Molten Chocolate Cake
- Level: Intermediate
- Total: 49 min
- Active: 20 min
- Yield: 5 servings
Ingredients
Unsalted butter, for cake molds
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 ounces extra-bitter chocolate, finely chopped
3 ounces unsalted butter
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
3 ounces sugar
1 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour
Serving suggestion: Espresso Creme Anglaise, recipe follows
Espresso Creme Anglaise:
3 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups light cream
3 tablespoons brewed espresso
Directions
Special equipment:
5 (2 by 2 1/4-inch) round molds and an electric mixer- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Butter the round molds with the unsalted butter and dust with cocoa powder, tapping out excess cocoa.
- Melt the extra bitter chocolate and the unsalted butter in a double boiler. In an electric mixer, beat the eggs, yolks, and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the chocolate/butter mixture. Add all the flour and mix until just incorporated.
- Pipe or carefully spoon the batter into the prepared molds, filling no more than 1/2 full.
- Place the filled molds on a baking sheet. Refrigerate for a minimum of 20 minutes. The batter will hold overnight in the refrigerator after it's been put into the molds. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes.
- The tops will have cracks, the sides will be set, but the centers will be very soft.
- Serve immediately and drizzle with Espresso Creme Anglaise.
Espresso Creme Anglaise:
- Whisk the yolks and the sugar together until thickened and pale yellow.
- In a small pot warm the cream just to the boiling point over medium heat.
- While whisking, add some of the hot cream into the egg mixture. Pour into the pot with the rest of the cream and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon. Add the espresso. Refrigerate until ready to use.
