Chocolate Lava Muffins Filled With Ganache: Soft, Rich and Hiding a Molten Chocolate Heart

How to Make Ganache-Filled Chocolate Muffins

1. Make the ganache. Heat the cream until it just begins to simmer, then pour it over the chopped chocolate. Let it sit for 3 minutes, then stir until smooth. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes, until thick and scoopable.
2. Heat the oven. Preheat to 425°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
3. Mix the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
4. Mix the wet ingredients. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk, oil, hot coffee and vanilla.
5. Combine. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ones and stir gently with a spatula just until combined. Fold in half of the chocolate chips.
6. Fill halfway. Spoon batter into each liner until it is about half full.
7. Add the ganache. Place a heaping teaspoon of chilled ganache in the center of each muffin.
8. Cover. Top with the remaining batter, filling the liners almost to the top. Make sure the ganache is completely covered. Sprinkle with the rest of the chocolate chips.
9. Bake. Bake at 425°F for 5 minutes, then lower the oven to 350°F without opening the door and bake for 13 to 15 minutes more.
10. Cool slightly. Let the muffins rest in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack. Serve warm for the most molten center.

Tips for Perfect Muffins

• Do not overmix the batter. A few lumps are fine and keep the muffins tender.
• The high-then-low oven trick is what gives these muffins their tall bakery-style domes.
• Chill the ganache before filling, so it stays in the center instead of sinking.
• Toothpick test with care: test near the edge, not in the middle, or you will hit the ganache.

Variations

For peanut butter surprise muffins, replace the ganache with a spoonful of creamy peanut butter.

For mint chocolate muffins, add ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract to the ganache.

For raspberry chocolate muffins, put a fresh raspberry on top of the ganache before covering it with batter.

How to Store the Muffins

Keep the muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They also freeze very well for up to 3 months. To bring back the molten center, warm a muffin in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds.

Nutrition Information

One muffin provides approximately 310 to 360 calories. They are a rich, indulgent treat, perfect for sharing and special moments.

Final Thoughts

These ganache-filled chocolate muffins are the kind of recipe that turns an ordinary morning into a little celebration. Simple to make, beautiful to look at, and impossible to resist once that warm chocolate starts to flow.

Bake a batch, serve them warm and watch everyone's face when they break the first one open.

With love, from Grandma's kitchen ❤️