Individual Chocolate Volcano Cakes Flourless Food

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Adjust a rack to the middle of the oven. Butter six 4-ounce ramekins.
• Put the chocolate and butter in a metal or glass bowl over barely simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted. Remove from the heat.
• Place the eggs, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a mixer. Whip at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to low and add the chocolate; mix until combined. Spoon into the prepared ramekins and place on a baking sheet.
• Bake for about 10 minutes or until the edges are set but the center is underdone. Let cool 3 minutes before serving.

MINI LAVA CAKES FOR TWO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, assuming you will be baking these lava cakes right away (see notes for make-ahead option).
• Prepare your muffin tin by heavily buttering only two of the cups (one on the center outside edge, the other on the opposite). See photos for reference and be sure to coat them well. Then sprinkle some cocoa powder into the buttered cups. Turn and tap the tin over the sink to lightly coat the insides of the cups with the powder. Set the tin aside.
• Place the butter in a medium heat-safe mixing bowl and melt it in the microwave (alternately, gently melt it over low heat on the stove and then remove it from the heat). Add the chocolate to the bowl and stir until melted (if the chocolate won't melt on its own, gently warm the mixture in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, or over very low heat on the stovetop). Set aside.
• Crack one egg and pour the egg white into a bowl for later use* or discard it. Pour the yolk into another medium-to-large mixing bowl. Crack the second egg into the yolk bowl (both the white and the yolk). Add the sugar, vanilla and salt. Beat the mixture with a whisk until foamy and pale, about 1 to 2 minutes.
• Pour the egg mixture into the chocolate mixture. Add the flour. Whisk until the mixture is fully combined.
• Divide the mixture between the two prepared muffin cups. You can fill them all the way to the top (you should have just enough mixture to fill them, but if you have extra, discard it).
• Bake for 5 minutes, until the cakes have risen from their cups but still jiggle in the center just a bit. Place the muffin tin on a heat-safe surface and let the cakes cool for 1 minute.
• In the meantime, find two dessert plates or appetizer plates with raised rims. Here's the slightly tricky part-place the plates upside down over each of the cakes. While wearing oven mitts, securely grab both plates and the tin itself with both hands. Flip the whole thing and place the plate sides down on the counter. Gently lift up the tin and the lava cakes should release without trouble.
• Garnish as desired (if using powdered sugar, place a small spoonful in a fine-mesh sieve and sprinkle the sieve over the plates). Serve at once! Leftover cakes will keep in the refrigerator, covered, for a few days (the texture will change, but should still be delightful).

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and butter the inside of a spring-form pan. Melt the chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat; stirring frequently until smooth. Stir in the sugar, cocoa powder and salt until all of the lumps are gone. Remove from the heat and let cool for a few minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat the egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until they form stiff peaks, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir the egg yolks into the cooled chocolate mixture, then stir in about a quarter of the whipped egg whites. Scrape this lightened chocolate mixture into the remaining whipped egg whites and gently fold until mostly combined (it's ok if there are some streaks of egg white). Pour into the prepared pan and bake until the center of the cake no longer wiggles, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan, on a wire rack (the cake will deflate slightly). Unlock the pan and dust the top of the cake with some cocoa powder. Cut into slices and serve with whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray four custard cups with baking spray and place on a baking sheet.
• Microwave the butter, bittersweet chocolate and semisweet chocolate in a large bowl on high until the butter is melted, about 1 minute. Whisk until the chocolate is also melted. Stir in the sugar until well blended. Whisk in the eggs and egg yolks, then add the vanilla. Stir in the flour. Divide the mixture among the custard cups.
• Bake until the sides are firm and the centers are soft, about 13 minutes. Let stand 1 minute. Invert on individual plates while warm and serve with vanilla ice cream.

THE BEST CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Brush four 6-ounce ramekins with the melted butter and sprinkle lightly with sugar. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet.
• Combine the chocolate and butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30 second intervals, stirring in between each with a rubber spatula until completely melted and smooth, about 1 1/2 minutes total. Add the vanilla, espresso powder and salt into the chocolate mixture and stir to combine.
• Add the eggs, egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Whisk on medium-high until fluffy and pale, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
• With the mixer on low, add the chocolate mixture to the egg mixture, mixing until just combined. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and gently fold in the flour using a rubber spatula.
• Divide the batter equally among the 4 prepared ramekins. Bake until the sides are firm but the centers are still soft, 12 to 14 minutes. (A cake tester inserted into the center of each cake should not come out clean.) Do not overbake.
• Let the cakes cool for 1 minute. Invert onto serving plates and serve warm.

INDIVIDUAL CHOCOLATE CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Butter four 4-ounce ramekins and lightly dust the inside of each ramekin with cocoa powder, tilting to coat; tap out any excess and set aside.
• Heat butter and chocolate in heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water until chocolate is almost completely melted.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk together eggs, egg yolks, and sugar until light and thick.
• Slowly add butter mixture to mixer; add flour and mix until well combined. Divide batter between prepared ramekins. Place ramekins on a baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until sides are set and center is soft, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Invert each mold onto a plate and let stand for about 10 seconds. Gently tap the tops of molds and carefully lift to remove. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, if desired; serve immediately.

CHEF JOHN'S CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE

Steps:

• Generously butter the inside of 4 (5 1/2 ounce) ramekins. Place them in a casserole dish.
• Whisk together egg yolks, eggs, and sugar in a bowl until light, foamy, and lemon colored.
• Melt chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each melting, 1 to 3 minutes.
• Stir melted chocolate mixture into egg and sugar mixture until combined.
• Sift cocoa powder into the mixture; stir to combine.
• Sift flour and salt into the mixture; stir to combine into a batter.
• Stir vanilla extract into the batter.
• Transfer batter to a resealable plastic bag. Snip one corner of the bag with scissors to create a tip.
• Divide batter evenly between the prepared ramekins; tap gently on the counter to remove any air bubbles.
• Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Arrange the ramekins in a casserole dish. Pour enough hot tap water into the casserole dish to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
• Bake in the preheated over for 15-18 minutes. Set aside to cool for 15 minutes.
• Loosen the edges from the ramekin with a knife. Invert each cake onto a plate and dust with powdered sugar.

CHOCOLATE VOLCANO CAKES

Steps:

• Place sheet pan in the middle of the oven for at least 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
• Combine the butter and chocolate in a mixing bowl on top of a pot of simmering water. If you don't have experience melting chocolate then be very careful not to burn the mixture. Never melt chocolate directly over the cooking element.
• Heat chocolate mixture until melted and set aside to cool slightly.
• Beat the eggs, the egg yolks and the sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed for about 5 minutes, until they are thick and a light yellow color.
• On low speed gradually add the flour and then the chocolate/butter mixture.
• Butter the six ramekins (6-8 ounce) and dust with the cocoa. Tap out the excess cocoa but make sure they are well coated.
• Pour the Volcano batter into the ramekins filling them about 7/8 of the way to the top.
• Place on the pre-heated sheet tray and bake for 15-18 minutes. The consistency when done should be where the edges of the cake are firm and the top is still soft to the touch. Unfortunately, this dessert has very thin line between being under and over done.
• Remove from the oven and let sit on a cool surface for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Run a paring knife between the cake and ramekin to loosen. Invert your dessert plate over the ramekin (be careful, they're hot) and flip over. Tap the plate lightly and lift off the ramekin. Serve with Vanilla Ice Cream. Garnish with Raspberries and Strawberries.
• If the cake runs all over the plate you need to increase the cooking time. If the cake is hard and does not ooze chocolate, lessen the cooking time. If the cake does not come out then make sure it is well buttered and covered in the cocoa.

INDIVIDUAL CHOCOLATE VOLCANO CAKES (FLOURLESS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Lightly butter and flour 4 ramekins or Corel mugs.
• Melt the chocolate, butter and salt in the microwave or a double boiler.
• Let cool 10 minutes.
• Combine egg yoks and 3 Tbsp sugar. Beat until light and thick, about 2 minutes.
• Fold the chocolate into the egg yolks.
• Beat the egg whites until frothy.
• Add 1 tablespoon sugar and beat until stiff, but not dry.
• With rubber spatula, fold the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture.
• Divide about 1/4 of the batter into the 4 ramekins.
• Place a truffle on top in the centre and cover with the remaining batter.
• (The cakes can be covered and refrigerated up to 4 hours at this point. Bring to room temperature before baking.).
• Bake for 11 minutes.
• Cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack.
• Run a knife around the sides of the cakes and invert onto plantes.
• Garnish with whipped cream.