Today is my blogoversary! Well, truth be told, it was actually yesterday, but it’s all good. My blog, being only a year old, hardly knows the difference and hardly cares which day I choose to celebrate it. Like a little child, I can schedule the celebration for a more convenient day, and it is none the wiser. I’ve had a lot going on lately and I can’t always find the time to post when I want to, so it made more sense to delay my blogoversary celebration by a day so that both my blog and I could enjoy it at our leisure.
It’s funny to look back and think about how and why I started this blog. It really was purely on a whim, just for fun and just as a hobby. I never expected to get all that much out of it. I only posted a handful of times in those first few months, and I shudder to look back on what I was posting. The recipes were fine, although they were neither low carb nor gluten free, and the writing was okay too. But the pictures were gawd-awful! Blurry, artificially lit, and completely uncomposed, such as in these Pumpkin Spice Muffins, or these Maple Walnut Squares. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing and I didn’t realize how much good pictures make or break a blog. But I pride myself on being a quick study and although I really still don’t know what I am doing, I have figured out a few good tricks that work for me and my food. And so many people compliment my photography, I have to believe I am doing something right!
My blog also now has a much greater purpose for me than it did back in it’s infancy. Discovering that I was facing a life-long struggle with diabetes was scary, no question, but my blog has helped immensely. I had to relearn how to cook and bake in ways that wouldn’t put my health at risk, and being able to share my adventures with my readers, successful or not, has kept me on task. It’s helped me maintain the joy I’ve always felt in the kitchen, the excitement when peeking into the oven, knowing that something interesting (and tasty, we hope!) was about to emerge forthwith. And to have some of my readers recreate my dishes and like them is an even better vindication of my blog’s existence.
My blog has been very good to me. It has connected me with some wonderful new friends and exposed me to a whole new world of food. It has brought me a few interesting opportunities that I am just beginning to explore, and perhaps a few more will come along as well. I am grateful for all of this, for my friends and my readers and the whole amazing blogging community. I’ve long had my eye on these delicious lava cakes from Susan at The Urban Baker, one of the amazing people I have connected with through my blog. They seemed like the perfect decadent treat with which to celebrate my blog’s birthday. The original recipe from which Susan adapted hers took so little flour, it was easy to make a low-carb version. I cut the recipe in half so it only made two cakes. One for me, one for my blog!
The Results: These cakes taste as good as they look and I think that’s saying a lot. Deep and chocolatey, with a gooey, melted center that pours out when you break it open. Can you ask any more of a molten chocolate cake? One small word of warning, though. Be sure to butter the ramekins very well, and don’t forget to dust them with cocoa powder or flour. I forgot on my first cake and ended up with only half a cake on my plate, the rest having remained stubbornly behind in the ramekin. It hardly mattered to me, it still tasted great, but it wouldn’t go over so well if you were serving it to guests.
Molten Chocolate Cakes – adapted from The Urban Baker
4 tbsp butter, plus extra for buttering ramekins
6 squares Lindt 85% cacao chocolate
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
1 tbsp granulated erythritol
1 tsp flour
Preheat oven to 450F and butter two 4oz ramekins well. Dust ramekins with cocoa powder and set aside.
Melt butter and chocolate together in a small bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until smooth.
In a medium bowl, beat egg, egg yolk and erythritol together until lightened in colour and thickened. Add chocolate mixture and mix until combined. Stir in flour.
Divide between ramekins. At this point, you could cover and chill for later, just bring back to room temperature before baking.
Bake 6-7 minutes. Sides will be set but center will still be soft.
Invert onto a plate and let sit for 10 seconds or so, then lift one side of ramekin. Cake will fall out onto plate. Serve immediately.
Congratulations, lava cake is a good way to celebrate.
Happy Anniversary to your blog, Carolyn! I never knew you were such a new blogger…I hope you know how much I admire you and your blog!
Your lava cakes look amazing…how wonderful that you could convert them to low carb so easily!
Happy Blogoversary!!!!!!!!! You were instantly one of my favorite food bloggers! I'm so glad we've crossed paths (well sort of!) … and LAVA CAKES! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Celebrating with gooey and wonderful is just perfect!
Happy Blogoversary! The cakes look delicious!
happy anniversary! lovely lava cake!
Congratulations, Carolyn! The Molten Cakes look fabulous and nothing beats chocolate oozing out of chocolate.
Happy Blogoversary! What better way to celebrate!
Oh yum! This is one of my favorite desserts! Happy Blogoversary!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! How wonderful – you've been so fun to read and look forward to more. This cake is perfect.
Happy 1 Year, Caroline! Wow, these molten chocolate lava cakes look amazing. So luscious and over the top. I love the swirly candle, too. So cute!
Congrats on your birthday, hehe! Looks lovely. I made these for V-day! 🙂
Happy Blogoversary! These little molten cakes are a wonderful tribute to you and your blog, and the essence of what you do.
You write from your heart and with such a definite purpose, and it shows. This is your life and you want to share it with others, who have the same passion that you do.
1 year!! Congrats! You have somuch to be proud of. These cakes look delicious – one for you , one for your blog – cute!
And I just realized that I was not formally following you – how did I miss that? Maybe it's because I make your blog a regular daily stop anyway?! 🙂 Well, we're official now via google and facebook! ha ha! Congrats again!! ♥- Katrina
Awww – great post. Happy Blogoversary. I really have been enjoying your blog. Especially when I am looking for recipes for gluten or sugar free! Congratulations!
I hope your blog ate it's fair share of that lava cake – if not, I want it! ;o)
Happy Blogoversary! It's been a great pleasure getting to be a part of your kitchen and drooling over the yummies that come out of it! The molten cake looks so yummy! My stomach is growling. Delicious!
Happy Blogoversary！ Chocolate cake looks so pretty and decadent!
Happy Blog Birthday! A successful low carb molten chocolate cake seems like the perfect way to celebrate!
Congrats and what a great way to celebrate! The oozy, chocolatey cakes are beautiful. It was fun to click back to your old posts and see how far you've come.
I love lava cakes! It is one of the first desserts I made!
Happy blogoversary :).
I love lava cakes! It is one of the first desserts I made!
Happy blogoversary :).
Congrats and Happy Birthday to your Blog!
Happy blogiversary!!!
Happy Blog-aversary! You have accomplished quite a lot my dear and I am grateful to have found you.
I have goosebumps. I am honored and humbled to be a part of such a wonderful celebration. I love watching, reading, and witnessing how you are transforming all the culinary things that you love to eat, and adapting them to your needs. No deprivation here!
What a terrific milestone you are celebrating. I know we will meet one day and when we do, it will be as if we have known each other our whole life! xxxooo
Congrats! Lovely gooey cakes- drool! Keep inspiring with your posts 🙂
Dear Carolyn Happy Blogoversary, and wish you many many moreeee!!!!
Your lava cake look so tasty..ohh and that chocolate coming out, talk about love for the first time:)
Congrats on 1 year! That is so exciting! That cake looks simply to die for!
Oh 85% Lindt…how I dream of you…
Happy 1st Anniversary Carolyn! I hope you'll be around for many more to come. I've been admiring your blog and gorgeous pictures and truly enjoy how you take a recipe and turn it into something that fits your lifestyle :o) Your molten chocolate cakes are no exception and make me want one right about now. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Happy Blogoversary!! 🙂 And what a wonderful cake!
Happy Blogaversary, hope you have many more! The molten choc cake looks to die for!!! Have a great weekend!!
Woohoo! Congratulations on your Big Day!
Happy 1 Year!! 🙂 You've done fantastic this year, I can't wait to see what year 2 brings for you!
And those molten cakes…YUM! I've never been able to make them as nice. Maybe I'll have to try again. That's a good excuse for more chocolate, right? 🙂
happy blog anniversary
lovely dessert to celebrate
Happy Blogaversary! Thanks for coming by our blog this week! This cake looks amazing too!
-Eric
Happy blogaversay!
These cakes look so good, I've tried them and had a failure, have to try your recipe!
My husband adores molten cake. Yours looks wonderful.
Congratulations Carolyn! I was surprised to read this is only your 1st as your blog is so professionally done, written so well and photos just beautiful! You definitely have the talent! Oh, and the recipe…yum!
Happy Blogoversary! I am continually impressed by how far your blog has come in just one short year. I am a proud friend. Now off to satisfy my sudden craving for chocolate…
what a lovely way to celebrate! Happy Blogaversary!
Happy 1 year bloggaversary! have a great weekend, here is to another fine year.
Happy Blogaversary!! Everyone starts a blog for a different reason, but I'm really glad that you have grown so much. I'm happy to follow you 🙂 BTW, my Blogaversary was earlier this week and I'm hosting a giveaway. Stop by and sign up to win if you haven't already.
Happy blogoversary! Beautiful cakes!
Happy Blogoversary, Carolyn
Your blog is a delight to visit. Recipes and pictures are so inspiring. Well done 🙂
The Souper
Congrats beautiful! 🙂
Happy Blogoversary! How exciting! It's amazing isn't it, how something so fun and simple as a food blog can develop into so much more? Congrats! And those cakes look amazing!
Congratulations Carolyn, hard to believe your blog is only one year old! Your photography is absolutely gorgeous!!
Happy Blogversary 🙂 I look back on the first pics I took and they're horrible too! ha I'd like to go back and do a re-do of some of them because the recipes are good! ha Hope you're having a good weekend 🙂
Happy Blogoversary!
Those chocolate cakes look amazing. My partner and I call them runny heart (that was their english description on a French menu once) and yours truly live up to the name.
Here's to another fabulous year!
Happy Bloggy Birthday!
Congratulations Carolyn! What a great recipe to celebrate with and to share with us on this very special day. Molten cakes are one of my absolute favourites and yours looks divine. You've done it, I am craving one now.
Looks delish as usual. What camera do you use, btw?
Perfect way to celebrate!!! Congrats to you! (Who knew food blogging would be so encouraging and fun???)
Happy Blogaversary! I can't believe your blog is only a year old! I'm so glad you followed up on your whim to start it 🙂
The molten cakes are making drool, they look like the perfect way to celebrate.
Congrats on your 1 year anniversary! These cakes look absolutely fantastic, and as always you have changed them to fit your own style. Love it!
Happy Blogoversary!!! I thought you were like a 10 year veteran…would have never given you only a year because you do such a great job! Your blog is one of my favorites!
And you're celebrating with those amazing molten cakes… lucky!
Happy 1 year Blogoversary Carolyn! Looks like you and your blog celebrated in style!
Happy Blogoversary Carolyn! I am SO glad that I discovered your blog because it is definitely one of my favorite! I love reading your posts, and I always admire your pictures and your recipes! Looking forward to all that's in store for your second year… 🙂
Happy Blogoversary my dear, wish you many many moreeee!!!! It was a pleasure meeting/reading and trying some of your wonderful recipes.
The lava cake looks fantastic and the photos are stunning as usual!!
What a wonderful way to celebrate
Happy blogiversary girl! I am SO happy that you started blogging and that we have found each other along the way. I always love coming here to see what you've cooked up! These molten chocolate cakes are the perfect way to celebrate!
Congratulations!!! This looks like the perfect way to celebrate!! 🙂
One year is a great milestone. Congratulations and Happy Anniversary.
Now to the chocolate cake, Mmmmmm.
Happy 1 year! You have done some amazing recipes, girl. Your cakes are gorgeous – I can't help but say the title like The Cable Guy: MolTEN LAH-VAH!
Congrats on turning 1. I totally missed mine.
Happy Anniversary! I am so glad you started your blog. You make a huge contribution to the food world.
Congrats on the one year mark! Here's to an even better second year.
Congrats on your 1 year of blogging! Your molten chocolate cakes look amazing and soooo good! 🙂
I am a little late but Happy 1st Blogversary! Chocolate is always a good way to celebrate.
Just came across your blog from a friend's blog and sure glad I did. Those Lava Cakes look devilish. Congrats on one year girlie. THat's awesome… 🙂
Ciao Tesoro!!!!!
Complimenti per questa favolosa ricetta and happy birthday for your amazing blog!!!!;-)
Un hug
Let me just say..
I think You have saved my life, Carolyn. I am trying to loose weight, but it's kind of hard for me because I love sweets. I love cooking and baking. So to see, all these delicious sweets, cakes, desserts given here, is really inspiring. I can't wait to start trying your recipes.
Keep up the good work! 🙂
Happy Blogoversary! That cake looks wonderful!
Happy (belated) blogoversary! This lava cakes sure are a great way to celebrate.
What beautiful cakes! And congratulations on your blogs birthday!
Congratulations on your blogoversary! I can't wait to see what you do in the next year.
Happy Blogaversary!!
Your lava cakes look fabulous1
Congratulations, Carolyn! You've accomplished so much in one short year, and this molten chocolate cake certainly is a delicious way to celebrate!
Now this is what you call indulgement!!
Happy Blogaversary, Carolyn!
Mine will be in July, of this year.
You've come a long way, and getting better, and better.
Your molten chocolate mini cake is so decadent, love the chocolate ooey
gooey, lava!
congratulations! And this little cake looks to die for!
What a lovely looking little cake! I am so glad I have found your blog…I can't believe you have only been at it a year. Your photos are great and an inspiration for me as I attempt to get my little blog off the ground (my photos are AWFUL)! Congrats on your blogaversary
Happy blogoversary! Love the analogy to a little kid.
Yum on those lava cakes. Love it. I'm with you on the Lindt. Sigh. Sounds awesome.
Happy Blogoversary! A wonderful way to celebrate. All that lovely melted chocolate…so good.
Happy blogoversary! I'm so glad that I "met" you on here and have had the opportunity to share a lot of recipes and a little life together this way. I look forward to the coming year!
(Beautiful cakes!)
inviting and delicious !!Happy blogoversary!first time heree..happy to follow you
Congratulations to your Blog Birthday!! Yeah to your lovely blog & tasty recipes!
This molten lava cake looks spectacular!
MMMMMM,…!!
Happy Blogoversary – never thought to have one myself. Cute!
Happy Blogoversary! Your lava cake looks scrumptious 🙂
Happy blogoversary to you! Amazing where we start off and where things go in a year 🙂 LOVE these molten choco cakes.
This look totally amazing! I'm wondering how much stevia to add if I use unsweetened chocolate. Happy Blogoversary!
Happy Blogaversary! Your Molten Chocolate Cake looks incredible! I've always wanted to make this. Thanks for the recipe! 🙂
omg, i just gained 10 pounds…but who cares. 🙂
happy blated blog bday!
that cake looks amazing!
Hi-
I made this tonight and the ramekins were floating in butter. It is 4 tablespoons of butter, correct?
Thanks for a great website!
HI Cathy,
If you melted the butter with the chocolate and then mixed in the rest of the ingredients, there is no way your butter should have come out like that. It is very odd, but several others have made this recipe without any problems. Not sure what to say for that one! Sorry.
Hi!
Thanks for å wonderful Blog!!
Just a question about the recepie.
How much is 4 squares?
Best regards
Tove
I just made these and they are divine! Is it just me or is the carb count not listed on the page?
It’s not. I did this so long ago, I wasn’t listing nutritional counts!
Hi I found your blog via a google search on low carb molten cake. I feel like I stumbled on a gold mine! I’ve been low carbing strictly for a while now so this is great! I want to try your molten lava cake and have 2 questions:
1. can I use coconut oil instead of the butter? (I am lactose intolerant)
2. Can I use cocoa and oil instead of the chocolate? How much? (I don’t tolerate the sugar free chocolate for some reason. :()
I think you can use coconut oil but it might separate out a bit more. And for the cocoa and oil, I understand it to be 3 tbsp cocoa to 1 tbsp oil to get the right consistency of unsweetened chocolate. If you need to be gluten-free, you may want to use this more recent recipe instead… https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/2013/07/molten-chocolate-peanut-butter-cake-low-carb-and-gluten-free.html
Thanks so much I really appreciate your quick reply. Will try it over the weekend
How many carbs?
I really want one!