Tag: easy dessert

Microwave Molten Lava Cake

Chocolate Love

It’s February: the month of love, flowers, and, most importantly, chocolate. Some people love candies and cookies, but cake, namely chocolate cake, is my favorite dessert; if anyone wanted to speak my love language (gifts), you should gift me with some homemade chocolate cake, and we would probably be BFFLs.

But this isn’t about me. This is about you and your special someone celebrating Valentine’s Day together. Making a cake is always a great way to celebrate! Unfortunately, making a cake is usually time consuming, it’s usually chock full of butter and white sugar, and a whole cake seems kind of daunting sitting on your counter. You may already have a stomach ache, but you don’t want to waste this gorgeous cake. *sigh*

However, this cake is the solution to all of those problems! It is dairy free, flour free, refined sugar free, the perfect size for two lovebirds to share, and it cooks in about two minutes in your microwave! If you are celebrating Valentine’s Day solo this year (which was me 5/7 years my husband and I have been together), never fear! You can totally make this cake just for you, eat the whole thing, or save the other half. Whether you are single, happily coupled, or celebrating with your pals, Microwave Molten Lava Cake is the perfect guilt-free chocolate indulgence!

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Microwave Molten Lava Cake

Serves two.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  • Melt two ounces of dark chocolate in a large microwavable bowl, heat 30 seconds, stir, heat another 30, then stir again
  • Add all other ingredients except egg
  • Stir until combined
  • Let cool for a couple minutes before adding egg…otherwise your cake will be streaked with scrambled egg. Not that I speak from experience or anything…
  • Beat and combine egg well (again, you don’t want scrambled egg cake)
  • Press the other ounce of dark chocolate down into the center of the batter
  • Microwave for 1.5 minutes
  • Top with desired toppings
  • Let cool for a few minutes
  • Dive in

I don’t think desserts get much easier than this! If you are looking for another Love Day dessert that’s actually baked in an oven, check out my Wholesome Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookie Bars, or Dark Chocolate Paleo Brownies. If no-bake treats are your thing, I’ve got you covered with my Chocolate Banana “Nice” Cream, Two Layer Paleo Fudge, or my No Bake Chocolate Date Cake.

Go to my “Desserts” menu and use the drop down arrow to see what else I have for you! I am sure you will find something special for this special holiday! Love your family, friends, and chocolate…and enjoy your pinch of crazy!

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Two Layer Paleo Fudge

This post contains affiliate links; if you purchase using the links, it is of no extra cost to you, just a small pantry fund for me. Thank you for supporting A Pinch of Crazy!

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Oh Fudge!

I made a big mistake this week. As I’ve written before, sugar greatly increases my anxiety and insomnia; however, for some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to eat some sugar-y, albeit tasty, treats literally right before bed. *eye roll* I woke up from a nightmare (which I never have) at 3 AM with a pounding heart, and couldn’t fall back asleep until 5 AM. Ugh! Why must my sugar monster haunt me so?! Especially at Christmas time…all the candies, cookies, sweet drinks, snacks, and fudge.

Growing up, fudge was always in ample supply at my house around the holidays; my sisters and I would always fight over who got to lick the spoon after my mom made it. To be honest, I will most likely enjoy some traditional fudge this season…but I will make sure it is not too close to bed time, and because I know how my body reacts to refined sugar, I will eat it sparingly. However, I won’t feel deprived because I’ll have my own vegan and refined sugar free fudge, too! This fudge is sweetened with maple syrup, which is high in antioxidants and nutrients, there is protein from the nut butter and dark chocolate, and plenty of healthy fats from the coconut milk and oil. I can eat a few pieces of this healthier fudge without feeling guilty… and it doesn’t hurt that it has a chewy and rich bottom layer topped with a melt-in-your-mouth chocolate layer. What can I say? I’m trying to stay healthy!

Two Layer Paleo Fudge

Makes one 8×8 pan.

Ingredients:

Bottom Layer:

Top Layer:

  • 4 oz dark baking chocolate (or you could combine baking chocolate with coco powder, but straight coco powder will make it lumpy…not that I speak from experience…)
  • 4 tbsp full fat coconut milk
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • Optional: flaky sea salt for topping

Directions:

Bottom Layer:

  • Grease an 8×8 baking pan
  • Combine all bottom layer ingredients in a small mixing bowl
  • Stir together until well combined
  • Using a rubber spatula, spread almond butter layer out evenly in the pan

Top Layer:

  • Combine all ingredients in a microwave safe bowl
  • Heat for 30 seconds, stir
  • Heat an additional 15-30 seconds if needed and stir again
  • Once combined, the chocolate mixture should look like thick batter
  • Using a rubber spatula, spread the chocolate layer on top of the almond butter layer
  • Refrigerate for at least 2 hours
  • Top with flaky sea salt, if desired, before slicing
  • Store, covered, in fridge for a week

For more nut butter/chocolate combinations, check out my Peanut Butter and Chocolate Overnight Oats, Chocolate Banana “Nice” Cream, Wholesome Chocolate Chunk Cookies, and Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookie Bars. And for more Christmas-time recipes, I recently posted my Molasses Cookies, and Death by Hot Chocolate. It doesn’t get more Christmas-y than fudge, and this fudge is dangerously simple, but since it’s basically a chocolate coated vitamin, there’s nothing to worry about! 😉 I hope your home is full of family, love, and all the warmth that this season brings. Oh, and treats! Eat all the treats…and enjoy your pinch of crazy!

 

Death by Hot Chocolate

This post contains affiliate links; if you purchase using the links, it is of no extra cost to you, just a small pantry fund for me. Thank you for supporting A Pinch of Crazy!

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Hot, hot, hot! Hot Chocolate!

This is the song from the sweet movie The Polar Express; where Tom Hanks secretly voices nearly every character and the songs make you feel nostalgic and teary-eyed. I specifically remember the “Hot Chocolate” song because the coco the kids were given by the singing and dancing servers looked amazingly luxurious, like pure melted chocolate, and left them lounging with whipped cream mustaches in a chocolate stupor.

Tomorrow is December 1st, kicking off the Christmas season, and I want to end pretty much every day in a chocolate stupor, but I don’t want to end every day with sugar-induced anxiety and headaches. Thankfully, I have a refined sugar free and dairy free hot chocolate that will get you chocolate wasted in record time all while warming your belly, and putting a smile on your face this Christmas season.

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Death by Hot Chocolate

Serves 4-6 depending on mug size.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  • Combine all ingredients, except coconut cream, in a medium pot
  • If making the whipped coconut cream, simply whip the cream (you could add in vanilla or peppermint oil if desired) until fluffy, and keep in fridge while you make the hot chocolate
  • Turn burner on medium low
  • Let simmer until steaming, and bubbles start to form on the outside, whisking constantly
  • Carefully pour into mugs, and top with whipped coconut cream if desired
  • Let cool a little bit so you don’t burn your tongue…it’s hard to be patient 😛
  • If there are leftovers, store covered in fridge, and reheat on the stove

If, like me, you have a major sweet tooth [monster], you probably need a cookie…or two…to go with your coco. These go splendidly with my Wholesome Chocolate Chunk Cookies; my husband dunked his right into the coco, and you could also try it with my Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookie Bars. I have a lot of fun holiday recipes that I’m excited to share with you all this coming month! Let me know what your favorite holiday drink is, and let me know on Instagram and/or Facebook (links found on the bottom of the page) if you make this Death by Hot Chocolate. Good luck with your Christmas shopping…and enjoy your pinch of crazy!