Midnight snack - single serving molten chocolate cake

Recently the WCM tried a little thing she discovered on Pinterest - the microwave chocolate chip cookie. Being a pastry chef, the West Coast Muse knew that this wasn't going to match up to the Jacques Torres chocolate chip cookie recipe or anything...but might it do in a pinch? Kinda. If you are really hankering for cooked chocolatey dough, go for it! However, if you want a sweet n' salty cookie with that crisp crust and tender, melty chocolate inside, skip it! You just can't get that sumptuous texture in a microwave.

Instead of trying the microwave cookie, I say, go for the individual molten chocolate cake. This takes more cooking time than the two minute microwave cookie BUT it takes the same amount of active time. You are just melting a few things in a bowl and throwing it in the oven (or toaster oven!) for a couple minutes.

Let's get down to it.

Single Serving Molten Chocolate Cake

1 Tablespoon butter
1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon flour

1 egg
pinch of salt

+ a little extra deliciousness (I used a pinch of cumin! Other ideas - cinnamon, cayenne, ground lavender, or frangelico.)

Flip your oven to 375.

Melt the butter and chocolate together in a bowl (~ 60 seconds in the microwave). Mix in the rest of the ingredients. Plop the batter into a greased 6 oz ramekin. 

Pop it in the oven for 8-11 minutes, until the edges are well set but the inside is still gooey. When it's done, pull it out of the oven, put a plate on top of the ramekin and then flip it upside down so the cake slides out. 

That's it! So if you need a warm cakey chocolate fix before you hit the hay, forget mediocre microwave cookies and bake yourself a quick gourmet treat. Best served bedside with a cold glass of milk and your favorite book. 

Night, loves!