Winter Spiced Molten Chocolate Cakes With Rum Ginger Ice Cream Recipes

WINTER-SPICED MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKES WITH RUM-GINGER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• For ice cream:
• Place softened ice cream in medium bowl. Using plastic spatula, fold ginger and rum into ice cream. Transfer to airtight container. Freeze ice cream mixture until firm, about 4 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep frozen.)
• For cakes:
• Generously butter eight 3/4-cup soufflé dishes. Stir chocolate, butter, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and white pepper in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Cool slightly. Whisk eggs, egg yolks, and vanilla in large bowl to blend. Whisk in 3 cups powdered sugar, then chocolate mixture, then flour. Transfer batter to prepared dishes, filling to top and dividing equally. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Bake cakes until batter has risen above dish, top edges are dark brown, and centers are still soft and runny, about 15 minutes, or about 18 minutes for refrigerated batter. Run small knife around cakes to loosen. Allow cakes to rest in dishes 5 minutes. Using hot pad and holding dish very firmly, place plate gently atop 1 cake and invert onto plate. Repeat with remaining cakes. Dust with powdered sugar. Top with crystallized ginger. Serve cakes with rum-ginger ice cream.

SPICED CHOCOLATE MOLTEN CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. In a microwave, melt butter and chocolate; stir until smooth. Stir in wine and vanilla., In a small bowl, beat the egg, egg yolk and confectioners' sugar until thick and lemon-colored. Beat in the flour, ginger and cinnamon until well blended. Gradually beat in butter mixture., Transfer to 2 greased 6-oz. ramekins or custard cups. Place ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake until a thermometer inserted in the center reads 160° and sides of cakes are set, 10-12 minutes., Remove from the oven and let stand for 1 minute. Run a knife around edges of ramekins; invert onto dessert plates. Dust with additional confectioners' sugar. Serve immediately.

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.

GINGER CAKES WITH MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CENTERS AND GINGER CRèME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Make ganache:
• Put a sheet of wax paper on a small baking sheet and put a 3-inch round cutter on it. (Alternatively, line a 3-inch ramekin with plastic wrap, leaving a 2-inch overhang.)
• Chop chocolate and transfer to a bowl. In a small saucepan bring cream to a boil and pour over chocolate. Stir mixture with a rubber spatula until completely smooth and pour into cutter or ramekin. Freeze ganache while preparing cake. (Ganache may be made 1 week ahead and frozen, covered.)
• Make cakes:
• Preheat oven to 375°F and generously butter and flour four 10-ounce mini-bundt pans (not non-stick) or ramekins, knocking out excess flour.
• Into a bowl sift together flour, ginger, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, sour cream, and molasses until combined well. (Mixture will separate but will come together again when flour mixture is added.) Add flour mixture to egg mixture, beating until just combined (do not overbeat).
• Spoon about 1/2 cup batter into each pan or ramekin and bake on a baking sheet in middle of oven 20 minutes. Run a thin knife around side of cutter and remove ganache. (Alternatively, lift ganache out of ramekin using plastic wrap.) Quarter ganache and put 1 piece in center of each cake, pressing down gently (ganache will sink into cakes). Bake cakes 15 to 20 minutes more, or until set and a crust is formed on top. Cool cakes in pans or ramekins on a rack 10 minutes. (Cakes may be made 1 day ahead and kept in pans or ramekins, covered, at room temperature. Reheat cakes in a 375°F oven before serving.)
• Invert cakes onto plates and serve warm with crème anglaise.