These Paleo Chocolate Melting Cakes are incredibly gooey, rich and chocolatey! This easy, five-ingredient recipe is a healthier take on Carnival’s Chocolate Melting Cake. You’ll love the melting, gooey center!
So, have you ever been on a Carnival Cruise? If you have, I bet you’ve ended one of your dinners on the ship digging into the gooey center of one their famous Chocolate Melting Cakes, topped with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
This past summer my mom’s whole family piled onto a Carnival cruise ship in Athens and sailed our way through Turkey, Greece, Malta, and Italy, finally landing in Barcelona. Most of the nights that we had dinner on the boat, we would eat in the same restaurant.
The menu would change depending on our port of call, but the Chocolate Melting Cake was a staple on the dessert menu, and at least one person at our table would order it for dessert each night. On the final night, we had a whole round of them on the table and we were all sad looking forward to our lives without readily accessible chocolate melting cakes.
I vowed to recreate it, and make it a little healthier, and though it took a little while…I finally made it happen! Even better? The recipe is super simple – only five ingredients needed and you can have these chocolate melting cakes in the oven within 15 minutes. What more can you ask from your desserts?
Because of the minimal ingredients, they all should be high quality. More importantly, make sure you use the best quality chocolate you can because the chocolate is flavor that’s going to come through most predominately in your cakes. Great chocolate will make great cakes! I used a strong 72% which made these babies super rich, so if you prefer a less deep, dark cake, use a 60% or 55% chocolate.
These paleo chocolate melting cakes should be served immediately after they’re baked, but they can be prepared ahead of time. After you divide the batter between the ramekins, they can be covered with plastic and refrigerated until you’re ready to bake.
When these chocolate melting cakes bake up, the edges bake into a soft chocolate cake, while the center stays gooey and “melting”. When your spoon breaks through, you get a spoonful of that rich cake mixed with chocolate “lava” sauce.
When they are served, hot of the oven, they deserve a spoonful of whipped coconut cream or vanilla ice cream – I added a big spoonful of vanilla bean Halo Top on mine :)
These paleo chocolate melting cakes are perfect to serve for any for the holidays or at any dinner parties. Any old night where you’re needing a good dose of chocolate is a good excuse, too! Who doesn’t love a gooey chocolate cake? Enjoy!
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Remember to #bakerita if you try the recipe!
- 4 oz. dark chocolate (I used 72%)
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted grass-fed butter, room temperature
- 3 eggs + 1 egg yolk, room temperature
- 3 tablespoons coconut sugar
- ¼ cup blanched almond flour
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease 4 3” ramekins with butter and place on a baking sheet. Set aside.
- Melt the chocolate and butter together in a saucepan over low heat. Once melted, remove from heat.
- Combine 2 eggs and coconut sugar together in a separate bowl and whisk until foamy. Add the almond flour and mix to combine. Add the remaining egg and egg yolk and whisk to incorporate.
- Add the egg mixture to the melted chocolate and mix together until smooth.
- Divide the batter evenly between the four prepared ramekins. If you don’t want to eat them right away, you can put them at the fridge at this point until you’re ready to bake.
- Bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center still jiggles when you gently shake the baking sheet. Start checking on the cakes around 13 minutes to ensure you don’t over-bake.
- Serve immediately, preferably with coconut whipped cream or ice cream!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I’ve never been on a cruise before, can you believe that? I do need to change that, as I really want to go on a European one. And if it means getting delicious desserts like this, then sign me up! :) I love these little melting cakes, Rachel! This is definitely my kind of comforting and chocolate-y dessert! YUM!
Rachel says
Thanks so much Gayle! The melting cakes were definitely a cruise highlight :)
Bethany @ Athletic Avocado says
I’ve never been on a carnival cruise so I never experienced this deliciousness! Fortunately, your recipe is super easy and only require ingredients! That chocolate gooeyness is making me drool!
Rachel says
You’ve got to try them, Bethany! So heavenly :) thanks girl!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
Oh my goooooosh!! I’ve never heard of a melting cake but I’m pretty sure this is something I’ve just gotta have in my life. That gooey chocolate is making me drool, Rachel!
Rachel says
You DO need it in your life! I think everyone does haha thanks so much Sarah!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
That cruise sounds amaaaaaazing!!! I’ve never been on a cruise before, but would love to. So awesome to visit a bunch of places on one trip. I can see why you kept going back to the same restaurant if they served desserts like this. And 5 ingredients? Looks SO good! Can’t wait to give this one a try. Looks so decadent :) Monday is looking better already ;)
Rachel says
I normally like to spend longer in places than a cruise allows, since it ends up seeming like a teaser trip of the city! I said it was the sampler platter equivalent of traveling Europe, hahaha. So amazing though, and the dessert was definitely a bonus! Thanks so much Dawn.
Ami@NaiveCookCooks says
I have never been on a cruise before Rachel and hearing about these delicious cakes, now I want to book mine asap!! I am so happy that you were able to recreate a healthier version!! Looks yum!
Rachel says
Thanks so much Ami! :)
Annie says
I can imagine what a gorgeous and special time you had!! I’ve never done a cruise but if this is the kind of thing they serve – I’m in!! These are spectacular!!
marcie says
I went on a Carnival Cruise years ago and have no idea why I never had a chocolate melting cake?? These look to die for Rachel, and your photos are just stunning!
Rachel says
Oh man, you missed out Marcie!! Thanks so much! :)
Monica says
Boy, these look amazing. My chocolate heart is happy just looking at it!
Rachel says
Thank you so much Monica!
Julie | This Gal Cooks says
I have everything needed to make these! I’m going to set some butter out so it’s room temp tomorrow evening and then I’m going to make these!
Rachel says
I hope you love them, Julie! Report back with your feedback – I’d love to hear what you think!
Monica Stevens Le says
Per usual, these look absolutely amazing. I want about 3 of them now!
Rachel says
Thanks in large part to you!! Thanks for being my hand model :)
Manali@CookWithManali says
oh wow, these look incredible! love the gooey center!
Laura | Tutti Dolci says
I am all for rich and gooey chocolate! These cakes look fab!
Beth @ bethcakes says
These look heavenly, Rachel! You totally nailed these. They look so rich and yummy! :)
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Oh dear gawsh! These look amazing! I so love your healthified, gluten free version of those Chocolate Melting Cakes y’all enjoyed on y’alls cruise! I haven’t been on one yet – I would have been sad to bid adieu to readily accessible Chocolate Melting Cake too! ;)
SK says
Oh my GOSH… these are AMAZING Rachel!! I just whipped them up and embarrassingly I devoured 2 before I could even begin to restrain myself. I don’t know how you do it – you take a combination of the most simple ingredients and as usual, it produces something that tastes like a pastry chef spent all day making it. I lost count of how many of your recipes I have made, and every one of them has been a huge success. Thank you so much for making Paleo and gluten-free recipes so awesome and easy to make!! :)
Rachel says
Your comment makes me SO happy, SK! I’m so glad that you loved these melting cakes as much as I did – aren’t they scrumptious?! No judgement from me for devouring two ;) its gives me such joy to know you’ve been enjoying my Paleo + GF recipes. Readers like you inspire me to keep developing tasty recipes! Hope you have a wonderful day ❤️
SK says
Yes these were absolutely scrumptious and right now my biggest dilemma is to either make them again or the Gluten Free Pecan Praline Cheesecake bars! Decisions, decisions… :) I tell everyone I know about your website because I am constantly asked where I get my recipes when I bring your desserts around! Seriously PLEASE keep up your hard work, you are reaching so many people and helping so many of us stay healthier and enjoy it as well! :)
Rachel says
You’re too kind, SK! So glad you’re enjoying my recipes and thank you SO much for spreading the world! I’m so appreciate of you. I hope you love every recipe you try. You inspire me to keep baking :)
Denisa says
These look soooo, sooooo delicious! I was wondering if I can replace the butter with coconut oil, or nut butter?
Rachel says
I haven’t tried it, but coconut oil should work just fine! Enjoy.
Leen says
Hi Rachel, is there a vegan version of this melting chocolate cake but fast equally nice?
Rachel says
Hi Leen, I haven’t tried these without the eggs so I’m not sure – I’ll put it on my list of recipes to test out, though!