SUNKEN CHOCOLATE CAKES WITH ICE CREAM
Ann M. Evans

This recipe is from my good friend and beekeeping sister Jamie Buffington. She got it from Martha Stewart Living, May 2001. I first had it at her house, and it has been a go to Valentine’s Day dessert ever since if I’m having a dinner party for the occasion. If so, I double the recipe. You will need jumbo non-stick muffin tins for this, but they come in handy for large muffins too. I use a top quality vanilla ice cream.

Serves 4

 Coating the muffin tins with butter and sugar gives these little cakes sparkle and a bit of crunch.

8 T. (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut in pieces, plus more for pans
1/4 cup sugar, plus more for pans
5 oz. best-quality bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 large eggs, separated, plus 2 large egg yolks
4 scoops ice cream

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly butter 4 cups in a jumbo non-stick muffin pan, leaving the 2 center cups empty.  Coat lightly with sugar, and set aside.  Place butter and chocolate in a heat-proof bowl; set over a pan of simmering water.  Stir occasionally, until melted and thoroughly combined.  Remove from heat; set aside.
  2. Combine the 4 egg yolks with 2 T. sugar, and whisk until the mixture is pale yellow and thick.  Stir in the melted chocolate-and-butter mixture.
  3. Whisk egg whites until soft peaks form, add remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and whisk until stiff and shiny, but not dry.  Fold into chocolate mixture.  Divide batter among prepared muffin cups, and bake until set and lightly springy to the touch, about 25 minutes (I do about 20).  Remove from oven, and transfer to a wire rack.  Allow to cool for 15 minutes in pan; carefully run a knife around edges of cakes, and unmold.  Serve each with a scoop of ice cream.