Budget Date Night + Peanut Butter Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Tony’s Pizza, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #tonyspizzeria http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV.

That advice you always hear about having regular date nights with your spouse so you have a chance to reconnect and just be a couple for a change? A lovely thought, and in theory, it shouldn’t be that difficult to make it happen. But in the past 6 months, I think Jeff and I have managed to squeeze in 1 kid-free date. (Romance abounds!) Between the extreme busy-ness of starting our own business, trying to stick to a tiiiight budget while the business gets going, and a baby who has taken a very determined anti-bottle stance (so determined, in fact, that I half expect to find her organizing a rally and filming a series of breast-only PSAs one of these days), it is almost impossible for us to get out of the house together, minus the children, for a date. So this weekend, we brought the date to us at home with a tasty, budget-friendly dinner and an amazingly delicious homemade dessert.

Since we’re working hard to stick to a budget, I didn’t want to spend much to make our date night happen . . . I mean, the whole point of the date night at home is to not spend a ton, right? I picked up 2 Tony’s Pizzas from Walmart and pulled together a little spinach and strawberry salad from the fridge for a fast, inexpensive dinner. Crispy crust, melty cheese, yummy toppings . . . don’t mind if I do. And I saved some money by using THIS coupon at Walmart: SAVE 75¢ on any TWO (2) TONY’S® multi-serve pizzas (11.04 oz or larger) in the freezer aisle--available while supplies last.

It was a quick, easy, and yummy meal, which gave me time to focus on the fun part: dessert.

Prepare yourself for the wonder and goodness that is
Peanut butter!!!
Chocolate!!!!!!!!!
Molten!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lava!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cakes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes I read recipes on blogs and I think the writer is purposely overselling the recipe for the sake of getting lots of pins and views and comments. I read their gushing review and over-the-top sales pitch and zillions of exclamation points and think, ok, cool your jets Speedy Gonzalez. We get it, you thought this was good.

But guys.

This was really so, so, so, so incredibly good. I cannot oversell it. I’m trying so hard to cool my jets on this one but I think my engine coolant has been all used up.

Rich and fudgy chocolate cake. Melted, creamy, gooey peanut butter and fudge centers. That perfect combo of peanut butter and chocolate, warm and oozy and delicious. All topped with fresh homemade whipped cream. My jets . . . they refuse be cooled. These were the perfect date night treat. Not to mention quick and simple to make, with adorable and scrumptious results. If you want a romantic, easy, beautiful at-home date night treat, this is the one. Theeee oooooone.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes
adapted very slightly from Kraft

1 package (4 ounces) Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar
2 whole eggs
2 egg yolks
6 tablespoons flour
4 ounces (1/2 of an 8-ounce package) cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Heat oven to 425 degrees, and generously grease 4 oven-safe ramekins. Place the mixing bowl and beaters that you’ll be using for the whipped cream in the freezer to get cold while you prepare the cakes.

Microwave chocolate and butter in a large bowl 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until chocolate is nearly melted. Stir until chocolate melts completely. Stir in the powdered sugar, then blend in the eggs and egg yolks. Stir in flour and set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese, peanut butter, brown sugar, and vanilla until well blended (it might help to put the cream cheese and peanut butter in the microwave for just a few seconds to soften them enough to stir easily).

Divide half the chocolate batter between the prepared ramekins. Add a generous scoop of peanut butter filling to each ramekin, then top with remaining chocolate batter.

Bake in preheated oven 12-14 minutes or until edges are set but centers are still slightly soft.  (While the cakes are baking, prepare the whipped cream.)

Let cakes cool slightly, then turn out of ramekins onto a plate (if desired—you can certainly serve them in their cute little dishes!) and top with whipped cream.

Homemade Whipped Cream

1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon powdered sugar (or more, if you like it sweeter)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Remove the mixing bowl and beaters from the freezer. Beat cream until it almost forms stiff peaks. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until stiff peaks form. Don’t overbeat.

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For your own fun, low-cost date night, snag yourself a coupon to use for Tony’s Pizza at Walmart! You can also like Tony’s Pizza on Facebook and follow them on Twitter to keep up on their news, products, and deals.