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Have you tried the Carnival Cruise Line Warm Chocolate Melting Cake? It is the most popular dessert on the cruise. But, now you don’t have to hit the high seas to indulge in this decadent chocolate melting cake at home.
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Carnival’s famous melting chocolate cake is the most popular dessert on a Carnival Cruise. The rich, chocolate cake has a warm, pudding-like chocolate center that is to die for! If you don’t believe me, see all the rave reviews from our readers in the comments below.
On a Carnival cruise, I always order this decadent dessert. It is served in individual greased ramekins that are the perfect size for one serving. Our chocolate cake recipe tastes just like the original recipe (because it IS the original recipe!) but you can make it in the comfort of your own home. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dusting of powdered sugar or whipped topping.
Ingredients in Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake
This is one of the easiest chocolate desserts to make, and yet it looks and tastes super fancy! It resembles a lava cake, with a delicious melted chocolate mixture in the center. Here’s what you need:
- Dark chocolate chips – use any chocolate chips you like, but I find the dark or semi-sweet chocolate really enhances the luxurious flavor.
- Butter – melted butter, about cube and a half.
- Eggs -four large or five medium eggs. Make sure the egg mix is at room temperature before adding the next ingredients.
- Sugar – about ¾ cup white, granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract – not a lot: just ⅛ teaspoon
- Flour – a quarter cup
- Optional toppings: ice cream, whipped cream, powdered sugar, strawberries, caramel sauce, raspberries, other fresh berries, nuts.
How We Got Carnival Cruise Line’s Recipe
Our sister, Elise, just got back from a cruise to the Caribbean with her family. As soon as she stepped on land she called me and said, “We need to figure out the recipe for the Melting Cake they served on the ship. It was the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had!” Literally, moments later I was on the phone with GET AWAY TODAY telling them about my sister’s cruise. To my amazement they said, “We have the recipe for that cake! A couple of our cruise specialists got the recipe from their last cruise!” I am not even kidding, that same day I went and got the ingredients to make it. Let me tell you – it was fabulous! We are sharing this ACTUAL recipe with you! You can enjoy this delicious cake anytime!
Reader Reviews of this Recipe
“Holy cannoli, this is delicious. I’m hesitant to admit that I’ve made it three times this week… but you all deserve to know. I didn’t have ramekins so I put the batter in muffin tins and reduced the time to 10 minutes. I thought it’d make for better portion sizes but my husband and I ended up eating three at a time anyways. Thank you for this life changing recipe, but darn you for making me come face to face with my lack of self control. Five stars for sure.”
BEKAH
“Chocolate lovers! Hear me and make this recipe. You will not be sorry.”
JAYNE
“It is the best thing I ever had ever! It is so good I had it every night on my cruise recently. I highly recommend it! Sinfully delicious! Yum!”
CHARLENE
Baking Tips for Chocolate Melting Cake
Do not overbake! It is supposed to be spongy and cake-y on top but gooey and melty in the middle.
Check, check, check. After 14 minutes, be sure to keep checking it. You don’t want it to be cake-y all the way through, nor do you want it to be too runny.
Toothpick test. Use your good judgement for doneness because oven temps and elevations are different for everyone. If you are worried about it, keep doing the “toothpick test” every minute or so. If you put the toothpick all the way down to the bottom and the bottom half of the toothpick DOESN’T come out clean, you did it right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can substitute gluten free all-purpose flour in this recipe. The rule of thumb I use is substitute the flour 1:1 and add one teaspoon of xanthan gum.
We wouldn’t recommend it. They are much better when they are warm out of the oven.
A melting cake or lava cake is a cake prepared in ramekins where the outer layer of the cake is baked, but the center of the cake is not set. Instead, it is a warm, hot fudge-like center.
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How To Make Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake
Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake
Equipment
- Whisk
- 7 ounce Ramekins
- Sauce pan
Ingredients
- ¾ cup dark chocolate chips
- ¾ cup butter
- 4 eggs, room temperature
- ¾ cup sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup flour
- powdered sugar, for dusting
- ice cream, for serving
- whipping cream, for serving
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Melt chocolate chips and butter in a small saucepan. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and sugar together.
- Add vanilla and flour. Whisk until flour is well mixed in.
- Once the chocolate has cooled, combine it with the egg mixture.
- Fill 4 (7-ounce) ramekins about three-fourths full with chocolate batter. Bake for 14 minutes.
- Check to make sure the edges of the ramekin are cooked and the top of the cakes appear to be cooked as well.
- Once cooled, sprinkle the cakes lightly with powdered sugar.
- Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
Video
Notes
- You’ll need 4 (7-ounce) ramekins to make these, not a regular cake pan.
- Watch these babies closely. Do not overbake! The cake is supposed to be spongy and cakey on top but gooey and melty in the middle, the consistency of pudding, not too runny. If you put the toothpick all the way down to the bottom and the bottom half of the toothpick doesn’t come out clean, you did it right.
Nutrition Information
As I mentioned earlier, I was on the phone with GET AWAY TODAY trying to book a last-minute vacation for my family and they told me this month (October) is National Cruise Month! That is why Get Away Today was so gracious to share this Carnival Cruise recipe with us. If you are looking for a fun place to go on vacation or if you are even just thinking about going on vacation, check out the deals they can get you!
By the way, can I just say I LOVED working with them on booking our vacation for next month? They definitely make you feel like a VIP no matter what your budget is! You can call them personally and they will answer any and all of your questions and give you EXPERT advice. They will help you find the perfect vacation for you and your budget. It makes me feel more special saying that I have a “travel agent” rather than saying “I found a deal online”. They can find better deals than what you can find on other travel sites and you can actually talk to a real person to structure your vacation. Call them. Tell them Favorite Family Recipes sent ya! And tell them how much you love this chocolate cake!
We also use GET AWAY TODAY for booking Disney Vacations and Universal Studios.
Sounds delicious and I am going to get everything to make it later this week. I wanted to ask if I should grease the ramekins before filling them?
No, greasing the ramekins isn’t required for this recipe.
It was absolutely delicious!!!
Thanks, one of my favorite desserts!
I wanted to thank you for writing up this recipe. I have made this three times in a muffin tin like a comment or below mentioned. Your recipe worked perfectly at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. I made 12 baby cakes filled up 70 percent high in a silicone baking pan (silicone is necessary to pop them in one piece!). I first tried 10 minutes but that made them deflate and explode. 12 was perfect, 13 was too cakey and not custardy enough in the center. I have also refrigerated them and reheated them in the microwave – not as good, but I can only eat so much in one sitting lol!
I haven’t made it yet. When I was on a cruise over 10 years ago the chef got me the recipe. I lost it. I do remember it called for 11 eggs! I remember that because it seemed an odd number. Obviously it must have been double this recipe at least. Looking forward to trying this one. Thanks.
Thank you
Haven’t made it yet,but it sounds so straightforward I can’t wait to try it.
This is the easiest and most delicious cake we’ve ever had. A dollop of fresh whipped cream and it’s heaven. Thank you
Easy and absolutely delicious. So delicious in fact that my husband would have eaten all four portions had I not intervened 😋. Making more right now😁
I’ve made these before and they are delicious. Would it be possible to mix this ahead and put it in the ramekins and then cook them later? I would refrigerate until cooking time, of course. I want to do them for Christmas dinner but would like to be able to pop them in the oven while the main meal is being served.
I think that would work!
Hi Perry,
Did you try this and did it work? Hoping to do this for Valentine’s dinner 🙂
Don’t use chocolate chips. Invest in real chocolate bars. Carnival’s recipe from a chef’s private seating is slightly different and has 7 eggs.
That is great to know! Thanks so much for your tip!
I was given the recipe while on a cruise and I remember it having 11 eggs. I wish I hadn’t lost it. I would have had to cut it down and make less so this might be ok. I do remember it using chocolate and not chips
My favorite cruising dessert!!! I asked for recipe…they shared…but it was for 200!?!
I forgot to leave stars on my comment!
This recipe is right on! I had to use Nestle chocolate, which was only 53% coacoa, but they came out DELICIOUS. I am in Texas and left them in for 18 minutes- that was too long. I think for me 15 minutes would have been perfect. I was trying to wait for the top to look done, but they continue to “cook” even after you take them out. They were still amazing!!! My boys devoured, so this will be a staple in my kitchen. Thanks!
The recipes doesn’t state when to add the vanilla. Luckily the video shows when to add….to the eggs and sugar prior to flour. Maybe should update recipe. Can’t wait to try!
Thanks for catching that! I just revised the recipe to reflect that.
Holy cannoli, this is delicious. I’m hesitant to admit that I’ve made it three times this week… but you all deserve to know. I didn’t have ramekins so I put the batter in muffin tins and reduced the time to 10 minutes. I thought it’d make for better portion sizes but my husband and I ended up eating three at a time anyways. Thank you for this life changing recipe, but darn you for making me come face to face with my lack of self control. Five stars for sure.
Can this be done with GF flour and if so, what kind would you suggest? Thanks!
You can substitute gluten free all-purpose flour in this recipe. The rule of thumb I use is substitute the flour 1:1 and add one teaspoon of xanthan gum.
Can you cook these ahead of time and pop them in the microwave when ready to serve
I wouldn’t recommend it. They are much better when they are warm out of the oven. Thank you for asking!
Did you use all purpose flour or self rising?
All-purpose!
They are still excellent. Since it’s just my husband & me I always do this.
I haven’t been on a cruise (yet!), but I have to have this cake! Thanks for sharing the recipe in such detail!