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 mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine French
- 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
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.