I had previously received an Avalon Bay100W Air Fryer for a previous feature on Momma Told Me. No further compensation has been provided for this Air Baked Molten Lava Cakes follow up post. All photos contained below are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2015.
Momma Told Me: If I only had an extra arm!
I'm a busy woman; and like Momma always said, 'If your life isn't busy you aren't living it right.' And while I'm busy being, well, busy, I watch a stream a lot of FOOD network programs. You know, the ones where contestants are given a box of mystery ingredients and told to recreate a gourmet meal in about 30 minutes. It seems like whenever the dessert round rolls around there's always someone making ice cream and always someone making a cake. Ice cream and a cake in a half hour? Insane, right? Well, while I do not have an anti-griddle, blast chiller, or $5k professional soft serve machine in my kitchen I DO have a time saving secret weapon, my Avalon Bay Air Fryer 100W.
I introduced you to my shiny new air fryer a few months back with our Air Fried Banana Split post. We since have grown to use our trusty Avalon Bay 100W Air Fryer several nights a week for everything from the crispiest (oil free) tater tots to homemade cinnamon donuts and Parmesan baked broccoli. The air fryer, if you recall, works by circulating super heated air through the unit's basket to evenly and efficiently cook just about anything, no 'frying' required. While you can bake wet items (breaded, baking mixes, etc) the frying portion of this kitchen appliance works best within minimal moisture. Any crumbs or oils collected during the cooking process are also contained in the bowl which the basket sits in, for painless cleanup!
When I first began air frying I was skeptical of all the people who said one could bake inside such a device. However, quickly learned how convenient it was to cook or prepare a side for 2 people without preheating an entire oven (especially during the warm SoCal weather.) Soon I was ready to make the plunge and see just how convenient it could be baking inside an air fryer. I should note, you can put just about any oven safe crock or pan inside the air fryer basket (so long as it fits.) This is key to expanding your baking horizons with an air fryer.
Not only was I determined to first tackle a cake inside my Avalon Bay Air Fryer 100W, but a molten cake- one of the most finicky of baked desserts, and with just 5 ingredients! Chances are you likely have these laying around the house- just make sure you are using Baker's (Caster) sugar (not powdered sugar,) which will be fine enough to bake into the delicate mixture.
I first melted my chocolate and butter in the microwave (tough, I know,) then I pulled out my hand mixer and beat my eggs and sugar for a few minutes on high, until they began to fluff in their foamy stage. Next I added the flour to my chocolate mixture and my chocolate mixture to my egg mixture. With a few even swishes of a spatula I was ready to fill my greased ramekins 3/4 full.
My Avalon Bay Air Fryer 100W fits about 3 average sized ramekins comfortably. I was sure to preheat my air fryer in advanced for this particular recipe (due to the molten factor,) though most foods can be cooked inside the fryer DURING the preheating phase (very convenient.) The molten lava caked air baked for 10 minutes at about 375F.
I was instantly pleased with the color and texture of my air baked molten lava cakes, once I removed the fryer bin. I allowed the ramekins to sit, outside the air fryer, for 2 minutes then inverted them on prepared plates with a raspberry drizzle. With a few taps of the bottom of a butter knife, the cakes easily dropped free. Pulling up the ramekin to reveal the molten lava cakes I was quite pleased with myself. I could immediately see they had cooked perfectly, with a slightly darker center.
These air baked molten lava cakes were more than a sucess, they were a triumph- and easy enough to whip up in 20 minutes with no advanced warning. I see several successful hostess positions in my entertaining future! The center was decadent and rich, gooey and warm, and rivaled the molten cake from my favorite family chain. And cleanup? 2 mixing bowls and the (greased) ramekins- it was a breeze!
We have loved having an Avalon Bay Air Fryer 100W in our home and I can't imagine going back to life before one! I've cleared a special place on our kitchen counter and am always discovering new ways to use it. I'm especially excited to give our readers the chance to win one of their own! What would you bake first in your Avalon Bay Air Fryer?
What Daughter Says: Save time and cleanup with an air fryer in your kitchen.
One Momma Told Me reader will win an Avalon Bay Air Fryer of their own! Follow the official Blog POP! Spring Fling Giveaway LINKY to enter more great giveaways when you're done, and check out the full recipe and tutorial video, below!
Avalon Bay Air Fryer 100W
Air Baked Molten Lava Cakes
***Click here for printable Air Baked Molten Lava Cakes Recipe
Ingredients:
1.5 TBS Self Rising Flour
3.5 TBS Baker's Sugar (Not Powdered)
3.5 OZ Unsalted Butter
3.5 OZ Dark Chocolate (Pieces or Chopped)
2 Eggs
Directions:
Preheat Your Air Fryer To 375F
1. Grease and flour 4 standard oven safe ramekins.
2. Melt dark chocolate and butter in a microwave safe bowl on level 7 for 3 minutes, stirring throughout. Remove from microwave and stir until even consistency.
3. Whisk/Beat the eggs and sugar until pale and frothy.
4. Pour melted chocolate mixture into egg mixture. Stir in flour. Use a spatula to combine everything evenly.
5. Fill the ramekins about 3/4 full with cake mixture and bake in preheated air fryer at 375F for 10 minutes.
6. Remove from the air fryer and allow to cool in ramekin for 2 minutes. Carefully turn ramekins upside down onto serving plate, tapping the bottom with a butter knife to loosen edges. Cake should release from ramekin with little effort and center should appear dark/gooey. Enjoy warm a-la-mode or with a raspberry drizzle.
