One of the most famous deserts is a lava cake and if you are very familiar with it you know how delicious that warm running chocolate is. It will leave you wanting for more. If you have a sweet tooth you can always cook lava cakes in advance and store them for up to 3 months in the refrigerator. This will actually help you to save time since all you have to do is just reheat them up. Let us take a look at how you can store and reheat your lava cakes so that you can enjoy them while warm.
Contents
What is a lava cake?
A lava cake is a slightly under-cooked cake that has a runny, liquid chocolate centre. It attained that name because it resembles a lava; once you break the shell of the cake the melted chocolate will start flowing from it, which is representative of lava. A lava cake has a soft warm outside that is usually chocolate flavoured and when you use your fork or spoon to dig in you will be welcomed with a stream of warm, smooth, liquid chocolate that just runs down from the inside going outwards.
Why are lava cakes reheated?
It is very rare to find cakes that are reheated but in the case of lava cakes they are best enjoyed while hot. This is because you want to enjoy that warm, smooth chocolate that is found inside the lava cake. Usually they are eaten 5 minutes after you take them out of the oven. When the lava cake is eaten cold you won’t get that gooey runny chocolate this is because it would have solidified. It wouldn’t really be lava cake at all. That is why it is recommended to eat the lava cake as soon as it is cooked or to start by reheating it.
How to store lava cakes in the refrigerator or freezer
NB: it is not recommended to refrigerate cooked lava cakes as you might lose the texture of the melted chocolate during the whole freezing process or reheating process. However, it is possible to still refrigerate the lava cake although once reheated you won’t get the same results as a fresh lava cake.
To store the lava cake in the refrigerator start by removing the lava cakes from the ramekins and let them cool down until they are at room temperature. Wrap each lava cake with plastic wrap. Make sure that the plastic wrap is not too tight because you wouldn’t want to disfigure the shape of your lava cake which is a bit fragile. Place the lava cake in zip bag for extra protection. If you do not have plastic wrap simply place the lava cake in an air tight container so that moisture doesn’t get in. This is because if the cake is expose to a lot of moisture the outside will turn a bit soggy. Label the container or freezer bag with a marker and place the date in which you are putting the lava cake in the freezer. This will help to remind you when the lava cake has turned bad. You can freeze the lava cakes for up to 3 months but do not expect the same taste you would get from a freshly oven baked lava cake. In some cases you will discover that the chocolate won’t be as runny.
NB: refrigerated lava cakes last up to 3 days while frozen lava cakes last up to 3 months so make sure you store your lava cake in the right place.
Ways of reheating lava cake
Reheat lava cake using an oven
NB: this is a decent method of reheating lava cake and you are guaranteed of a perfectly reheated lava cake since the oven regulates a steady amount of heat.
To use the oven for reheating a lava cake start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Place the lava cake upside down on a sturdy baking sheet or oven safe bowl. When you are done place the baking sheet inside the oven and allow the lava cake to reheat for about 10 minutes. You can place aluminium foil on top of the lava cake just to protect it a little bit.
Reheat lava cake using a microwave
NB: this is the fastest and easiest method to use when reheating a lava cake.
Reheat lava cake using a microwave and if the lava cake was placed in the freezer make sure that you thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before placing it in the microwave. If it was already in the refrigerator then that’s perfect. Unwrap the lava cake and place it inside a microwave safe dish or bowl. Cover the bowl or dish with a wet cloth so as to protect the lava cake from the high temperatures of the microwave. Place the lava cake inside the microwave and allow it to reheat for about 40 seconds or until the centre is soft. Serve the lava cake while hot for the best results.
NB: it is not advisable to reheat a lava cake twice as it will lose most of that smooth, runny chocolate. Furthermore, the flavour of the lava cake will become compromised.
Toppings for lava cake
A reheated lava cake is delicious on its own but you can always elevate the flavours a little bit by making use of different toppings. Here are a few topping that you can make use of:
- Powdered sugar- you can dust it on top of the lava cake it will elevate the flavour of the lava cake. Furthermore, it will make your lava cake look classy.
- Caramel- you can make a caramel sauce and drizzle it on top of your lava cake you definitely won’t regret it.
- Ice cream- if you are a fan of ice cream then you can serve the lava cake with a combination of any flavour of ice cream that you like.
- Whipped cream- this is the simplest thing to make and it makes a great topping for your lava cake.
- Berries- you can serve any type of berries with your lava cake.
