Food Buzz Badge

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Gluten-Free and Fabulous

Thanks to everyone for their get-well wishes for my cat, Ingrid.  The good news is--how do I put this delicately on a food blog?--she is not hopping off the bed every morning at 5:30 a.m., howling pitifully and then--er--losing the contents of her stomach on the bedroom carpet.  Was that delicate enough?  We'll know more about how she's reacting to the medication in the next couple of weeks.

Rejoining the Cake Slice bakers after a month off, I have to sing the praises of these little chocolate cakes.  Admittedly, they were supposed to be molten chocolate cakes, but even with baking according to the letter of the instructions, there was no melting going on.  Rather, I would describe these as little souffle cakes with a slightly brownie-like center.  A list of their many fine qualities:

1.  They don't contain any flour.  This is the cake to make your friends who can't eat gluten.  Or for Passover, which is coming up quicker than I care to think about. 

2.  You already have all the ingredients.  A word on chocolate:  this is not the place to use your fancy, expensive chocolate.  My fellow Cake Slice bakers warned that the original all-bittersweet recipe was, well, just too bitter.  I like dark chocolate better than anyone, but I heeded the warning and used a combination of semi-sweet Baker's chocolate and part of a big Hershey bar that for reasons that pass understanding has appeared in my pantry. 

3.  You can make the batter ahead.  I made the batter and put it in the fridge for six hours before baking up the cakes.  No problem, just bring the batter to room temperature before baking.  It'll take you that long to preheat your oven anyway.



On top of that, the cakes were delicious, and not too sweet.  I served them with a side of honey gelato, the recipe for which will appear later this week.  Good vanilla ice cream would work just as well. 

This recipe can be easily doubled;  I cut it down because it was just for David and I.  We ate the leftover cake the next morning and it was more brownie-like, but equally delicious.

Individual Warm Chocolate Cakes
Adapted from The Cake Book by Tish Boyle

3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
1.5 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
2 tbsp. unsalted butter, cubed
1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs, separated
1/16 tsp. salt (basically just a pinch)
1/8 tsp. cream of tartar

Spray three six-ounce ramekins (or coffee cups, in my case) with baking spray with flour or butter them generously;  set aside.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Using a double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter over simmering water.  When the mixture is completely melted, remove from the heat.  Whisk in half the sugar, then the egg yolks.

In a small bowl, beat the egg whites and salt with an electric mixer.  When the whites are foamy, add the cream of tartar and beat at medium speed until the whites are at the soft-peak stage.  Then add the remaining sugar and beat the whites to stiff peaks.

Fold a third of the whites mixture into the chocolate until combined, then incorporate the rest of the whites bit by bit. 

Divide the mixture among the prepared ramekins/cups and place them on a baking sheet.  Bake for approximately 15 minutes, until the tops start to crack.  Watch closely because overbaking will mean no molten center.

Cool the cakes for a minute on the baking sheet, then run a knife around the edges to unmold.  Unmold immediately on the serving plate and garnish with powdered sugar and ice cream.

Makes three individual cakes.

44 comments:

  1. Glad to hear your kitty is recovering though not his/her normal self yet. I like that the soufflé cake can be with the ingredients already at home and does not contain flour.

    I have not make anything like this for baking is not my forte. Looking at the pics and the chocs oozing on top and in it, I would certainly wanna try it out. Nice way of serving the cakes with honey gelato. Thank you for this easy to make recipe which is being bookmarked now.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cool that you are one of the cake slice bakers! Your cakes do look amazing. I think the double texture of the souffle plus brownie is something that I would really enjoy. Also, it is chocolate, which makes it all the better-yum!
    Glad your cat is getting better!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Can't wait to try these!They look so so delicious and making the batter ahead is a great idea!Perfect for entertaining :)Hope your cat recovers fast!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, no flour? I am curious to try these! They certainly look cakey. And delicious! Mmm...I think I'd love these with the brownie like texture. Great job, these are gorgeous!
    So glad to hear your cat is doing better too! Hooray!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Those look so good! WoW! :) so good!

    Paloma.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Warm chocolate anything is right up my alley! These look delicious, molten or not. I love that they're flourless; that means they're even more decadent!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yous look lovely, I really like your lemon plate too :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds delicious! I love a rich chocolate cake, that is slightly gooey in the center!

    ReplyDelete
  9. So glad to hear the kitty is getting better. :) I know how unsettling it is to not only deal with them being ill, but the aftermath of cleaning up when they are ill too.

    I am ecstatic that these coffee mug cakes are gluten free. They really do look like something I could whip up... I just have to get some cream of tarter. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm glad to heared the kitty is doing Ok,these individual warm chocolate looks yummy,especially serve with gelato,i made with strawberry not long ago,i should try with chocolate sometime :)
    Ridwan

    ReplyDelete
  11. These little souffle cakes look great!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I do have all the ingredients! Yeah!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I made the molten chocolate cake from Fine cooking magazine even in their picture it was not melting but somewhat gooey. I guess some of the recipes are like that.
    Your gluten free chocolates looks fabulous.
    When you go to Italy don't forget to try pistachio cookies.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I didn't know about your cat, but I'm glad to read she's gettings better :)

    And yes, this was definitely more like a souffle cake than a molten cake, but nontheless, it was delicious! Yours looks very puffy and airy; I like it :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I had the same result, no runny chocolate. Still a good recipe I thought. I almost went and got icecream to go with them, but it was raining and I got lazy. I bet that gelato was divine!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm glad Ingrid is feeling better. :) Our little four legged family members do worry us so, don't they? These cakes sound and look delicious. You are not helping my sweet tooth, my dear!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am happy Ingrid is feeling good :D
    And the cakes are gorgeous! My heaven my friend - nice one!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    ReplyDelete
  18. I hope your pet gets well soon! This cake is sounding great and I can't really wait to try this. http://cosmopolitancurrymania.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Glad to hear that your kitty is recovering, and you have less mess on your carpet...not at all an appropriate discussion for food bog, is it? :-) The cakes look so yum...I love these individual ones...makes me feel like I do not have to share any of it :-) waiting for the honey gelato :-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Glad to hear your kitty is on the mend. These cakes look wonderful. I actually make a larger version of this for Passover because it's flourless but how cute to do individual portions! Yum...

    ReplyDelete
  21. Woah! These look too good! And the fact they are gf just makes it perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I agree these puds were fabulous! Love the sound of your honey gelato

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh, I'm so glad Ingrid is feeling better...good wishes for a complete recovery! On to these wonderful cakes...I've had the not so lava-ish molten cakes, but they still disappeared in a flash...I'm happy to have a new recipe to try :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I am so sorry about your little cat, I hope she will get well soon! The cakes, what can I say, they look gorgeous! I would devour them in a minute!

    ReplyDelete
  25. So glad you cat is doing better! That definitely calls for cake. :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh no, your poor kitty! I sure hope the medication works well for her!
    And mmm, these look utterly fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  27. You did good! Definately baking this again..

    ReplyDelete
  28. o..poor Ingrid...at least she is feeling better, slowly but surely. You must have had some hard time too..do pamper yourself with some more chocolate cakes..

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh I love that you had cake to celebrate Ingrid feeling better!!! Molten or not, these look wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a gorgeous and delicious looking gluten free recipe! These little cakes are mouthwatering. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love everything about this (and I am a dark chocolate fiend). Especially the make-ahead ease. Hope Ingrid continues to improve!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Melting or not....who can resist a warm chocolate cake in a mug! And a scoop of honey gelato??? Heaven! : )

    ReplyDelete
  33. Glad your kitty is getting better! These cakes look so good! And gluten-free?! you would never know!

    ReplyDelete
  34. WoW! that is the cake I have been searching for, cake in a mug, your looks so delicious!

    cheers

    ReplyDelete
  35. Oh poor Ingrid. I'm glad she is on the mend.

    Great cakes. I love that you can make the batter ahead and have them fresh from the oven - with icecream? even better!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I love anything that you can make ahead! I can't believe there's no flour, i need to try these! The molten cake recipe I have at home has some flour in it Im pretty sure? They look so pretty in their little individual cups!

    ReplyDelete
  37. These cakes look great! What a yummy treat.

    ReplyDelete
  38. You're killing me! First the gelato and now this flourless chocolate cake! OMG! DEEEEEElicious! Glad to hear that Ingrid is doing better.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Sorry about your little kitty.. Hope she's feeling better. I wish I can end the day with this delicious dessert!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I nominated you for a Versatile Blogger award. ;.)Great post btw!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Yum-these look so tasty and chocolatey!

    ReplyDelete