This Protein Molten Lava Cake is the perfect dessert to quickly curve your chocolate cravings when your sweet tooth strikes! Made with a few staple ingredients and ready to eat in a minutes time, this microwavable chocolate cake will quickly become your new favorite dessert!
My heavens y’all – we sure have stumbled amongst a winner here! This dessert came about the other night when I NEEDED chocolate. Yes, needed. It was late. I was tired, and I wasn’t about spending time or energy in the kitchen to whip up a healthy treat. As easy as my go-to’s are (ehrm Chocolate Chip Protein Skillet Cookie and Protein Fluff) I really was just NOT having it. Does this scenario sound familiar? 😂
Instead of reaching for the halloween candy bag (which I very much wanted to do), I decided I would give a go at a protein cake I could make in the microwave. Because #easy. To be honest, I had no idea how it would turn out, but I was hopeful (and desperate). So I mixed a couple of ingredients in bowl, put it in the microwave and crossed my fingers. Lucky for me, it turned out amazing. More amazing than any other cake I had ever tried to microwave before in my life – and let me tell y’all, there’s been a lot. Which is also low-key frustrating because I have planned and attempted many microwave cakes before and of course I finally nail it when I wasn’t trying to. Ha! Always happens like that right?
To be honest, I am reaaaaaally so glad it turned out so well. Not just so I can share it with you guys and remake myself, but because really – that bag of halloween candy would have stood no chance if this thing failed. 😂 So if you ever find yourself in a similar situation as me where it is late and you are tired and desperate for chocolate…. before reaching for the candy, GIVE THIS CAKE A GO.
What I loved most about the cake was the combination of actual cake + gooey fudgy batter. Hence why I named it Molten “Lava” Cake. I set the cook power on the microwave at 7 which allowed me to create the perfect texture for both. It’s not bad if you don’t change the microwave cook power, but I think it is better this way because the outer rim of the cake doesn’t cook as much, and therefore, is less spongy.
INGREDIENTS USED
- Protein powder – I used PEScience vanilla protein powder for this one but any flavor will work.
For all PEScience products, you can use code “LaurenFitFoodie” to save 10%. - Cocoa Powder – normal cocoa powder or dutch black cocoa powder (see below for differences)
- Peanut butter powder – I buy the big tub off Amazon like the one here to save a few bucks and because I know I’ll go through it.
- Jello-O sugar-free chocolate pudding mix – or any flavor for that matter, the chocolate just makes it more chocolatey, which we love right??
- Sweetener of choice – I typically just use a packet of Splenda, but really any sweetener will work.
- Baking powder
- Unsweetened almond milk – or any milk of choice!
- Vanilla extract – optional, but I like the flavor it adds
HOW TO MAKE
Just throw everything into a bowl, mix and microwave! I mean that is basically it 😂
But for BEST results, I would just say to:
- Make sure to mix the dry ingredients first – this will help make sure everything is mixed well and bakes evenly. Plus, no one likes getting baking powder clumps in their bite. Blah! Mixing the dry ingredients first helps prevent that.
- Transfer to a microwave-safe bowl sprayed with cooking spray after mixing everything. You don’t have to do this and it’s not that messy if you don’t – but really – clean up is next to none when you do and its not that hard. It’s literally just an empty bowl with no remains. Plus I just rinse the batter bowl immediately while this is microwaving so it’s not like I’m wasting extra dishes anyway.
- Change the cook power on your microwave! Again, not necessary, but if you’re all about having the most optimum experience here. 👏🏼
BLACK COCOA VS. DARK COCOA POWDER
Since making this I have used both normal dark cocoa powder (Hershey’s brand) and dutch black cocoa (either Wincrest or HIIT Nutrition black cocoa. They are honestly BOTH amazing in their own ways. I wish I could explain this better, but the dark cocoa gives a rich classic chocolate flavor and the black cocoa gives a cookies and cream like chocolate flavor.
Think of the cookie part of an Oreo… In gooey cake form. That is how the black cocoa tastes. Again, I get my black cocoa from from Amazon (Wincrest Black Cocoa) or HIIT Nutrition! I have yet to find this stuff in stores for whatever reason!
And the dark cocoa powder, well, this is simply how a normal rich chocolate cake would taste. So much rich chocolate punch. I LOVE THEM BOTH.
For comparison sake, here is a picture of the cake made with black cocoa powder. The other pictures in this post are made with the normal dark cocoa.
WANT TO MAKE THIS RECIPE?
If you try this molten lava mug cake and love it, please rate this recipe!
You can also tag me on Instagram, @LaurenFitFoodie. It makes my day seeing your yummy recreations!
Molten Lava Cake
This Protein Molten Lava Cake is the perfect dessert to quickly curve your chocolate cravings when your sweet tooth strikes! Made with a few staple ingredients and ready to eat in a minutes time, this microwavable chocolate cake will quickly become your new favorite dessert!
Ingredients
- 1 scoop (31g) vanilla protein powder
- 2 tbsp (10g) dutch black cocoa or dark cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp (8g) peanut butter powder
- 1 tbsp (8g) sugar free chocolate pudding mix
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 packet sweetener (2-3g)
- 1/3 cup (90 mL) unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- 1/2 tbsp (8g) mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- In small bowl, add the protein powder, cocoa powder, peanut butter powder, pudding mix, baking powder and sweetener. Stir until combined.
- Add the almond milk and vanilla and stir again until all ingredients are mixed thoroughly.
- Spray a separate microwave safe bowl with cooking spray (you can skip this step if you don't care that the cake may stick a little). Add the chocolate batter and spread out evenly. Sprinkle with chocolate chips.
- Microwave on a power level of 7 for 1 minute to 1 minute and 20 seconds. Cooking time with depend both on the size of your bowl and how gooey or cakey you want it.
For a more gooey cake, microwave closer to 1 minute.
For a more cakier cake, microwave closer to 1 minute 20 seconds.
Notes
MFP entry: Lauren Fit Foodie Molten Lava Cake
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1 cakeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 248Total Fat: 6gCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 32g
I’ve tried a lot of mug cakes and this by far is the best I’ve ever had!!! You knocked this one out of the park. I used snickerdoodle flavor protein powder and it was perfect!
Tasty! I had to use what I had – which was a different brand protein powder, and I didn’t have sugar free chocolate pudding for some reason, so I left the packet of sweetener out. It was a little protein-y, but probs oy due to the protein powder I had to use. Yet still rich, gooey, and tasty, and would have been even over the top with maybe some whipped cream or protein vanilla ice cream! (Which I didn’t have)
Can i put it in the oven? I dont have a microwave
Can I leave out the pb powder? Or what is a good substitute?
Hey Ilona!
I wouldn’t recommend leaving it out if possible, as I do think it contributes to the overall texture of this cake! But if you had to sub, I would maybe try with the same amount of peanut butter? Or possibly the same amount of sugar free jello pudding mix!
Made this tonight with muscleTech vanilla protein. Didnt have PB powder so added extra protein. Only had vanilla sugar free jello mix and used Extra dark cocoa powder.
The batter before cooking was SO good! Tasted like brownie batter! I may have over cooked it because mine was not the molten texture, but still super yummy with vanilla ice cream on top!!
Thank you so much for this recipe, hit my protein goal for the day and hit my sweet craving as well!
So happy hearing that Jennifer! 🙂 Isn’t the batter so good?? I could just eat that straight up too haha!
This is amazing! I will definitely making this again. So gooey and satisfied my sweet tooth.
This is amazing! I will definitely making this again. I was glad I had everything to make this.
I love how this one uses pantry staples for that reason!! The perfect chocolate emergency dessert LOL
I will definitely making this again. I was glad I had everything to make this.
I have tried and settled for several recipes, but this one is actually amazing! It didn’t have a weird protein taste. The pudding really helps!
Best mug cake recipe ever!! I had it pinned for too long before trying it. Now I have it at least twice a week for dessert.
Love hearing that Janine!! So great for that chocolate fix 🙂
Is there any substitute for the sugar free fat free jello mix? Perhaps sim xantham guy and extra cocoa powder?
I tried this and love it but the sugar free jello mix is rlly expensive where I live so I don’t want to keep purchasing it as I’ll probably be eating this recipe a lot 😍
I’m trying to import this recipe to My Fitness Pal and while the fat and carb values end up the same, it’s saying that it’s only actually work 22g protein? Love the recipe but since I’m tracking macros, I’m confused on how much protein this actually has in it if I stick to the recipe.
Hey Kassie, I just double checked my recipe in MFP and I am getting the same nutrition as listed in the recipe card. The protein powder provides 24g itself and then more protein comes into play through trace protein from the other ingredients (pb fit, cocoa, etc.) I would double check to make sure the ingredients you are adding have the correct represented macros! I know there are some inaccurate ones in MFP!
Yum! This was so easy, and so yummy! Thank you for creating such good sweets recipes! Really helps this mommas sweet tooth!
Just love hearing that Kenna! Thank you so much for your comment! 😊
What can you substitute for peanut butter powder? I don’t like peanut butter. Thanks!