Elevated Molten Lava Cakes
Ingredients
One 10.4-ounce box molten lava cake mix (plus required ingredients)
Directions
- Prepare and bake 2, 4 or 6 lava cakes according to the package directions. Have ready one or more of the following toppings:
- Spun Sugar: Combine 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, 1/4 cup corn syrup and 1/4 cup water in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Cook to 300 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Let cool to 275 degrees F. Position 2 wooden spoons 2 feet apart on similar-size bowls with their handles sticking out over the edge by 6 inches. Put newspaper or foil on the counter below the spoons. Dip a fork in the sugar syrup and flick it back and forth over the spoon handles to create many long thin threads. Repeat 3 or 4 times, then gently gather up the threads and put them on a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining sugar until all of it is spun. Place each lava cake in the middle of a serving plate, dust with confectioners' sugar and top with some of the spun sugar.
- Cherry Sauce: Combine 2 cups (about 8 ounces) pitted fresh cherries, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon cherry liqueur, such as Luxardo, and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the cherries are very soft, about 10 minutes. Puree in a blender and pour through a fine-mesh strainer; discard any solids left in the strainer. Transfer to a squeeze bottle and chill until ready to use (up to 1 day). Squeeze cherry sauce dots all over each serving plate and place a lava cake in the middle. Top with French vanilla ice cream and serve with a couple of fresh cherries.
- S'mores: Place each lava cake in the middle of a serving plate. Top with about 2 tablespoons marshmallow creme and use a kitchen blowtorch to toast the creme until golden. Insert a square of dark chocolate and a shard of graham cracker in the creme.
- Coffee Whipped Cream: Combine 1/2 cup cold heavy cream and 2 tablespoons coffee-flavored liqueur, such as Kahlua, in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Place each lava cake in the middle of a serving plate and sprinkle with unsweetened cocoa and confectioners' sugar. Top with the flavored whipped cream and several chopped chocolate-covered espresso beans.