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Hot Chocolate Fudge Cakes

Cooking Light
Hot Chocolate Fudge Cakes
Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro
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Worthy of a Special Occasion

These hot-from-the-oven desserts are ideal for a holiday celebration and can mostly be made up to two days ahead.

Yield: 10 servings (serving size: 1 cake)

Ingredients

  • 3.4  ounces  all-purpose flour (about 3/4 cup)
  • 2/3  cup  unsweetened cocoa
  • 5  teaspoons  instant espresso powder
  • 1 1/2  teaspoons  baking powder
  • 1/4  teaspoon  salt
  • 1/4  cup  unsalted butter, softened
  • 2/3  cup  granulated sugar
  • 2/3  cup  packed brown sugar
  • 1  cup  egg substitute
  • 1 1/2  teaspoons  vanilla extract
  • 1  (2.6-ounce) bar dark (71% cocoa) chocolate (such as Valrhona Le Noir Amer), finely chopped
  • 2  tablespoons  powdered sugar

Preparation

1. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Sift together flour, cocoa, espresso powder, baking powder, and salt.

2. Place butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed 1 minute. Add granulated and brown sugars, beating until well blended (about 5 minutes). Add egg substitute and vanilla, beating until well blended. Fold flour mixture into sugar mixture; fold in chocolate. Divide batter evenly among 10 (4-ounce) ramekins; arrange ramekins on a jelly-roll pan. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or up to 2 days.

3. Preheat oven to 350°.

4. Let ramekins stand at room temperature 10 minutes. Uncover and bake at 350° for 21 minutes or until cakes are puffy and slightly crusty on top. Sprinkle evenly with powdered sugar; serve immediately.

Nutritional Information

Calories:
260 (28% from fat)
Fat:
8.2g (sat 4.5g,mono 2.3g,poly 0.2g)
Protein:
5.1g
Carbohydrate:
43.9g
Fiber:
1.8g
Cholesterol:
12mg
Iron:
2.3mg
Sodium:
189mg
Calcium:
63mg
Diane Morgan, Cooking Light, DECEMBER 2008

Member Ratings and Reviews

5 stars
Christina M
Excellent!!! Definitely use the Expresso powder (I had a hard time finding it - finally found it at Vons). I used bigger chunks for the chocolate and used 4 eggs instead of substitutes. You definitely need to cut the cooking time. I cooked 15 minutes and the cakes were still a little over cooked in the middle, HOWEVER, the cakes are so delicious, it didn't make a difference. Highly recommend. I"m making again for Christmas Eve.12/19/09

5 stars
Pana
I gave this recipe 4 stars because the instructions for baking time were way off. It's still very good especially since it can be made in advance and baked during dinner. The baking time is too long even for 6 oz ramekins which is what I have on hand - 12 minutes maximum for a convection oven. Otherwise there is no gooey center. Absolutely use the espresso powder. I now add this to most of my chocolate baking recipes. Miraculously it heightens the chocolate flavor without tasting like coffee. A drizzle of melted high quality vanilla ice cream is an easy way to top it off. This is a simple and impressive dessert.11/08/09