Protein Lava Cake

A fudgy chocolate dessert designed for post-workout nutrition, featuring a molten 58% dark chocolate centre, 25g of clean grass-fed whey protein per serving -- pure indulgence that hits your macros without the guilt.

This is the recipe I developed after years of trying to find a dessert that satisfies a real chocolate craving while actually contributing to recovery. Most "protein desserts" are dry, chalky, and taste like punishment disguised as a treat. This lava cake is different. It is genuinely indulgent -- moist, rich, and satisfying -- while delivering a meaningful protein dose from high-quality ingredients.

Why This Recipe Works Nutritionally

The foundation of this recipe is cottage cheese and whey protein, which together provide a complete amino acid profile that supports muscle recovery. The cottage cheese contributes slow-digesting casein protein, while the Primal Core whey delivers fast-absorbing amino acids. Combined, they create a sustained amino acid release that is ideal for post-training or as an evening treat when your body is repairing overnight.

The 58% dark chocolate is not just for flavor. Dark chocolate in this cacao range provides antioxidant flavanols without excessive sugar. The espresso shot amplifies the chocolate flavor (a baker's trick) while adding negligible calories.

Oat flour serves as the structural base, providing complex carbohydrates and fiber that slow digestion and complement the protein for balanced macronutrition. Unlike refined white flour, oat flour retains the whole grain's nutrients and creates a denser, more satisfying texture.

Ingredients

Dry Mix:

Oat flour: 45g (1/2 cup)
Mindful Crumb Grass-Fed Whey Protein: 30g (1 Sachet)
Baking soda: 4g (1 tsp)
Destination Cacao powder: 25g (3 1/2 Tbsp)
Celtic Sea salt: 3g (1/2 tsp)
Desert Noir 58% Cacao for baking: 28g (4 squares)

Wet Mix:

Cottage cheese (strained): 200g (1 cup)
Eggs: 100g (2 medium eggs)
Agave syrup: 55g (2 1/2 tbsp)
Nescafe Coffee espresso: 1 small shot
Lemon zest: Zest of 1 lemon
Vanilla extract/powder: 4g (1 tsp)

The quality of your ingredients defines the quality of your result. Use organic whenever possible. The lemon zest may seem unusual in a chocolate recipe, but it brightens the flavor and cuts through the richness of the chocolate and cottage cheese.

Directions

Preheat oven to 180C (338F fan). Grease 6 ramekin cups.

Blend eggs, cottage cheese, oat flour, protein powder, baking soda, Celtic sea salt, agave syrup, cocoa powder, lemon zest, espresso, and vanilla extract until smooth. Use a high-powered blender for the best texture -- you want the cottage cheese fully incorporated with no lumps.

Pour the blended mixture into 3 oiled ramekins, filling each about three-quarters full.

Chop 4 squares of 58% cacao into rough chunks.

Add chopped chocolate pieces to each ramekin and fold them in gently. You want the chocolate distributed throughout but not dissolved -- these chunks create the molten center.

Bake 12-15 minutes until tops are golden and spring back when touched. Do not overbake. The center should still be slightly soft when you press gently -- this is what creates the lava effect.

Cool 5-10 minutes before serving. The internal temperature continues to set during this rest period.

Tips from My Kitchen

Do not skip the espresso. Coffee does not make this taste like coffee. It deepens and intensifies the chocolate flavor. Every professional chocolatier uses this technique.
Strain the cottage cheese. Excess liquid will make the cakes soggy. Press the cottage cheese through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth for 10 minutes before blending.
Watch your timing. The difference between a perfect lava cake and a dry chocolate muffin is about 2 minutes. Start checking at 12 minutes.
Serve warm. These are at their absolute best straight from the oven. The chocolate center is molten and the exterior is golden. You can reheat leftovers for 20-30 seconds in the microwave, but the fresh experience is unmatched.

This recipe yields 3 servings. Each serving delivers approximately 25 grams of protein from the combined whey and cottage cheese, making it a legitimate post-workout option that happens to taste like a restaurant dessert.

Cook This Recipe