Mini Chocolate Lava Cake

Guys. You guys. This recipe, you guys. Wow. It is, of course, from the Joy the Baker Cookbook. She calls it Single Girl Melty Chocolate Cake. I needed a slightly more masculine name, so I went with Mini Chocolate Lava Cake. It's gooey and chocolatey and super simple. Also, dangerous. I'm going to make this all the time. Just for me. Maybe several times a day.

Mini Chocolate Lava Cake

 Ingredients
1 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 C. semisweet chocolate chips
1 large egg
4 tsp. white sugar
pinch of salt
1 tsp. all-purpose flour

Method
- Place a rack in the center of the oven, with a cookie sheet on it. Preheat to 375 degrees F.

- Generously butter and flour a 1-cup ramekin and set aside.

- In a small pot, bring 2 inches of water to a simmer. Place the butter and chocolate chips in a small heatproof bowl and place over the simmering water. Stir until the chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and cool slightly.

 - In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and sugar.  Pour in the slightly cooled melted chocolate mixture, and whisk until well incorporated. Add the salt and flour, and stir until just combined. Pour batter into the prepared ramekin.

 - Place the ramekin on the cookie sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for 7-10 minutes*. The less time in the oven, the gooier the cake will be. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 2 minutes.

- Using pot holders, carefully invert the cake onto a plate.

 - Enjoy immediately!

The * after "7-10 minutes" is because I actually had to bake mine for about 15 minutes. I took it out after 10, and it was still pretty much liquid. After awhile, I just stopped using the timer, and waited until it was puffed up and a little more solid.

Also, make sure you butter and flour the ramekin very well. A piece of mine stuck when I inverted it, as you can see in that last picture.

It was delicious, and quick, and totally worth it. Have it with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, and you've just found Heaven. Double the recipe and use two ramekins for a quick, easy, delicious, impressive date night dessert.

I totally plan on experimenting with this recipe. Adding a little vanilla or mint extract, maybe? Some peanut butter chips? Some rum? Coffee? Top it with some raspberry jam? Sliced strawberries? Banana? The possibilities are endless. Maybe I'll open up a cafe and only serve variations on this recipe! Lava Cake Cafe? Any backers out there interested in investing?!

Enjoy!