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chocolate lava cake

Chocolate Lava Cake

Adapted from the New York Times Diner's Journal.
A decadent, simple chocolate cake with a molten middle.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine French
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 10 oz milk chocolate ghirardelli or guittard are the best
  • 4 eggs
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 4 tsp flour

Instructions
 

  • In the top of a double boiler set over simmering water, heat the butter and chocolate together until the chocolate is almost completely melted. While that's heating, beat together the eggs, yolks, and sugar with a whisk or electric beater until light and thick - about 3 minutes.
  • Beat together the melted chocolate and butter; it should be quite warm. Pour in the egg mixture, then quickly beat in the flour, just until combined.
  • Butter four 10-ounce ramekins. Divide the batter among the ramekins. (At this point you can refrigerate the desserts until you are ready to eat, for up to several hours; bring them back to room temperature before baking.)
  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Bake the ramekins on a cookie sheet for 9-10 minutes; the center will still be quite soft, but the sides will be set.
  • Top with fresh cut berries (we love strawberries and raspberries) and vanilla ice cream on the side. Serve immediately.

Notes:

  • The original recipe calls for the ramekins to be inverted and the cake placed onto a place. That added an unnecessary, stressful step for me, so I've always served them directly in the ramekins.
  • You can use smaller ramekins, if that's all you have. I have 7-ounce ramekins and use those sometimes - just cook them for 7-8 minutes.
Keyword chocolate, cake