Individual Molten Chocolate Cakes From Gourmetweeklycom Food

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Generously butter six 6-ounce ramekins (really be generous, and do not substitute non-stick cooking spray). Set the ramekins on a baking sheet.
• Melt the butter in a medium bowl in the microwave. Immediately add the chopped chocolate and stir until the chocolate is completely smooth and melted. If a few chunks remain, place the bowl back in the microwave for 20 seconds, then stir again. Repeat if necessary. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle or beaters, beat the eggs, egg yolks, brown sugar, vanilla and salt at high speed until thickened and pale, about 4 minutes. Add the melted chocolate mixture and flour to the egg mixture and fold with a rubber spatula until just combined (the chocolate sinks to the bottom so be sure to scrape it up into the batter).
• Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared ramekins and bake for 10 minutes, until the cakes are set and puffed over the edges of the ramekins. Let the cakes cool in the ramekins for 1 to 2 minutes; then, holding the hot ramekins with a dish towel, carefully invert the cakes onto dessert plates. They should pop right out, but you can run a thin-bladed knife around the edges if necessary. Serve immediately. (It's important not to let the cakes sit after baking, as the centers will continue to cook.)
• Make-Ahead Instructions: The batter can be spooned into the ramekins, covered and refrigerated for several hours before baking. Take them out of the fridge about 30 minutes before baking so they come to room temperature.

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly spray two 6-ounce ramekins with the cooking spray and dust with cocoa powder, tapping out any excess.
• Melt the butter and chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring occasionally, until smooth.
• Using a hand mixer, beat the egg, egg yolk, granulated sugar and salt on high speed until it becomes light in color and texture, about 2 minutes. Turn the mixer to low speed and beat in the chocolate mixture just until combined. Sift the flour onto the mixture, then fold it in using a rubber spatula.
• Divide the batter between the two prepared ramekins and place them on a baking sheet. Bake the cakes until the edges are slightly puffed and set and the centers are just barely set, about 12 minutes.
• Remove the cakes from the oven and let rest for 1 minute. Run a paring knife around each ramekin, then invert each cake onto a plate. Top the cakes with raspberries and dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve immediately.

ALMOST-FAMOUS MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Make the cakes: Brush four 1 1/4-cup brioche molds (or use 10-ounce ramekins or jumbo muffin cups) with the 2 tablespoons melted butter. Dust the molds with cocoa powder and tap out the excess.
• Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Bring the milk and 3/4 cup water to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat; set aside.
• Combine the vegetable oil, 4 tablespoons room-temperature butter and the sugar in a stand mixer and beat with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 4 minutes, scraping down the bowl and beater as needed. Add 1/2 cup cocoa powder and the vanilla; beat 1 minute on medium speed. Scrape down the bowl. Add 1 egg and beat 1 minute on medium-low speed, then add the remaining egg and beat 1 more minute.
• With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the flour mixture, then the hot milk mixture. Finish mixing the batter with a rubber spatula until combined. Divide the batter evenly among the molds, filling each slightly more than three-quarters of the way.
• Transfer the molds to a baking sheet and bake until the tops of the cakes are domed and the centers are just barely set, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet to a rack; let the cakes cool until they pull away from the molds, about 30 minutes.

INDIVIDUAL MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Butter and flour six 6-ounce custard cups.
• Place 5 1/2 ounces of the chocolate and the butter in a metal bowl, and set it over a pan of simmering water. Stir until melted and smooth. Cool slightly.
• Using a standard electric mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the eggs, yolks and sugar at medium-high speed until they are pale and thick, about 10 minutes.
• Reduce the speed, and gradually mix in the flour.
• Add the chocolate mixture to the flour mixture, and continue to beat until thick and glossy, about 5 minutes.
• Divide half of the mixture among the prepared custard cups. Divide the remaining 2 ounces of coarsely chopped chocolate among them, placing the chunks in the very center of the chocolate mixture (there should be about 1 tablespoon of chopped chocolate per custard cup). Then top with the rest of the chocolate batter.
• Bake until the cake is set around the edges but the center jiggles slightly when the cup is moved, about 12 minutes. Cool slightly (no more than 5 minutes).
• Run a sharp knife around the edges of the cups. Turn the cakes out onto plates, and serve.

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CRUSHED CANDY CANES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Melt 1/4 a stick of butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Paint the inside of 6 ramekins or aluminum souffle cups with butter. Coat the inside of each ramekin with granulated sugar. Reserve.
• Put the remaining stick of butter and chocolate chips in a large mixing bowl. Set the bowl on a saucepan filled with about 1-inch of boiling water. Be sure that the bowl is not touching the water. Gently stir the butter and the chocolate together until melted and the mixture is smooth. Turn off the heat and reserve.
• Combine the eggs, yolks, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer. (This can also be done with a hand beater.) Beat the egg mixture until it doubles in size, and gets very thick and very pale.
• Gently whisk the melted chocolate and butter into the egg mixture. Remove the bowl from the mixer and gently stir in the flour. Pour the batter into the prepared ramekins. Arrange the ramekins on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 14 to 15 minutes. Remove the cakes from the oven and let rest for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove the cakes from the ramekins, and arrange them on individual serving plates. Dust with powdered sugar and garnish with crushed candy cane.
• HOHOHOHOHO!!!

EASY CHOCOLATE MOLTEN CAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Butter 6 dariole moulds or basins well and place on a baking tray.
• Put 100g butter and 100g chopped dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set over a pan of hot water (or alternatively put in the microwave and melt in 30 second bursts on a low setting) and stir until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly for 15 mins.
• Using an electric hand whisk, mix in 150g light brown soft sugar, then 3 large eggs, one at a time, followed by ½ tsp vanilla extract and finally 50g plain flour. Divide the mixture among the darioles or basins.
• You can now either put the mixture in the fridge, or freezer until you're ready to bake them. Can be cooked straight from frozen for 16 mins, or bake now for 10-12 mins until the tops are firm to the touch but the middles still feel squidgy.
• Carefully run a knife around the edge of each pudding, then turn out onto serving plates and serve with single cream.

INDIVIDUAL MOLTEN LAVA CAKES

Steps:

• Position rack in middle of oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Butter and flour four 4-ounce ramekins.
• Melt chocolate with butter. Remove from heat. Beat eggs, yolks and sugar with an electric mixer on high speed in a deep bowl, 8 minutes, until thick and pale. Whisk chocolate mixture into egg mixture. Whisk in flour.
• Pour batter into ramekins. Place on baking sheet and bake 14 minutes, or until cakes have risen and have a thin crust, sides are set and cakes are slightly jiggly in the center; under baking is better than over baking.
• Carefully invert each cake onto a serving plate and let sit 20 seconds. Unmold by lifting up one corner of mold; cake will fall onto plate. Dust tops with confectioners' sugar and serve immediately.

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKES

Steps:

• In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. Add the eggs, egg yolks and confectioners' sugar; mix well. Stir in flour until blended. Pour into eight greased 6-oz. custard cups. , Place custard cups on a baking sheet. Bake at 425° for 15-16 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in the center reads 160°. Remove from the oven and let stand for 1 minute. Run a knife around edges of cups; invert onto dessert plates. Serve immediately.

INDIVIDUAL MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKES FROM GOURMETWEEKLY.COM

Steps:

• • Preheat oven to 450ºF with rack in middle. Butter ramekins and dust with cocoa powder. • Slowly melt butter (1 stick) in a small heavy saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate until melted and smooth. • Beat eggs, yolks, sugar, and a pinch of salt with an electric mixer at high speed until pale and tripled in volume. Fold in warm chocolate mixture and flour gently but thoroughly. Pour batter into ramekins and arrange ramekins in a 4-sided sheet pan. • Bake cakes until puffed and just starting to crack on the surface (cakes will still be wobbly), 8 to 10 minutes. • Immediately invert a plate on top of each ramekin and reinvert. Let stand 1 minute, then gently remove ramekins.