Elevated Molten Lava Cakes

Name: Elevated Molten Lava Cakes
Ingredients: One 10.4-ounce box molten lava cake mix (plus required ingredients)

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While these molten lava cakes are perfect just as they are, we're sharing a few tips to really take them over the top. The suggested toppings are either made ahead or take no time at all to complete. Just make sure to have everything ready, because once the cakes are out of the oven, they should be served right away.

Ingredients

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One 10.4-ounce box molten lava cake mix (plus required ingredients)

Directions

Watch how to make this recipe.

Prepare and bake 2, 4 or 6 lava cakes according to the package directions. Have ready one or more of the following toppings:
Spun Sugar: Combine 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, 1/4 cup corn syrup and 1/4 cup water in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Cook to 300 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Let cool to 275 degrees F. Position 2 wooden spoons 2 feet apart on similar-size bowls with their handles sticking out over the edge by 6 inches. Put newspaper or foil on the counter below the spoons. Dip a fork in the sugar syrup and flick it back and forth over the spoon handles to create many long thin threads. Repeat 3 or 4 times, then gently gather up the threads and put them on a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining sugar until all of it is spun. Place each lava cake in the middle of a serving plate, dust with confectioners' sugar and top with some of the spun sugar.
Cherry Sauce: Combine 2 cups (about 8 ounces) pitted fresh cherries, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon cherry liqueur, such as Luxardo, and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the cherries are very soft, about 10 minutes. Puree in a blender and pour through a fine-mesh strainer; discard any solids left in the strainer. Transfer to a squeeze bottle and chill until ready to use (up to 1 day). Squeeze cherry sauce dots all over each serving plate and place a lava cake in the middle. Top with French vanilla ice cream and serve with a couple of fresh cherries.
S'mores: Place each lava cake in the middle of a serving plate. Top with about 2 tablespoons marshmallow creme and use a kitchen blowtorch to toast the creme until golden. Insert a square of dark chocolate and a shard of graham cracker in the creme.
Coffee Whipped Cream: Combine 1/2 cup cold heavy cream and 2 tablespoons coffee-flavored liqueur, such as Kahlua, in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Place each lava cake in the middle of a serving plate and sprinkle with unsweetened cocoa and confectioners' sugar. Top with the flavored whipped cream and several chopped chocolate-covered espresso beans.