• Heat the oven to 400 F/200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
• Butter or oil the (4) ramekin dishes, sides and base. Line the bases with baking parchment. (draw around the bases and cut out neat little circles - makes life easier when it comes to serving the puddings.)
• Break the chocolate into a bowl and add the butter. Melt them together in the microwave using short 30 second blasts until it is all melted. Otherwise, melt in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of hot water. (Caution: do not let water or steam come into contact with the chocolate or it will spoil.)
• Set the melted butter chocolate mixture to the side to cool for a few minutes.
• Break the eggs into a bowl, add the sugar and whisk to combine. Add this to the melted chocolate/butter mixture and whisk. Add the flour, cocoa and vanilla extract and stir well to combine.
• Divide the mixture equally between the 4 ramekin dishes. Set the dishes on a baking tray and put in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes. If you're using a muffin tin, bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Cook until the tops are set but the middle still looks squidgy and molten.

Chocolate Orange Lava Cakes

• Add the grated zest of one orange and the orange extract (if using) when you add the flour to the chocolate mixture. Stir well to combine.