Lemon Lava Cake
A Light and Lemony Treat for the Holidays
The winter holiday season often means an abundance of rich, decadent chocolate desserts—which, let’s be honest, I have no complaints about! But sometimes, after a big family meal, what I really crave isn’t another heavy chocolate treat, but something lighter, brighter, and bursting with citrusy goodness.
Enter: Lemon Lava Cake.
This warm, molten-centered delight is the perfect balance of tangy lemon and delicate sweetness, with a texture that’s soft, airy, and irresistibly spoonable. Imagine the silky richness of a chocolate lava cake, but instead of deep cocoa, your spoon sinks into a sunny golden cake with a luscious, flowing lemon center. Each bite is a perfect harmony of sweet and tart, a little burst of sunshine in the midst of a cozy winter evening.
What Makes This Lemon Lava Cake So Special?
The Texture: The edges bake up into a delicate, spongy cake, while the center stays warm and gooey, creating that signature lava effect.
The Flavor: Bright, zesty fresh lemon juice and zest bring a vibrant citrus punch that’s balanced with just the right amount of sweetness.
The Experience: Served warm from the oven, each spoonful delivers a comforting contrast—light, airy cake meets silky lemon curd-like lava.
How to Serve
This dessert is stunning all on its own, but for a little extra indulgence:
🍋 Dust with powdered sugar for a touch of elegance.
🍋 Top with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream to complement the tartness.
🍋 Garnish with fresh berries for a pop of color and a little extra freshness.
🍋 Serve it chilled for a completely different but equally delightful experience—the lava firms up into a silky lemon custard, making it just as irresistible in a cool, refreshing way.
Why I Love This Recipe
Lemon Lava Cake isn’t just a delicious, unexpected holiday dessert—it’s also simple to make and feels effortlessly elegant. Whether served warm for cozy comfort or chilled for a refreshing citrusy treat, this dessert is pure, citrusy perfection in every bite.
If you’re looking for a bright, warm, and perfectly balanced dessert to contrast the heavier treats of the season, this is the one. Trust me—you’ll be coming back for seconds! 🍋✨
Lemon Lava Cake
Special Note: The quirky thing about making this recipe is in the baking. While the baking is done in an oven proof dish, this dish is then placed in a larger pan with hot water poured in to come up about 1" inch on the side of the baking dish. Hopefully the pictures below are clearer than my wording…lol!
Ingredients:
1 c sugar
1/4 c all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c lemon juice
1 tbsp grated lemon rind
2 eggs, separated
1 tbsp butter, melted
1 c milk
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Butter a 6-cup baking dish.
in bowl, combine sugar, flour and salt.
Carefully zest lemons for 1 tbsp lemon zest, avoiding going to deep to the white bitter layer (called the pith) under the yellow lemon skin.
Stir lemon juice, lemon zest, beaten egg yolks, butter and milk into the flour mixture.
In separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Fold egg whites into lemony mixture.
Pour into prepared baking dish.
Place in a larger pan; pour in enough hot water to come 1” up sides of the baking dish.
Bake in 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes or until top is set and golden brown.
Great served warm or cold. Makes about 4 servings.
