My husband loves sweets. But when I say he loves sweets, I mean he loves anything that tastes remotely like sugar. It doesn’t even need to have a great flavor, as long as its sweet. This drives me crazy, because I bake for a living and he would be just as happy with a cake mix. I live for finding subtle new ways to use flavors, to hide them in dishes you wouldn’t expect, and watching people enjoy my creations and discover the flavors, too. That doesn’t happen at my house. No one appreciates flavors or nuances….except for this one dish.
Even though I make fun of his palette, it’s right on the money on this dish. If truth be told, this may be his favorite dessert of all time. It actually makes him weak in the knees and even brings him to the point of begging. No lie! So, I thought it only fair to share this fabulous recipe with you, since Valentine’s Day is coming up, and this recipe is a chocolate one!!
Dark Chocolate lava cakes
6 squares of 6 oz. of bittersweet chocolate, good quality, 10 tbsp. butter, 1 1/2C powdered sugar plus 1tbsp, divided, 1/2C flour, 3 whole eggs, 3 egg yolks, fresh raspberries for garnish if desired.
HEAT oven to 425ºF.
GREASE 6 (6-oz.) custard cups or souffle dishes. Place on baking sheet. Glass ramekins tend to work best, but if using another type, grease extremely well.
MICROWAVE chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on MEDIUM (50%) 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir with whisk until chocolate is completely melted. Add 1-1/2 cups sugar and flour; mix well. Add whole eggs and egg yolks; beat until well blended. Pour into prepared cups.
BAKE 14 to 15 min. or until cakes are firm around the edges but still soft in the centers. Let stand 1 min. Run small knife around cakes to loosen; carefully invert onto dessert plates. Serve warm and dusted with remaining powdered sugar and berries.
The trick to this recipe is that it goes against what you know of cake making. When you open up the oven to look at the cakes, they will NOT appear to be done. The middle won’t look set, they will be jiggly and dark in the middle and your instincts will be telling you to leave them in. DONT! The outside of the cake will be done and will provide enough structure to hold in the gooey filling in the middle. That’s what you want! That’s where the wow factor comes in when you cut open the cake and the chocolate goo comes spilling out!
But be warned….these may produce extreme reactions in the people you serve them to. They will possibly love you forever. Happy Valentines Day!!
