Love is in the air, or so they say, but so is the scent of chocolate. Valentine’s Day is a sweet charade of boxed chocolates and empty ice cream containers – feigned attempts of love abound. And we embrace it wholeheartedly, because the more excuses we have to eat chocolate, the better. Whether or not you’re spending this Friday with a valentine, anyone can celebrate a different kind of love – the love of chocolate. Molten chocolate lava cakes are one of the most delicious desserts known to man and their hearts of warm gooey chocolate are capable of wooing a lover or wooing yourself into loving yourself more. Depending on what sort of Valentine’s Day you’re planning on having, this recipe makes up to two servings; two if you’re sharing, one if you’re not.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 8 – 10 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes (including cooling)
Servings: 1 – 2
Ingredients:
Photo by Katya Simkhovich
1 egg
3 oz semi-sweet chocolate
2 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter (and a little more for buttering your lava cake vessels)
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 400° F and butter your ramekins. If you don’t have ramekins, a small ovenproof cup or a muffin tin could work as well.
Photo by Katya Simkhovich
- Melt the butter and chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat.
Photo by Katya Simkhovich
- Whisk in the egg , sugar and vanilla extract.
Photo by Katya Simkhovich
- Fold in the flour until incorporated and the batter is goopy and irresistable.
Photo by Katya Simkhovich
- Pour the magic chocolate batter into your designated cups or ramekins and place on a baking sheet.
Photo by Katya Simkhovich
- Bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes, exercising the highest degree of strength you can manage.
- Gently invert the cakes onto a plate, letting the cup or ramekin hang out upside down for a minute on the plate will let the lava cake get used gravity.
- Slowly lift the ramekin or cup and behold the wonder which lies beneath.
- Eat plain, alone, with a valentine or with ice cream.
Photo by Katya Simkhovich