Individual warm chocolate cakes with soft centers appeared on restaurant dessert menus across the country late in the decade.
Recipe information
Yield
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Generously butter four 3/4-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups. Arrange on baking sheet. Stir chocolate and butter in heavy small saucepan over low heat until smooth. Remove from heat; stir in brandy. Cool 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 2
Using electric mixer, beat eggs, yolks, 4 tablespoons sugar, vanilla, 1 teaspoon espresso powder and salt in medium bowl until very thick ribbon falls when beaters are lifted, about 6 minutes. Sift flour over batter; fold in flour. Fold in chocolate mixture. Divide batter among dishes, filling completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover loosely; refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before baking.)
Step 3
Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake cakes until tops are puffed and dry and tester inserted into center comes out with moist batter still attached, about 15 minutes. Cool cakes 5 minutes.
Step 4
Beat cream, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder in small bowl until firm peaks form. Top cakes with whipped cream and serve warm.
