Individual Chocolate Cakes Recipes

INDIVIDUAL CHOCOLATE INDULGENCE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In the top of a double boiler, melt the chocolate, then add the butter and sugar until just melted. Add eggs and whisk until well combined; add flour and mix only until combined. Do not overmix or the cake will be rubbery. Lightly grease four 4-ounce disposable aluminum cups, muffin molds, or ramekins with vegetable baking spray. Distribute batter among the four molds. Place molds on a sheet pan and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Do not overbake.
• For the Chocolate Sauce: Pour the milk into a 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan, place over medium-high heat, and bring to a boil. When it boils, remove the milk from the heat and make a ganache by adding the chopped chocolate. Whisk well, stirring into the edge of the saucepan to combine. The ganache should be homogenous and smooth. Set the ganache aside.
• In a 1-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the heavy cream, butter, and sugar. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. The butter should be completely melted and the sugar completely dissolved. Once the mixture has come to a boil, pour it into the warm ganache. Place the sauce over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly with a whisk. As the chocolate sauce cooks, it will begin to thicken slightly. When it reaches a boil, remove it from the heat, and pour it into a clean, dry bowl. Cover by placing plastic wrap directly on top of the sauce to prevent a skin from forming. Let the chocolate sauce cool to room temperature before storing in the refrigerator. When cold, the sauce will become thick enough to be scooped with a spoon.
• Invert molds onto individual serving plates. If you would like to decorate the plate, do so with fresh raspberries or fruit or chocolate sauce, and serve immediately.
• The sauce can be reheated whenever needed. If using a microwave, simply place the chocolate sauce in a microwaveable bowl and heat it at medium-high power in 30-second intervals until it becomes liquid. On the stovetop, place in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat and stir occasionally until it becomes liquid. If you store it in a squeeze bottle, you can easily drizzle it over a dessert or decorate a plate. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. It can also be frozen for up to two months if stored in an airtight container. Thaw in the refrigerator and heat as described above until liquid.

MINI CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the cake: Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 6-inch round cake pan with 2-inch sides with oil then line the bottom with parchment paper.
• Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder and baking soda in a medium bowl; set aside. Whisk together the egg, sugar, oil, sour cream, coffee and vanilla in a small bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until just combined.
• Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake starts to pull away from the sides, 29 to 32 minutes. If you under bake the cake, it will slightly sink, so check it!
• Remove the cake from the pan by carefully running a paring knife along the edge to loosen, then tilting it into one hand and peeling off the parchment from the bottom; place it on a small cake stand.
• For the ganache: Combine the chocolate, cream and corn syrup if using, in a double boiler or a heat-proof bowl fitted over a small saucepan of simmering water. Stir over medium heat until melted and smooth, about 3 minutes. (Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate and cream in the microwave on low in 25-second intervals, stirring between each.)
• Pour the ganache over the cake, and garnish with the pomegranate arils.

GHIRARDELLI INDIVIDUAL CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKES

Steps:

• To make centers, melt 2 ounces of chocolate (1/2 a baking bar) and cream in double boiler. Whisk gently to blend. Refrigerate about 2 hours, or until firm.
• Form into 6 balls; refrigerate until needed.
• To make cake, heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Spray six 4-ounce ramekins or custard cups with cooking spray.
• Melt 4 ounces of chocolate (1 baking bar) and butter in double boiler; whisk gently to blend.
• With an electric mixer, whisk eggs, yolks, sugar, and vanilla on high speed about 5 minutes, or until thick and light. Fold melted chocolate mixture and flour into egg mixture until just combined.
• Spoon cake batter into ramekins. Place a chocolate ball in the middle of each ramekin.
• Bake about 15 minutes, or until cakes are firm to the touch. Let cool for about 5 minutes.
• Run a small, sharp knife around inside of each ramekin. Place a plate on top, invert, and remove ramekin. Garnish with raspberries and a dollop of whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE MINI CAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Spray 6 (10-ounce) straight sided ramekins with cooking spray. Place ramekins on 15x10x1-inch baking sheet; set aside. Make cake mix as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs. Pour about 3/4 cup batter into each ramekin.
• Bake 22 to 26 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from ramekins to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on low speed until creamy. Beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until smooth. Add vanilla and milk, 1 to 2 tablespoon at a time, until frosting is piping consistency, adding milk as necessary. Beat in food color.
• Using serrated knife, cut rounded tops off each cake to make a level surface. Place, cut sides down, on serving platter. Cut each cake in half horizontally to make 2 layers per cake. Spread 3 tablespoons frosting on the bottom half of each cake. Place remaining cake halves, bottom sides up, over frosting
• Use pastry bag fitted with a large 2D star tip to pipe remaining frosting around and up sides and on tops of cakes to resemble frills. Top with edible pearls.

INDIVIDUAL CHOCOLATE CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Butter four 4-ounce ramekins and lightly dust the inside of each ramekin with cocoa powder, tilting to coat; tap out any excess and set aside.
• Heat butter and chocolate in heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water until chocolate is almost completely melted.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk together eggs, egg yolks, and sugar until light and thick.
• Slowly add butter mixture to mixer; add flour and mix until well combined. Divide batter between prepared ramekins. Place ramekins on a baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until sides are set and center is soft, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Invert each mold onto a plate and let stand for about 10 seconds. Gently tap the tops of molds and carefully lift to remove. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, if desired; serve immediately.

INDIVIDUAL CHOCOLATE CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Brush six 4-ounce ramekins with the melted butter. Sprinkle the inside of each ramekin with sugar and tap out the excess. Place the ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate until needed.
• In the top of a double boiler or a stainless-steel mixing bowl set over a pan of simmering water so that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water, place 6 tablespoons of butter and the chocolate. Heat until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.
• In a large mixing bowl, place 2 tablespoons of sugar and the egg yolks. Whisk until thoroughly blended. Add the chocolate mixture to the egg yolks and stir until well blended.
• In the work bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or in a large mixing bowl with a handheld mixer, beat the egg whites on medium speed until they are frothy. Increase the speed gradually and beat until soft peaks form when the whisk is lifted out of the bowl. Sprinkle over the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and beat until the meringue is shiny and forms stiff peaks.
• Fold about 1/4 of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture and then gently fold the remaining egg whites into the chocolate mixture. Do not overmix; it is fine if there are a few streaks of egg white in the batter.
• Pour the batter into the prepared ramekins. Bake until the cakes rise and then crack on top, and are gooey inside, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Let cool slightly, then unmold onto individual plates. Garnish with mint and serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

INDIVIDUAL DARK CHOCOLATE PUDDING CAKES

Steps:

• Make the batter: Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in center. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt into a medium bowl; set aside.
• Stir together butter, sugar, and vanilla in another medium bowl. Stir in flour mixture and milk, then the chocolate.
• Make the topping: Stir sugars in a small bowl, smoothing any lumps. Sift in cocoa powder; stir to combine.
• Place 3 ramekins (each 3 1/2 inches in diameter and 1 1/2 inches deep) on a baking sheet. Pour in batter. Sprinkle with topping. Pour 1/4 cup boiling water into each. Bake until set, 25 to 28 minutes. Top with ice cream; serve immediately.

INDIVIDUAL CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425*F.
• Set up a double boiler (a saucepan filled half way with water and a larger metal bowl or glass bowl that snugly fits on top of the saucepan. Be sure water is not touching the bottom of the bowl). Heat the water to a simmer. Place the butter and bittersweet chocolate in the metal or glass bowl. Melt the butter and chocolate. Stir continuously to combine and set aside to cool a bit.
• With an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the eggs and sugar to ribbon stage (you can do this by hand too with a wire whisk). Slowly add the chocolate and butter mixture to the egg mixture and combine.
• Add the cake flour and combine.
• Pour into 8 well greased 4 oz tins that have a smaller bottom than the top rim. (Use and smear soft butter, all over the bottom and sides. It is VERY important to make sure that all areas are covered completely with butter). Fill to just below the rim. It is recommended to chill them at least 1 hour if planning to make them immediately. (But at this point, you can put the tins in the fridge for a week before baking).
• Bake in a 425*F degree oven for 8 minutes +/-, checking to see if the outer edge has set (and has risen a little bit above the rim) and the middle is still squishy. You do not want to over bake these cakes.
• Let the cakes set up for about 2 minutes and then un-mold onto a plate. Be careful not to rip the outer cake when turning over and placing on plates. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired. Serve immediately with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or serve plain. YUM!

INDIVIDUAL CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKES

Steps:

• TRUFFLES: Combine the chocolate, cream, and butter in a small heatproof bowl, set over simmering water, and let melt.
• When almost melted, remove from the heat and stir the mixture until smooth. Stir in flavoring of your choice and refrigerate until thick enough to mound on a spoon, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Line a baking tray with waxed or parchment paper. Scrape the chocolate mixture into pastry bag fitted with a #3 plain tip. Pipe eight 1-inch mounds onto the prepared tray.
• Place 1 raspberry in center of each chocolate mound and pipe a little more of the chocolate mixture to enclose completely. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
• CAKE: Position a rack in the center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8 oversize muffin cups with cooking spray. Line bottoms with rounds of waxed paper. Set aside.
• In the top of a double boiler or a small heatproof bowl set over simmering water, melt together the chocolate and butter. Cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, in the large bowl beat on high speed, eggs, egg yolks, and sugar until tripled in volume, about 5 minutes.
• On low speed, add in the chocolate mixture just until combined. Remove the bowl and fold in the flour, using a rubber spatula.
• Spoon a little of the batter into each of the prepared cups top with 1 truffle, and cover with the remaining batter.
• Arrange cups on a baking tray and bake 15 minutes or until edges of the cakes begin to pull away from the sides of the cups. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Invert onto individual dessert plates and carefully peel off paper. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream next to each cake and a few fresh raspberries.

MINI CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
• Combine cookie crumbs and melted butter in a bowl until evenly combined and mixture resembles coarse sand. Divide mixture evenly and sprinkle into the bottom of the prepared muffin cups; use the bottom of a cup to press crumbs firmly into a crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes. Remove crusts to a wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• While the crusts are cooling, combine cream cheese, sugar, and cocoa powder in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Whip on medium to high speed, scraping down the sides and bottom as needed, until smooth and evenly combined. Blend in sour cream and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, blending after each addition until mixture is smooth and even and scraping the sides as necessary. Divide filling evenly between the crusts.
• Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Turn the oven off, and leave cheesecakes in the oven without opening the door for 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.