 
https://www.bellalimento.com
 You will be amazed at all of the beautiful recipes she’s created! 


So back to the original question…what do I do with Bama Boy now?  Do you think I should save a Chocolate Nutella Molten Lava Cake for him to eat tonight when he gets home?  Does he deserve one of these yummy chocolaty cakes of nutella goodness? What is a deserving punishment for breaking the “cardinal rule”? 😉

Enjoy!
Heather

Linking to
DIY Showoff
Whassup Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesday

Tidy Mom

38 Comments Filed Under: Desserts, Holidays, Recipes, Valentine's Day

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « 3 Ideas for Getting Your 3 Year Old…
Next Post: Inspiration Friday Party No. 2! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    February 9, 2011 at 11:09 PM

    Wow! What great pictures! And I love Nutella. I can’t wait to make this for my boyfriend on Valentine’s Day. Thanks for the good looking recipe.

    Reply
  2. Dear Sweet Home says

    February 9, 2011 at 11:39 PM

    Oh my! These look so good! This said blogger has to limit her sweet consumption today because she is snowed in and can’t walk or go to the gym…I basically exercise to eat such treats as this! I will make these for my little family on Valentine’s Day…my daughter LOVES nutella. She takes a nutella and peanut butter sandwich every day to school. (Oh and your pics are amazing!)

    Reply
  3. Judy says

    February 9, 2011 at 11:52 PM

    Ok…you had me at lava. I love any type of lava cake. I cannot wait to try this recipe. I haven’t had dinner yet, but I am thinking about only having dessert…is that bad? I think not.

    Reply
  4. Jessica says

    February 10, 2011 at 12:04 AM

    Beautiful and amazing photography! We have some Nutella addicts in the house so may need to make these. In addition, Lava Cakes make me totally get my freak on 🙂

    Reply
  5. NanaDiana says

    February 10, 2011 at 12:22 AM

    Those look wonderful…yummy wonderful. I say~take a picture of the finished product….put it in a custard dish and serve him the picture with dinner…but that is just my mean streak coming out! Hugs- Diana

    ps…did I ask you before what tree the nutella grows on?;>)

    Reply
  6. Debbie says

    February 10, 2011 at 12:51 AM

    HAHAHAHAHA!! I’m sorry, but I needed a good laugh tonight and got it when I started reading this.

    Whooops. Chuckling again.

    I think this looks so unbelievable that I wanted to jump INTO the screen when you started pouring that gooey chocolate out. This is NOT a good blog for my diet.

    BTW, I DID just check email and replied. Sorry about being late. I’m whirling this week.

    Reply
  7. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    February 10, 2011 at 4:30 AM

    Beautiful! I LOVE lava cakes! I buy mine at Trader Joe’s and pop them in the oven! They are as good as any fancy restaurant! Funny about the camera. My daughter wanted to borrow mine yesterday because she couldn’t find her charger.

    Reply
  8. Sarah @ Modern Country Style says

    February 10, 2011 at 11:30 AM

    Oh my goodness….what an INCREDIBLY gorgeous-looking desert! Wow! That photo is totally recipe-book worthy.

    Yum, yum, YUM!

    I say, eat your husband share of the pudding!!!

    😉

    Sxxx

    Reply
  9. Michelle | Bleeding Espresso says

    February 10, 2011 at 1:39 PM

    Better late than never, right? Hope you had a wonderful World Nutella Day anyway 🙂

    Reply
  10. Jo says

    February 10, 2011 at 6:04 AM

    Said Blogger done good!
    Chocolate always makes things right.
    ~Jo
    LazyonLoblolly

    Reply
  11. Michelle says

    February 10, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    Mmm, Mmm, Mmm!

    Karen and I would like to invite you to link up your this or another favorite recipe at The Executive Mom’s Burnt Toast Thursday.

    https://www.theexecmom.com/2011/02/burnt-toast-heart-themed-party-food.html

    Hope to see you there!

    Reply
  12. Kathryn says

    February 10, 2011 at 6:25 PM

    Oh my gosh, you’ve got me drooling all over myself! I love little individual desserts like that- especially if they have melty chocolate and berries all over (and inside) them! P.S. Did you get those little ramekins from World Market? I have ones that look just like them but in yellow.

    Reply
  13. The Nosh Pit says

    February 10, 2011 at 8:47 PM

    Perfect dessert. I’ve been looking all over for something to make for V-day dinner (why oh why does it have to be on an already harried monday?!) and this fits the bill perfectly. quick, easy prep, and filled with nutella. going to serve with macerated strawberries and some whipped cream.

    what do you think about baking in muffin tins? should i try the trashy way, or forgo and just plunk down the extra couple of bucks for new ramekins? i do love your red ones so much!

    Reply
  14. Jennifer says

    February 10, 2011 at 9:33 PM

    Sweet mother of pearl that looks good.

    Reply
  15. sheri says

    February 11, 2011 at 12:08 AM

    ohmygosh i have to try this – i love nutella. and this looks amazing!

    Reply
  16. Michael Lee West says

    February 11, 2011 at 1:16 AM

    This is divine! XX00

    Reply
  17. At The Picket Fence says

    February 11, 2011 at 1:29 AM

    Judy-no it’s not bad to have only dessert! I ate my lava cake for breakfast..and I might have even licked the plate…lol

    Diana-why a Nutella tree of course! 😉

    Michelle-I’ll head on over and link up to your party!

    Kathryn-Actually I got them at Home Good…I love them! I would like yellow too..red & yellow are my favorite colors.

    Nosh Pit-muffin tins might be a little small, you could try making mini ones though. I got the ramekins at Home Goods they were very inexpensive. TJ Maxx might have them too.

    Jennifer-you so crack me up!

    Michelle Lee-thank you for stopping bye and for twittering the lava cakes..so very sweet of you!

    Heather

    Reply
  18. At The Picket Fence says

    February 11, 2011 at 1:31 AM

    Oh and thank you everyone for the sweet comment on the photos. I love food photography so it’s an honor to receive compliments on my pictures! You can see the lava cakes @foodgawker, @tastespotting and @dessertstalking. Guess they liked the pictures too…;o)

    Heather

    Reply
  19. Cottage Sisters says

    February 11, 2011 at 2:41 AM

    This sounds so good,I love Nutella. Unfortunatley, I’m not really the baker in the family, I will have to see if my daughter will make this for me! Denise

    Reply
  20. Quan says

    February 11, 2011 at 6:26 AM

    Am I able to use disposable foil cups for making these? I don’t have any ramekins.

    Also, could I premake the batter and pour it into the ramekins ahead of time and leave it on the counter/fridge until I am ready to pop it in the oven to serve?

    Thanks! Going to be doing this for vday!

    Reply
  21. Allison @ Alli 'n Son says

    February 11, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    These look heavenly. I love chocolate!

    I’d love to have you stop by and link up with Sweet Tooth Fridays! https://alli-n-son.com/2011/02/10/spicy-chocolate-chip-cookies/

    Reply
  22. Cozy Home Scenes says

    February 11, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    That looks yummy! I love nutella and lava cake. Bet I’d love them together like this. I’ll try to forgive you as I’ve been thinking of starting a yeast free diet this weekend. No cake for a while, but I can plan for the future.

    Reply
  23. Catherine says

    February 11, 2011 at 5:48 PM

    I love lava cakes & I love Nutella! But I’d never thought to put them together. Ingenious! Thank you!

    Reply
  24. jlc9089 says

    February 14, 2011 at 3:05 AM

    OH MY, Love these:) I have never tried Nutella so now I am hooked on it and then you add it to chocolate…it’s heavenly:) Thank you:)

    Reply
  25. Kim @ Quit Eating Out {Recipes to Make Dining Out a Choice, Not a Chore} says

    February 16, 2011 at 2:06 AM

    Thanks so much for linking this yummy delicousness to Saturday Swap!!!! This looks like a great dessert to serve when entertaining.

    Reply
  26. MisYahd says

    August 22, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    Oh! They all look very delicious. Just like anyone else, I love Nutella so much that I can eat it as it is.

    Caterers In New York

    Reply
  27. Liz says

    March 12, 2012 at 2:02 PM

    I am wheat intolerant but would LOVE to make this, do you think I can substitute the flour with ground almonds powder?

    Reply
    • Coley says

      July 11, 2012 at 2:47 AM

      why hello, my wheat intolerant friend! okay, so my friend and i decided to make this when we were half-way through a bottle of wine, so you can imagine we were kind of unmindful of the recipe. we ended up forgetting the flour completely, and the end result was still divine! probably a lot richer than the original recipe intended, but still quite delightful. the dessert will just have to bake for probably twice the amount of time, though. but it will be gluten free!

      Reply
  28. wineries yarra valley says

    May 10, 2012 at 6:21 PM

    Wow, these look so good! I can’t wait to try some, I might make these for my boyfriend soon. It’s the perfect dessert for lovers.

    Reply
  29. Marcardb says

    August 20, 2012 at 9:47 PM

    I just made these and they taste wonderful. However, the nutella got stuck on the bottom of the pan. I used enough baking spray and they actual cake came out easily. Any idea why this happened? I would love to make these again so any tips on the nutella would be appreciated 🙂

    Reply
    • Ho KIm Lan says

      March 10, 2014 at 11:46 PM

      Hi,
      May I confirm with you, the butter is 1 tbsp. or 11 tbsp.

      Reply
  30. Jules058 says

    February 2, 2014 at 2:13 AM

    Call me stupid, but I’ve read this three times and can’t find at what point you put the berries inside. I’ve never made a lava cake before, and wasn’t sure how you keep the inside from being overcooked. Someone please help me, I’m an idiot.

    Reply
  31. Lola says

    February 6, 2014 at 6:17 PM

    Your photo doesn’t seem to show that the berries were put on top as garnish. Did you put the berries in the batter & bake everything together instead?

    Reply
  32. sara says

    December 30, 2014 at 3:12 PM

    Hey this looks amazing and I wanted to know if I can make it in cupcake sheets

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 15 Valentine's Ideas for Adults - Five in Ohio says:
    January 2, 2013 at 12:08 AM

    […] 15. Chocolate Nutella Lava Cakes […]

    Reply
  2. Strawberries and Cream Pound Cake! I heart it! says:
    January 16, 2013 at 3:51 AM

    […] Like something chocolate-y? Here’s another great Valentine’s Day recipe, my Chocolate Nutella Lava Cakes! […]

    Reply
  3. 15 Heart-Melting Chocolate Lava Cakes says:
    January 31, 2014 at 6:00 AM

    […] Recipe & Photo Credit to atthepicketfence.com […]

    Reply
  4. 15 Molten Lava Cakes You Could Fall Hard For | GossipViews.com says:
    January 31, 2014 at 2:50 PM

    […] atthepicketfence.com […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Latest Recipes

Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze April 19, 2023
  • Console Table Refresh March 24, 2023
  • Laundry Room Makeover February 23, 2023
  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023
  • Nostalgic Christmas Home Tour December 10, 2022

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This is what I’m thinking (and sometimes saying out loud) every time I pass my dining room window and see my lilac tree bursting forth. I should probably just go full Paul Revere and ring a bell while I shout the news for all to hear. I’m sure my family would love that!

Lilac season is so bittersweet because it’s over way too soon but, fortunately, I’ve figured out how to capture the deliciousness of the fragrance by making my own lilac scented room spray. It’s SO simple!

Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka.

Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

This sweet little project was first featured in my book Life in Season and is definitely one of my favorites.

Have the lilacs started blooming where you live?
The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard ar The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard are at their peak and I’m here for it!
It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the gr It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the greatest joys of this stage in my parenting journey is getting to see the results of the years spent pouring into my children. The worry, the sleepless nights, praying, questioning our decisions and learning to trust in the Lord Who loves them even more than we do. We definitely didn’t do everything right, but what an an amazing experience it is to watch them become these incredible teens/young adults. My tip this week might seem simple, but I believe it can make a major difference in the lives of our children, in our homes and maybe, just maybe, in the culture too. 🌸
It was the most glorious day to celebrate my best It was the most glorious day to celebrate my best friend! Oregon came through with perfect weather for my wonderful husband’s birthday and we made the most of it by taking the convertible to our favorite winery and soaking up the sunshine, yummy food and wine. Then we had a lovely time celebrating with family at our home. Robb is truly the most amazing husband and father and all around incredible man. He loves and leads us well so it’s such a joy to get to honor him on his special day. 🎂

“The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good.” Matthew 12:35
It’s time for another #tiptuesday! Today I’m s It’s time for another #tiptuesday! Today I’m sharing with you two critical things to determine if you want to create order in your home which leads to a much more peaceful experience for everyone. As a recovering perfectionist, this has been one of my greatest lessons and I hope it encourages you today! 🍃
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence