Best 5 Almost Famous Molten Chocolate Cake Recipes

ALMOST-FAMOUS CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Prepare the cake mix as the label directs for a 9-by-13-inch cake. Bake; cool slightly in the pan, then invert onto a rack to cool completely.
• Clean out the cake pan and line it with plastic wrap. Cut the cake in half lengthwise, then in thirds crosswise to make 6 rectangles. Using a serrated knife, slice each rectangle in half to make two layers. Arrange half of the pieces snugly in the cake pan. Crumble the remaining pieces and press tightly into 6 small balls; arrange 1 cake ball in the center of each cake rectangle in the pan.
• Make the mousse: Heat the chocolate, butter, coffee and 1/4 cup water in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water), stirring, until melted. Remove the bowl from the pan; stir until cool. Reserve the simmering water. Fill a large bowl with ice water.
• Whisk the egg yolks, 1 1/2 cups sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a separate large heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over the saucepan of simmering water and whisk until pale yellow, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the chocolate-coffee mixture and the vanilla and whisk until combined, about 2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pan and set in the bowl of ice water; whisk until slightly cool but not thick, about 4 minutes.
• Beat the egg whites and salt in a bowl with a mixer until foamy. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and beat until almost stiff; gently fold into the chocolate-yolk mixture to make a dark chocolate mousse. Spread 5 cups over the cake and cake balls. Freeze until firm on top, about 30 minutes.
• Beat the heavy cream and the remaining 4 tablespoons sugar until soft peaks form; fold into the remaining mousse. Remove the cake from the freezer; spread with the light chocolate mousse, cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Make the chocolate shell: Stir the chocolate, heavy cream and 4 tablespoons corn syrup in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) until melted. A spoonful at a time, spread half of the shell mixture over the frozen mousse. Return to the freezer.
• Make the chocolate sauce: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon corn syrup and the butter to the remaining chocolate shell mixture. Microwave 30 seconds, then stir until glossy.
• To serve the cake, beat the heavy cream with a mixer until foamy. Add the sugar and beat until soft peaks form. Remove the cake from the freezer; invert onto a baking sheet and unmold, then invert again onto a platter, chocolate shell-side up.
• Cut the cake in half lengthwise using a warm knife, then cut into thirds crosswise to make 6 rectangles; cut each rectangle in half diagonally to make 2 triangles. Top each triangle with whipped cream, ice cream and the prepared chocolate sauce.

CHOCOLATE MOLTEN CAKE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE SKULL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray and sugar six 4-ounce ramekins and place on a sheet tray.
• Combine the chocolate and butter over a double boiler and melt completely. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, vanilla, salt, whole eggs and egg yolks. Whisk until the mixture is pale yellow and thickened. Whisk in the flour until smooth. Add the chocolate mixture and stir gently until combined.
• Divide the mixture among the ramekins. Bake until the edges are set but the centers are still soft when pressed, 12 to 15 minutes.
• For the strawberry sauce: Add the strawberries, pomegranate juice and sugar to a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle boil and stir to dissolve the sugar. Pour into a blender and add the lemon juice. Puree until completely smooth, then pour into a small saucepan and keep warm. Reduce slightly if preferred.
• For the white chocolate skull: Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil into a mixing bowl set over a double boiler. Melt the chocolate completely, then remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes, allowing the chocolate to thicken.
• Fill 6 large (4 3/8-by-5 1/4-by-2 1/2-inch) skull chocolate molds (face only) with the white chocolate mixture, then turn to coat completely. Invert briefly if needed to drain out excess chocolate. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, allowing the chocolate to completely harden.
• To serve: Loosen the edges of the cakes with an offset spatula and invert onto serving plates. Place a skull face on top of each, covering the cake.
• Heat the strawberry sauce until gently boiling. Pour over the skulls, melting them over the cakes. Serve.

CHOCOLATE MOLTEN CAKE

Steps:

• Gather together 10 to 12 2-inch-high cake rings. Cut strips of parchment paper 1 inch wider than the rings. Brush both sides of parchment strips with clarified butter. Fit inside of cake rings. Coat inside of rings with cocoa powder and set aside on a sheet pan.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt extra-bitter chocolate over double boiler. Whisk softened butter into melted chocolate. Remove chocolate mixture from heat and whisk in egg yolks, 1 at a time. Sift flours together and fold into chocolate mixture.
• Beat egg whites to soft peaks and add confectioners' sugar. Whisk 1/3 of egg mixture into chocolate mixture. Fold in remaining whites in 2 additions.
• Pipe a 1/2-inch layer of cake batter into the bottom of each cocoa-coated cake ring. Freeze until cake batter becomes stiff. Approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Put a 1-inch piece semi-sweet chocolate in each cake ring atop the stiffened cake batter. Pipe in enough cake batter to cover the chocolate piece. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Afterwards, allow cake to rest for one minute. Serve with whipped cream and Bay leaf sauce.
• Boil sugar and water. Put in vanilla bean, cut in half lengthwise and scraped, and bay leaves into boiling mixture. Allow to infuse for at least on hour, (off of heat) and then, remove bean and leaves. Keep sauce refrigerated.
• Yield: 1 1/2 cups sauce

CLASSIC MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CASSIS BERRIES

Steps:

• For the cassis berries: Put the cassis in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil until reduced to about 3 tablespoons, about 5 minutes. Put the berries in a bowl and toss with the reduced cassis. Let stand, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter four 4-ounce ramekins and dust with the cocoa powder.
• Put the butter in a small saucepan and heat over low until melted. Add the chocolate, espresso powder, vanilla and salt and stir until thoroughly melted and combined. Stir in the flour.
• Combine the sugar, whole eggs and yolks in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on high speed until pale and thick, about 3 minutes. Add the chocolate mixture to the beaten eggs and beat to combine. Divide the mixture among the ramekins (at this point, the cakes can be refrigerated up to 4 hours and then brought to room temperature before baking).
• Put the ramekins on a baking sheet and bake until the tops and edges are set but about an inch in the center is still wobbly, about 12 minutes. Let the cakes stand for 1 minute. Run a thin knife around the edge of the cakes. Cover a ramekin with a small plate and invert the ramekin (using an oven mitt or towel) onto the plate. Remove the ramekin, leaving the cake on the plate. Repeat with the remaining cakes.
• For the berry mascarpone: Transfer 3 tablespoons of the berry juices from the cassis berries to a bowl. Add the mascarpone, sugar and vanilla and mix to combine.
• Dollop the berry mascarpone on the cakes and top with a spoonful of the cassis berries. Garnish with mint sprigs.

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.