Molten Lava Cakes

molten lava cakes recipe with step by step picture tutorial

I love these little babies.

Surprisingly, this has been the first time I’ve ever made them myself.

 

While preparing these Chocolate Lava Cakes I learned that they are super-fun to make.

They are also surprising. That is what you find out when you dig into them.

And, with the generous amount of chocolate they contain, I’m sure they are just super seductive.

That all makes them the perfect dessert choice for Valentine’s Day, don’t you think?

 

Now, let me invite you to my kitchen and show you how I prepared my version of these adorable sweet cakes…
molten lava cakes recipe with step by step picture tutorial, ingredients

Here’s what we need.

Couldn’t be simpler.
molten lava cakes recipe with step by step picture tutorial, preheat the oven to 400 F - 200 C, butter 4 ramekins, 6-ounce - 180 ml ramekins

1. First, preheat the oven to 400 °F (200 °C).

 

2. Butter 4 ramekins.

I’ve used 6-ounce (180 ml) ramekins.

 

3. Then dust the ramekins with some confectioners’ sugar.
molten lava cakes recipe with step by step picture tutorial, eggs, sugar, coffee, and salt

4. Now we need the eggs, sugar, coffee, and salt.
molten lava cakes recipe with step by step picture tutorial, eggs, sugar, coffee, salt in a bowl

5. Throw them all into one bowl and mix them for about 2 minutes.

6. Break the chocolate into pieces. Place the butter and chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl.
molten lava cakes recipe with step by step picture tutorial, microwave on high in 20-seconds increments, stirring after each, until melted, let cool slightly

7. Microwave on high in 20-second increments, stirring after each, until melted.

Let cool slightly.

And be strong!
molten lava cakes recipe with step by step picture tutorial, add the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, whisk to combine

8. Add the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Whisk to combine.

9. Then add the flour, and whisk just until combined (do not overmix).
molten lava cakes recipe with step by step picture tutorial, pour the batter into prepared ramekins

10. Pour the batter into prepared ramekins.

I only have two, so I had to bake in two batches.
molten lava cakes recipe with step by step picture tutorial, place the ramekins on a baking sheet

11. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet.
molten lava cakes recipe with step by step picture tutorial, bake for about 11 minutes

12. And bake for about 11 minutes.
molten lava cakes recipe with step by step picture tutorial

13. These babies were baked for about 14 minutes.

Too long.

 

molten lava cakes recipe with step by step picture tutorial

Although nice and tasty, they weren’t that ‘molten’ in the center.
molten lava cakes recipe with step by step picture tutorial

I baked the second batch for only 10 minutes.

That was much better.

I really like the moist center.
molten lava cakes recipe with step by step picture tutorial

Aah, I love this game.

 

But, if I had another chance, which I think I am going to give myself soon, I’d try baking these for exactly 11 minutes.

11 minutes would make them absolutely perfect.

 

Enjoy, dear friends!

 

(This recipe makes 4 cakes and was loosely based on Molten Mocha Cakes from www.delish.com.)

 

 

Delicious Brownies

delicious brownies recipe with step by step pictures

I made these babies the other day.

Then, two days later, I made them again to make sure I hadn’t been dreaming before and they really tasted like heaven.

And they did.

Again.

Just like heaven!

When it comes to their structure, they have it all. They are something between cakey and fudgy, slightly more on the fudgy side, with just a little chewiness to them. When I think about it (which is a little difficult after eating so many), these brownies have a strong potential to satisfy just about anyone. So any camp you are in – the cakey, fudgy or chewy one, these are great for you!

Now let me just run to the kitchen to grab another one before I show you how I was making them…

 

delicious brownies recipe with step by step pictures, ingredients

…Okay, thanks for your patience, I’m back now. YUM!

This is the list of ingredients.

 

delicious brownies recipe with step by step pictures

1. To make your own Brownies, first preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C).

 

2. Line the bottom and two sides of a 13 x 9-inch (33 x 22 cm) baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the two sides. Butter the paper and set the pan aside.

Lining a baking pan this way is just gorgeous. It allows you to remove the baked stuff out of the pan in the most easy way. I find it the best invention right after wheel. Yes, that’s exactly what I think!

 

3. In a small bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

 

Just like this.

I was a naughty girl and didn’t sift the cocoa. But next time I will, I promise!

 

delicious brownies recipe with step by step pictures

4. Now chop the chocolate roughly.

Or just brake it. Or just throw it against your counter top and watch it break into a million pieces (sorry, I just got slightly carried away).

 

delicious brownies recipe with step by step pictures

5. Now place the chocolate and the butter into a heatproof bowl and set it over a pot of simmering water.

The bottom of the bowl shouldn’t be touching the water since what we want to do here is just gently melt these two ingredients.

 

6. Heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth, for about 3 minutes. Then remove the bowl from the pot.

 

delicious brownies recipe with step by step pictures

7. Add sugar and mix to combine.

 

8. Then add the eggs and, again, mix to combine.

 

delicious brownies recipe with step by step pictures

9. Finally, add the flour mixture and mix just until moistened (do not overmix).

 

delicious brownies recipe with step by step pictures

10. Transfer the batter to your prepared pan. Using and offset spatula or just a spoon, smooth the top.

 

11. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the batter/brownies comes out clean (or with a few moist crumbs attached).

 

12. Cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Using the paper overhang, lift brownies out of the pan and transfer to a rack to cool completely (still on the paper).

 

13. On a cutting board cut into squares.

 

delicious brownies recipe with step by step pictures

Yum-yum!

Enjoy, dear friends!

 

And if, by any chance, you end up with some leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 2 days.

 

(This recipe was loosely adapted from Martha Stewart. It takes about 1 hour to prepare and yields 24 2-inch/5cm squares.)

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