Crumbl Cookies is a popular cookie chain known for its rotating weekly flavors. One of their most beloved offerings is the Molten Lava cookie, which features a soft and chewy chocolate cookie with an oozing molten chocolate filling.
What is the molten lava flavor at Crumbl Cookies?
The Molten Lava cookie at Crumbl is a chocolate cookie that is filled with warm, gooey chocolate that spills out when you bite into it. The cookie dough itself is rich, fudgy, and chocolatey. It bakes up with a slightly underbaked center that helps create that melting, flowing lava effect when you break open the cookie.
What is the molten lava made of?
According to Crumbl, the molten lava filling is made from a blend of high-quality chocolate and cocoa butter. This helps give it a smooth, velvety texture that melts in your mouth.
The exact ingredients aren’t publicly available but based on the rich chocolate flavor, it likely contains some combination of chocolate liquor, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, sugar, milk or cream, and emulsifiers like soy lecithin to help bind it together.
How do they get the lava effect?
Crumbl is able to achieve that molten lava ooze in several ways:
Underbaked centers
The cookies are baked with an underbaked middle so that part of the cookie dough stays extra soft, gooey, and warm. This underbaked center provides the molten effect as it melts when bitten into.
Piping hot filling
The chocolate filling itself is piped into the cookies when it’s still hot and fluid. This helps it stay loose and liquidy when bitten into rather than solidifying.
Fat content
The high fat and low water content in the chocolate filling also helps prevent it from fully setting up. The fat from the cocoa butter and cream/milk helps keep it smooth.
Temperature
Storing and serving the cookies warm likely helps maintain that melted chocolate state as well. The filling is able to stay molten and fluid closer to body temperature.
How do you bake molten lava cookies at home?
Here are some tips for recreating molten lava cookies at home:
Use a high-fat filling
Opt for fillings like chocolate-hazelnut spread, chocolate ganache, caramel, or peanut butter rather than jams or jellies. The fat will make it more lava-like.
Pipe hot filling into a cold cookie dough ball
This helps the filling stay liquid longer than the cookie dough bakes.
Underbake slightly
Pull the cookies from the oven when the edges are set but the centers are still a bit underdone. This leaves that gooey middle.
Freeze the unbaked cookies briefly
Freezing the shaped cookie dough balls with filling for 5-10 minutes before baking can help maintain an underbaked middle.
Use an insulating baking sheet
Baking on a sheet with low heat conductivity keeps more heat away from the bottoms as they bake.
Serve warm
The warmer temperature keeps the filling molten. Letting the cookies cool completely may cause the filling to solidify.
What are some topping options for Crumbl’s lava cookie?
Crumbl’s Molten Lava cookie typically comes topped with a few different decorations:
White chocolate drizzle
The white chocolate drizzle provides visual contrast against the dark chocolate cookie and filling. It also adds texture and sweetness.
Sea salt
A sprinkle of sea salt balances out the sweetness and enhances the chocolate flavor.
Riced crispies
The crunchy, rice-based crispies give each bite some textural contrast.
Toasted rice cereal
Like the riced crispies, the puffed rice cereal offers crunch.
Cocoa powder
A dusting of unsweetened cocoa powder highlights the chocolatey essence of the treat.
Chocolate chips
Semisweet or milk chocolate chips scatter chocolate flavor across every bite.
Nutritional information
Crumbl does not provide complete nutrition information for all of its cookie flavors. However, as a specialty chocolate cookie, the Molten Lava likely has around:
Calories: 250-400 per cookie
This estimate is based on similar chocolate lava cakes or molten chocolate cakes from other restaurants. Given the large cookie size, calorie count is likely on the higher end.
Fat: 16-24g total fat
The high fat content comes mainly from chocolate, cocoa butter, cream or milk, and butter in the cookie dough.
Carbs: 30-50g carbs
There are plenty of carbs from the sugar content in both the cookie dough and chocolate filling.
Protein: 3-5g protein
Minimal protein is provided by any eggs or milk/cream used.
Sugar: 20-35g sugar
The cookie has lots of added sugar. Chocolate, milk, and white chocolate all add natural sugars as well.
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 250-400 |
| Fat | 16-24g |
| Carbs | 30-50g |
| Protein | 3-5g |
| Sugar | 20-35g |
Price
The Molten Lava cookie is priced at $4.12 per individual cookie at Crumbl locations in the United States as of October 2023.
The price may be slightly higher in states like California or New York where cost of living is increased. It may also be lower in some international Crumbl locations.
Pricing factors:
– Ingredients – Chocolate, cocoa butter, cream, eggs, and chocolate chips are more expensive ingredients than basic cookie dough.
– Serving size – Each lava cookie is large at around 5 inches across. More ingredients are required.
– Popularity – As one of Crumbl’s most sought-after flavors, they can demand a higher price point.
– Presentation – The visually appealing molten effect and photogenic toppings likely increase perceived value.
– Brand reputation – Crumbl has built a reputation for quality and indulgence that justifies elevated pricing.
Availability
The Molten Lava cookie is a limited edition flavor for Crumbl Cookies. This means it rotates on and off the weekly menu on a recurring but irregular basis.
Crumbl locations receive different specialty cookie assortments each week. Molten Lava will be featured for approximately 1 week every 6-12 weeks at participating shops.
How to know when Molten Lava is available:
– Check the weekly menu on the Crumbl App or website, updated every Sunday evening for the coming week.
– Follow Crumbl accounts on social media like Instagram and Facebook. They often announce upcoming specialty flavors in posts and stories.
– Sign up for Crumbl’s email newsletter to get alerts about limited releases.
– Call your local Crumbl store and ask if they know when the flavor is coming up. Employees may have access to future release calendars.
Since each store’s flavors vary, the only guarantee is to check for Molten Lava on the weekly menu for your desired location. Have your lava cravings prepared!
History
The Molten Lava cookie was first added to Crumbl Cookies’ rotating menu in August 2021. It immediately became a breakout star flavor with its photogenic chocolate oozing appearance.
Some key points in Crumbl’s Molten Lava history:
August 2021
– Molten Lava debuts at select Crumbl locations
September 2021
– Expands to over 200 stores across 32 states
November 2021
– Returns for an encore feature in November 2021
January 2022
– Becomes Crumbl’s #1 best-selling cookie launch of all time
February 2022
– Makes third appearance just 6 months from its debut
April 2022
– Molten Lava cookie high in demand, selling out quickly
June 2022
– Celebrates 1 year anniversary with another summertime return
The wildly popular chocolate lava cookie has now become a reliable recurring limited batch delight for Crumbl devotees across the country.
Similar cookie styles
Fans of Crumbl’s Molten Lava cookie may enjoy some of these oozingly delicious chocolate cookie alternatives as well:
Molten Chocolate Cake
This pudding-like chocolate cake with melted center is served at restaurants like Chili’s, Applebee’s, TGI Friday’s, and more.
Lava Cake
This decadent dessert features a rich chocolate cake with a molten chocolate filling inside. Popular at restaurants like Domino’s.
Chocolate Molten Lava Mug Cake
A single-serving moist chocolate cake made in the microwave with an inner chocolate sauce center.
Brookie
This dessert hybrid combines a chocolate chip cookie stacked on top of a brownie base for a chocolate overdose.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Lava Cake
Unbaked cookie dough is wrapped in cake batter to bake a cookie dough-filled molten cake.
Chocolate Fudge Lava Cake
This warm chocolate cake has an ultra-thick fudge filling oozing from the middle.
Mississippi Mud Pie
While not a cookie, this pie features a molten chocolate center enveloped in dense chocolate mousse and pie crust.
Any way you slice it, you can’t go wrong when chocolate and lava combine into one melty, chocolatey cookie masterpiece.
Reviews
The Molten Lava cookie has been a major hit with Crumbl customers, earning rave reviews:
4.8 out of 5 stars on the Crumbl App based on over 4500 ratings
Positive reviews highlight the ooey-gooey lava filling, rich chocolate flavor, chewy cookie dough, and craveable combination of textures. Many call it their all-time favorite Crumbl cookie.
Critical reviews mention the filling can be unevenly distributed in some cookies. Others say it’s so rich that only a few bites satisfy.
“This cookie was absolutely amazing. The cookie was so soft and warm. And the moment you break the cookie open, melty chocolate comes flowing out. An absolute must try!”
“The most perfect chocolate chip cookie I’ve ever had! The warm melted chocolate mixed with the soft cookie is pure heaven. Made a mess eating it but zero regrets.”
“The molten lava hype is real. This is definitely one of Crumbl’s best…I wish they’d make the lava flavor permanent!”
Based on its astounding popularity and reviews, the Molten Lava cookie has cemented its place among Crumbl’s all-star specialty flavors.
How to eat molten lava cookies
Molten lava cookies are as fun to devour as they are delicious. Here are some serving tips:
Break in half
Gently split the cookie down the middle to allow the melted chocolate center to ooze out dramatically.
Make a sandwich
Place a molten lava cookie between two unfrosted cookies to absorb the chocolate drips.
Slice like a pizza
Cutting into slices lets the lava flow from multiple points.
Scoop the filling
Use a spoon to scoop out the molten center for a mouthful of pure chocolate.
Dunk in milk
Let the cookie soak in an icy glass of milk for the classic cookie dunking experience.
Add ice cream
The warm cookie and cold ice cream pair perfectly. Vanilla ice cream nicely offsets the richness.
Make s’mores
Use a molten lava cookie in place of chocolate bars in s’mores for extra decadence.
However you choose to demolish it, a Molten Lava cookie from Crumbl is bound to satisfy even the strongest chocolate craving!
Conclusion
Crumbl’s Molten Lava cookie delivers an indulgent chocolate experience with its ooey-gooey filling and fudgy texture. Warm chocolate pours out of the underbaked center for an almost cake-like treat. Toppings like salt, crispies and drizzle add sweetness and crunch.
Available for limited runs around 6 weeks apart, Molten Lava has skyrocketed to fame as Crumbl’s hottest specialty cookie. Its photogenic molten look drives hype on social media. While high in calories and fat, its rich chocolate flavor satisfies chocolate cookie lovers across the country. Just be prepared for an eruption of chocolate with every bite of this melted masterpiece.