Molten Chocolate Cakes With Earl Grey Ice Cream Recipes

ALMOST-FAMOUS MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Make the cakes: Brush four 1 1/4-cup brioche molds (or use 10-ounce ramekins or jumbo muffin cups) with the 2 tablespoons melted butter. Dust the molds with cocoa powder and tap out the excess.
• Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Bring the milk and 3/4 cup water to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat; set aside.
• Combine the vegetable oil, 4 tablespoons room-temperature butter and the sugar in a stand mixer and beat with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 4 minutes, scraping down the bowl and beater as needed. Add 1/2 cup cocoa powder and the vanilla; beat 1 minute on medium speed. Scrape down the bowl. Add 1 egg and beat 1 minute on medium-low speed, then add the remaining egg and beat 1 more minute.
• With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the flour mixture, then the hot milk mixture. Finish mixing the batter with a rubber spatula until combined. Divide the batter evenly among the molds, filling each slightly more than three-quarters of the way.
• Transfer the molds to a baking sheet and bake until the tops of the cakes are domed and the centers are just barely set, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet to a rack; let the cakes cool until they pull away from the molds, about 30 minutes.

EMERIL'S EASY MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Butter and flour 4 (6-ounce) ramekins or baking dishes, tapping out the excess flour.
• Set on a baking sheet.
• In a double boiler, or a glass bowl set over a pan of boiling water, melt butter with the chocolate, cream, and powdered sugar, stirring until smooth.
• Remove from the heat.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, and salt until thick ribbons form, about 3 minutes.
• Sift flour into the egg mixture and fold together.
• Fold the chocolate into the egg mixture. Divide among the prepared dishes and bake until the sides of the cake are set and the tops are puffed but still soft, about 10-12 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let cool in the ramekins for 2 minutes, then unmold onto dessert plates.
• Sprinkle cocoa over the cakes, and serve.
• Fresh berries, ice cream or whipped cream make a nice accompaniment.

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKES

Steps:

• Chuck Hughes' warm and oozy molten chocolate cakes-chocolate indulgence at its best!
• In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and chocolate together until the chocolate mixture is smooth. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, beat together the eggs and sugar with a whisk or electric beater until pale and thick, about 5 minutes.
• Pour the melted chocolate in the egg mixture and mix well. Blend in the flour, just until combined.
• Butter and lightly sugar 4 (4-ounce) molds, custard cups or ramekins. Tap out the excess sugar. Divide the batter among the molds. At this point you can refrigerate the desserts until you are ready to eat, for up to several hours, then bring them back to room temperature before baking.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Bake the molten chocolate on a sheet tray for 8 to 10 minutes, the center will still be quite soft, but the sides will be set. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving with your favorite ice cream.

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE OOOOZY CAKE

Steps:

• Make the Cakes: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Grease the tins and set aside.
• In a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, melt the butter and chocolate together, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, in a separate bowl whisk together the eggs, yolks, and sugar. Whisk the egg mixture into chocolate mixture; then whisk in the flour.
• Fill the tins with the batter and bake for 4 to 5 minutes. (Alternatively, refrigerate the cakes until ready to bake, up to a day in advance. If baking cold, do so for 5 to 6 minutes.)
• Paint the bottoms of several shallow soup plates with the chocolate bergamont paint. Immediately unmold the cakes onto the plates. Place a pinch of cocoa nibs beside each cake (as a small stand for the ice cream), and place a scoop of star anise ice cream on top of each. Drizzle the citrus reduction around each plate and dust with confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder.
• 4 1/2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 1/3 cup brewed tea (recommended: Earl Grey)
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• In the top half of a double boiler, combine the 2 chocolates over simmering water. Stir constantly until melted; then whisk in the tea and syrup, without removing the double boiler from the heat. Whisk until smooth and shiny.
• If the sauce is too thick, thin it with a touch of hot water. Using a brush, paint the sauce onto plate before serving.
• (The sauce can be made up to 48 hours in advance and refrigerated. To rewarm, stir over low heat or heat in a microwave.)
• Yield: approximately 1 1/4 cups
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 heaping tablespoon star anise pieces
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 9 egg yolks
• 3/4 cup sugar
• In a saucepan over medium heat, heat the half-and-half, cream, star anise, ground cinnamon, vanilla, and cinnamon stick, whisking occasionally to make sure the mixture doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. When the cream mixture reaches a fast simmer (do not let it boil), turn off the heat and let the flavors infuse for 10 minutes.
• In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. In a thin stream, whisk half of the cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Then pour the egg-cream mixture back into the saucepan containing the rest of the cream mixture.
• Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. At 160 degrees, the mixture will give off a puff of steam. When the mixture reaches 180 degrees it will be thickened and creamy, like eggnog. If you don't have a thermometer, test it by dipping a wooden spoon into the mixture. Run your finger down the back of the spoon. If the stripe remains clear, the mixture is ready; if the edges blur, the mixture is not quite thick enough yet. When it is ready, quickly remove it from the heat.
• Meanwhile, put 2 handfuls of ice cubes in a large bowl, and add enough cold water to cover. Rest a smaller bowl in the ice water. Pour the cream mixture through a fine sieve into the smaller bowl, to remove the vanilla bean pieces and cinnamon sticks. Chill 3 hours; then freeze in an ice cream freezer according to the manufacturer's directions
• Yield: 1 quart
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup grapefruit juice
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup corn syrup
• Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer on low until reduced to a thick syrup. Chill before using.
• Yield: approximately 1/3 cup

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKES WITH EARL GREY ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Butter six ring molds measuring 2 1/2 inches high and 2 3/4 inches in diameter. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and set aside.
• Place the chocolate and butter in a medium heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, and heat until melted. Stir mixture to combine.
• Combine the egg yolks and 6 tablespoons sugar in a large bowl, and whisk until mixture is pale yellow and thick, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the vanilla extract. Add the chocolate mixture to egg-yolk mixture, and stir to combine.
• Place the egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat until frothy. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons sugar, and whisk until stiff peaks form. Fold egg-white mixture into chocolate mixture.
• Spoon about 1/4 cup batter into each ring, and place a truffle in the center of each. Spoon the remaining batter over the truffles, and place in the freezer to set, at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Transfer the baking sheet with the filled ring molds to the oven, and bake cakes for 20 to 25 minutes, or until sides are set but center is still soft. Using a thin spatula, carefully transfer the cakes (still in the ring molds) to a serving plate. Lift the ring molds, and remove them. Serve the cakes warm with Earl Grey ice cream, and garnish with chocolate curls, if desired.