Warm Chocolate Stout Cakes With Whiskey Caramel Sauce Food

WARM CHOCOLATE STOUT CAKES WITH WHISKEY CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• For the whiskey caramel sauce: Combine the sugar and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, swirling the pan but not stirring, until the mixture is dark amber, 7 to 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and whisk in the heavy cream, vanilla and salt until smooth. Whisk in the whiskey. Transfer to a bowl and cool completely (the caramel will thicken as it cools).
• For the chocolate stout cakes: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it just begins to bubble, about 5 minutes. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until dissolved and the mixture is smooth, about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and whisk in the stout beer. Set aside to cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, spray a 12-cup muffin tin generously with nonstick canola oil spray and wipe out any oil that pools at the bottom of the cups. Dust the muffin cups with cocoa powder and tap out the excess.
• Whisk the flour, brown sugar, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
• Whisk the egg, Greek yogurt and vanilla extract in large bowl.
• Whisk half of the stout beer mixture into the egg mixture and blend until combined. Whisk in the remaining half of the stout beer mixture and blend until smooth. Add the flour mixture and blend until just combined.
• Divide the batter evenly into the prepared muffin tin. Bake the cakes, rotating the muffin tin halfway through, until a tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer the muffin tin to a wire rack and let the cakes cool in the muffin tin for 10 minutes.
• Loosen the edges of each cake with an offset spatula, then carefully remove the cakes from the muffin tin. Serve the warm cakes upside-down on individual plates drizzled with the Whiskey Caramel Sauce and sprinkled with the toffee bits.

WARM FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter the bottom of a 10 inch springform pan, and line with parchment paper.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Stir in chocolate, and continue to stir until almost melted. Remove from heat, and stir until melted and smooth. In a large bowl, stir together 1 1/4 cups sugar and the cocoa powder. Whisk in the eggs until well blended, then whisk in the chocolate and butter. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake for about 45 minutes in the preheated oven. The cake is ready when the edges have nicely puffed and the surface is firm except for a small spot in the center that will jiggle when the pan is gently shaken. Cool cake in the pan over a wire rack. Run a knife around the sides of the pan to loosen the cake, then remove the sides of the pan, and invert onto a serving plate. Remove the parchment paper.
• In a heavy saucepan, stir together 1 1/2 cups of sugar, water, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and cook without stirring until the syrup is a deep amber color. For an accurate color check, dip a metal spoon into the syrup and lift it out of the pan to check the color. Once the syrup is amber, remove from the heat. Gradually stir in the cream. The mixture will bubble vigorously. If lumps form, stir gently over low heat to dissolve them. Stir in 2 tablespoons of butter.
• Cut the cake into wedges while warm, and serve with caramel sauce spooned over it. You can also chill the cake and sauce, then warm again before serving.

WARM CHOCOLATE CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Butter and lightly flour four 4-ounce molds, ramekins, or custard cups. Tap out excess flour; set aside.
• Place butter and chocolate in the top of a double boiler or heatproof bowl set over simmering water, and heat until the chocolate has almost completely melted. Meanwhile, beat together the eggs, yolks, and sugar until light and thick.
• Beat in flour until just combined. Stir together the warm melted chocolate and butter. Pour chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Divide batter evenly among the molds.
• Bake the molds on a baking sheet for 7 to 8 minutes; the center will still be quite soft, but the sides will be set. Immediately invert each mold onto a plate, and let sit for about 10 seconds. Unmold by lifting up one side of the mold; the cake will fall out onto the plate. Serve immediately with whipped cream, if desired.