There was a night—okay, more than one—when I was one minor inconvenience away from spiraling… and all I wanted was chocolate. Not a sad square from the stash of baking chocolate I wanted molten. I wanted drama. I wanted cake that hugged back. But I had zero patience and no intention of turning on the oven.

Enter: this microwave chocolate lava cake. In about 10 minutes flat, I go from “mild existential crisis” to spoonfuls of warm, gooey, chocolatey magic—with a molten center that feels like a reward for just making it through the day. Or just the last Zoom call. And this recipe makes enough to share; no single serving here.

Table of Contents

Steps to make this quick chocolate dessert

Step 1: Gather all the ingredients before you get started.

Step 2: Prepare the cake batter according to package directions, but pause as soon as you are done mixing.

Step 3: Transfer batter to a microwave-safe glass or Corningware-style dish with a lid. It should be large enough to hold all of the cake batter and at least an inch of space at the top.

Step 4: Dollop the frosting by the spoonful onto the top of the raw cake batter. Don’t stir.

Step 5: Cover the dish with its lid and cook for 8 – 10 minutes.

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Step 6: Notice how the “lava” frosting has made its way to the center on its own. Admire that sleek melty frosting. A volcano of joy, if you will.

Step 7: Let cool for five minutes. It looks pretty dusted with a bit of powdered sugar, but it’s optional.

Step 8: Top or garnish however you like: A spritz of whip cream, a spoonful of berries, or a drizzle of sundae topping.

A spoonful of molten chocolate center from a lava cake.

Microwave Chocolate Lava Cake

This rich, gooey microwave chocolate lava cake is ready in 10 minutes with cake mix and frosting—dessert has never been this easy.

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Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings

Ingredients

1 box 15.25 oz chocolate cake mix, plus ingredients to prepare batter (like eggs and oil)
1 tub 16 oz chocolate frosting
Powdered sugar for garnish (optional)
Ice cream berries, or whipped cream, for serving

Instructions

Prepare the cake batter as directed on the box.
Grease a 2½-quart microwave-safe dish with nonstick spray. Pour in the batter.
Drop spoonfuls of frosting evenly over the top.
Cover with lid and microwave on high for 10 minutes.
Let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Then uncover and dust with powdered sugar.
Serve warm; top with ice cream, berries, or whipped cream. (Or all three, who am I to judge?)

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Tools & Equipment You’ll Need

To make sure this gooey delight turns out just right, here’s what I use:

Oven mitts (that dish gets steamy hot)
2 ½-quart microwave-safe casserole dish with lid (CorningWare-style works great)
Large mixing bowl
Mixing spoon or whisk
Measuring spoons & cups (for the frosting or garnishes, if eyeballing’s not your thing)
Silicone spatula (to get every last drop of batter)

💡 Tips for Success

Grease that dish well. I use non-stick cooking spray to coat the casserole dish—especially the corners—so nothing sticks.
Don’t stir the frosting in. Just dollop it over the batter and let the microwave do the magic. This gives you the lava effect.
Microwave power varies. I use a 1000-watt microwave—if yours is lower, you might need an extra 30–60 seconds.
Let it rest. That 5-minute cool-down is key for texture and so you don’t burn your tongue on molten chocolate lava.
Make it your own. Swap chocolate frosting for peanut butter or caramel frosting if you’re feeling wild.
Use a glass or ceramic dish. Avoid plastic—microwaving hot sugar is not plastic’s best friend.
Top strategically. A scoop of vanilla ice cream melts into the center and creates a next-level lava effect.

The bottom line

When the dessert craving hits, this microwave chocolate lava cake is the ultimate chocolate treat—gooey, warm, and made with simple pantry staples. Whether you’re mastering the microwave cake hack for a slumber party or satisfying a solo chocolate moment, this chocolate lava mug cake delivers fast, rich results every time. 🍫

Want even more easy dessert ideas?