Indulge in a culinary masterpiece with Chef John's Chocolate Lava Cake, a symphony of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds. This iconic dessert features a rich and decadent chocolate cake batter enveloping a molten chocolate center, resulting in an explosion of luscious chocolate upon every bite. The velvety smooth ganache frosting adds a layer of sophistication, while the sprinkling of cocoa powder provides a delightful textural contrast. Alongside the classic Chocolate Lava Cake recipe, this article offers variations to cater to different dietary preferences and flavor profiles. Discover the secrets behind creating the perfect lava cake, ensuring a consistently molten center and a moist, tender cake. Learn how to achieve the ideal baking time and temperature, the importance of using high-quality chocolate, and techniques for achieving a mirror-like ganache frosting. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, this comprehensive guide will empower you to create an unforgettable dessert experience.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CHEF JOHN'S CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE
Legend has it that this dessert was the result of a major catering disaster. The dessert for this particular event was to be individual chocolate cakes, but someone took them out of the ovens too soon and the centers were not cooked enough and still liquefied. Well, there was no time to take them off the plates and bake them more, so the chef simply had his wait staff introduce the dessert as Chocolate 'Lava' Cake! Brilliant!
Provided by Chef John
Categories Desserts Chocolate Dessert Recipes Dark Chocolate
Time 1h15m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Generously butter the inside of 4 (5 1/2 ounce) ramekins. Place them in a casserole dish.
- Whisk together egg yolks, eggs, and sugar in a bowl until light, foamy, and lemon colored.
- Melt chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each melting, 1 to 3 minutes.
- Stir melted chocolate mixture into egg and sugar mixture until combined.
- Sift cocoa powder into the mixture; stir to combine.
- Sift flour and salt into the mixture; stir to combine into a batter.
- Stir vanilla extract into the batter.
- Transfer batter to a resealable plastic bag. Snip one corner of the bag with scissors to create a tip.
- Divide batter evenly between the prepared ramekins; tap gently on the counter to remove any air bubbles.
- Refrigerate 30 minutes.
- Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Arrange the ramekins in a casserole dish. Pour enough hot tap water into the casserole dish to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
- Bake in the preheated over for 15-18 minutes. Set aside to cool for 15 minutes.
- Loosen the edges from the ramekin with a knife. Invert each cake onto a plate and dust with powdered sugar.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 393.7 calories, Carbohydrate 32 g, Cholesterol 241.2 mg, Fat 28.7 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 6.9 g, SaturatedFat 16.4 g, Sodium 207.4 mg, Sugar 9.7 g
CHEF JOHN'S CHOCOLATE DECADENCE
This 'flourless' chocolate cake was all the rage in the 1980s. As I vaguely remember, the decade celebrated decadent overindulgence and this dessert is that and more. By modern standards, this cake is ridiculously rich. In fact, some of you may find it too intense, but most true chocolate fiends will be in heaven. Serve with ice-cold fresh raspberry sauce.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Desserts Cakes Holiday Cake Recipes
Time 2h
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Butter and flour a 9-inch cake pan.
- Melt semisweet chocolate and unsalted butter together in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula, until chocolate and butter are completely melted and combined. Remove from heat.
- Beat eggs and sugar together in a bowl with a whisk or an electric mixer until pale and very thick, 5 to 10 minutes. Sift in flour, cayenne, and salt; whisk to combine.
- Pour 1/4 of the egg mixture into chocolate mixture; stir to combine. Pour chocolate mixture into remaining egg mixture and stir until cake batter is combined. Pour batter into prepared cake pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven until just barely set, with a jiggle below the surface, 14 to 15 minutes. Cool to room temperature, wrap in aluminum foil, and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 333.2 calories, Carbohydrate 26.2 g, Cholesterol 102.9 mg, Fat 25.2 g, Fiber 3 g, Protein 5.8 g, SaturatedFat 14.2 g, Sodium 43.4 mg, Sugar 22.6 g
LAVA CAKE
The best chocolate lava cake recipe I've ever had. Serve topped with powdered sugar or vanilla ice cream.
Provided by Nikki Bell
Categories Desserts Cakes Chocolate Cake Recipes
Time 30m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease and flour four 6-ounce ramekins.
- Place chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes.
- Combine eggs and sugar in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until pale and thick, about 5 minutes. Mix in melted chocolate, cocoa powder, and flour until combined. Pour batter into the prepared ramekins and place on a baking tray.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the sides are set but the middle is still jiggly, 10 to 13 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 561.7 calories, Carbohydrate 34.5 g, Cholesterol 183.8 mg, Fat 50.4 g, Fiber 8.3 g, Protein 11 g, SaturatedFat 30.5 g, Sodium 259.8 mg, Sugar 17.4 g
Tips:
- Use high-quality chocolate for the best flavor. A semisweet or bittersweet chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 60% is ideal.
- Make sure the butter and chocolate are completely melted before mixing them together. This will help to create a smooth and velvety batter.
- Do not overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the cake tough.
- Bake the cakes in individual ramekins or muffin cups. This will help them to rise evenly and prevent them from sticking together.
- Bake the cakes until the tops are just set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached.
- Let the cakes cool for a few minutes before serving. This will help them to set and prevent them from falling apart.
- Serve the cakes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Conclusion:
Chef John's chocolate lava cake is a delicious and decadent dessert that is sure to impress your guests. With its rich chocolate flavor and molten center, this cake is a perfect way to end a special meal. Follow these tips to make sure your chocolate lava cakes turn out perfectly every time.
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