Imagine the fudgiest brownies you’ve ever eaten, now picture them transformed into irresistibly soft, molten-centered cookies that deliver pure chocolate bliss with every bite. These Chocolate Lava Brownie Cookies are the ultimate union of chewy cookie and molten lava cake, with a delightful surprise at their core. Each bite greets you with rich, deep cocoa and a mouthwatering gooey chocolate center, making them an instant favorite for serious chocoholics and casual dessert lovers alike.
Ingredients You’ll Need
There’s nothing complicated about these cookies—just a handful of everyday baking staples is all it takes to achieve cookie perfection! Each ingredient plays a key role, from creating decadently fudgy edges to ensuring that elusive lava-like center.
- Unsalted butter: Lends richness and keeps the cookies wonderfully soft.
- Semisweet chocolate chips: Melted into the dough for deep, chocolatey flavor and smooth texture.
- Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create those classic brownie crackly tops.
- Brown sugar: Brings moisture and a subtle caramel complexity.
- Large eggs: Bind the dough and give the cookies their fudgy, chewy bite.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall chocolate flavor with warm, fragrant depth.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure, ensuring the cookies hold their irresistible shape.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Intensifies that chocolatey punch you crave in lava cookies.
- Baking powder: Helps the cookies puff up slightly while baking, keeping the centers soft.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and boosts all the chocolatey undertones.
- Chocolate truffle candies or chocolate squares (for lava center): These gems melt into a dreamy molten core—use high quality for best results.
How to Make Chocolate Lava Brownie Cookies
Step 1: Melt the Butter and Chocolate
Start by gently melting the butter and semisweet chocolate chips together, either in a saucepan over low heat or with quick bursts in the microwave. Stir until everything is completely smooth and glossy. Give this mixture a few minutes to cool—the last thing you want is to scramble your eggs in the next step!
Step 2: Mix the Sugars, Eggs, and Vanilla
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. This not only dissolves the sugar but also whips a bit of air into the mixture for an extra fudgy texture later.
Step 3: Combine Chocolate with Wet Ingredients
Now, slowly add your slightly cooled melted chocolate mixture to the egg and sugar blend. Stir until everything is rich, thick, and uniformly chocolaty from edge to edge. You’re on your way to brownie-cookie heaven.
Step 4: Whisk Together Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined. This quick step prevents any unfortunate floury lumps and ensures that every cookie bakes up evenly decadent.
Step 5: Make the Dough
Pour the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and gently fold just until everything comes together in a glossy, thick, and slightly sticky dough. Overmixing can make the cookies tough, so aim for just combined.
Step 6: Chill the Dough
Chilling is key! Let your dough rest in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes, which firms it up and makes it much easier to wrap around those decadent truffle centers later. If you skip this, you’ll end up with a sticky mess—and nobody wants that.
Step 7: Wrap the Lava Center
Scoop roughly two tablespoons of dough, flatten slightly in your palm, then nestle a chocolate truffle or square in the middle. Carefully wrap the dough around the chocolate, sealing it completely. The more sealed, the more dramatic the lava flow later!
Step 8: Bake to Perfection
Place each wrapped cookie on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about two inches apart. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are set but the centers still look soft and just a touch underdone—that’s where the magic happens.
Step 9: Cool (Briefly) and Enjoy the Lava Effect
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for five minutes to finish setting up. Serve them warm for the signature gooey, lava-like center, and brace yourself for lots of chocolatey smiles.
How to Serve Chocolate Lava Brownie Cookies
Garnishes
For a picture-perfect finish, dust your Chocolate Lava Brownie Cookies with a little powdered sugar or a flurry of cocoa powder. A sprinkle of flaked sea salt also makes the chocolate pop in the most luxurious way. For extra indulgence, drizzle with a bit of melted chocolate or caramel right before serving.
Side Dishes
Pair these cookies with a scoop of vanilla or salted caramel ice cream—there’s truly no better way to balance the rich, molten goodness. A glass of cold milk or even an espresso cuts through the sweetness and rounds out dessert time perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
Stack the cookies in a tall tower on a pretty cake stand, or package them in clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon for edible gifts. For a show-stopping dinner party finale, place a freshly baked cookie atop a pool of raspberry or caramel sauce and serve with a quenelle of whipped cream.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you happen to have any Chocolate Lava Brownie Cookies left (unlikely, but it does happen!), store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay moist and delicious for up to three days, though you may want to zap them in the microwave for a few seconds to revive that gooey center.
Freezing
These cookies freeze beautifully! Once completely cooled, arrange the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer to a sealable freezer bag or airtight container. They’ll keep for up to two months, ready for whenever, wherever a molten chocolate craving strikes.
Reheating
To relive the “lava” experience, microwave your cookie for about 10 to 15 seconds straight from the fridge or freezer. The heat will re-melt the chocolate core and bring back all the fresh-from-the-oven magic.
FAQs
Can I use different types of chocolate for the molten center?
Absolutely! Feel free to try dark chocolate truffles, caramel-filled chocolates, or even peanut butter cups for a unique twist. Just choose something that melts well for that trademark lava effect.
Why does the dough need to be chilled?
Chilling firms up the dough, making it much easier to handle and less sticky when shaping around the molten center. It also helps keep the cookies thick and fudgy as they bake.
How do I know when the cookies are done?
Look for set edges while the centers still look slightly soft—resist the urge to overbake. The cookies will firm up as they cool, and a soft center is exactly what you want for that gooey bite.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can make the dough and store it, wrapped tightly, in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Form and bake as directed when you’re ready for a fresh batch of Chocolate Lava Brownie Cookies.
Are these cookies good for gifting?
Definitely! Chocolate Lava Brownie Cookies are gorgeous and deliciously impressive packaged up for birthdays, holidays, or just because. Wrap individually and include reheating instructions so friends can enjoy the gooey center too!
Final Thoughts
Treat yourself and your loved ones to a batch of Chocolate Lava Brownie Cookies—you truly can’t go wrong with this show-stopping, deeply chocolaty treat. One bite and you’ll understand why these cookies never stick around for long. Happy baking!
Print
Chocolate Lava Brownie Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 32 minutes (plus chilling time)
- Yield: 12 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the decadent delight of Chocolate Lava Brownie Cookies, a fusion of rich brownie and gooey molten lava cake in cookie form. These irresistible treats combine a fudgy exterior with a luscious chocolate center that oozes with each bite.
Ingredients
Brownie Cookie Dough:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Lava Center:
- 12 chocolate truffle candies or chocolate squares
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Melt Chocolate: Melt butter and chocolate chips until smooth. Let cool.
- Combine Ingredients: Whisk sugars, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in melted chocolate. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then combine with wet ingredients to form dough.
- Chill Dough: Refrigerate dough for 20–30 minutes.
- Assemble Cookies: Scoop dough, place chocolate truffle in the center, and enclose with dough.
- Bake: Bake for 10–12 minutes until edges are set but centers are still soft.
- Cool and Serve: Let cool for 5 minutes before serving warm.
Notes
- Use high-quality chocolate for the molten center—Lindt truffles or Ghirardelli squares are recommended.
- For make-ahead cookies, warm in the microwave for 10 seconds to re-melt the center.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
