Often, we don’t mind cooking or baking something as much as we mind making a regular quantity of it that serves many people.

This requires extra effort and utensils, which we don’t always want to be bothered with.

So, for those times when you are craving a rich chocolate dessert but don’t want to make an entire cake, here is a recipe for a single-serving chocolate lava pudding. With a delicate crackly top and a soft, gooey centre, it comes together with just a handful of ingredients.

Serve it warm with a scoop of ice cream to make it even more delicious.

Ingredients

• 42g butter

• 55g sugar

• 1 egg

• 24g cocoa powder

• 18g flour

• ½ teaspoon vanilla essence

• ½ teaspoon Espresso powder

Method

Preheat the oven to 160°C.

Melt the butter in a small bowl and set aside to cool slightly. In an oven-safe ramekin, whisk together the egg and sugar until the mixture becomes light and slightly fluffy.

Add the vanilla essence and cooled melted butter, and mix well. Sift in the cocoa powder and flour. Add the espresso powder and stir until the batter is smooth and well combined.

Place the ramekin on a baking tray. Carefully pour hot water into the tray until it reaches about

halfway up the sides of the ramekin to create a water bath. This helps the pudding develop a crackly crust while keeping the centre soft and gooey.

Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the top is set but a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out with a little batter attached.

Turn off the oven and leave the pudding inside for 2–3 minutes with the door slightly open.

Remove from the oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes.

Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream and enjoy.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 13th, 2026