Fudge Cakes with Jasmine Tea Whipped Cream
Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Christine Wolheim
Welcome to Sunset Suppers, a series of cooking videos shot by chefs and food notables in the first weeks of self-quarantine. These days everyone’s living, working, and cooking differently. That includes us here at Sunset—where our homes have become our offices/studios/test kitchens—and it includes chefs. We asked our favorite chefs in the West and beyond to turn the camera on themselves and share their tips on how to cook easy, nourishing, and comforting food with the limitations of what people have on hand. Similarly we’d like to know what and how you’re cooking, so please share your hacks and home cook victories on social media and tag it #sunsetsuppers!
This sensual dessert–adapted from Nicole Krasinski, chef-owner of State Bird Provisions in San Francisco–offers intriguing flavor combinations and textures that range from cloudlike to crunchy. Krasinski tops her cakes with a tasty fennel-hazelnut granola; for simplicity, we’ve used toasted hazelnuts. For her recipe, see sunset.com/granolarecipe.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Put the prunes in a small bowl and pour in cognac. Cover and chill overnight.
Step 2
2
In a microwave-safe small bowl or glass measuring cup, microwave cream until barely simmering (do not let boil). Add tea, cover, and let steep off the heat 30 minutes. Strain into a bowl and set bowl in a larger one of ice and cold water. Once cool, cover and chill at least 1 hour.
Step 3
3
In a microwave-safe bowl, heat butter with ginger just until butter melts. Cover and let steep 30 minutes.
Step 4
4
Strain ginger butter into a bowl, pressing ginger against strainer. Discard ginger. Put 6 tbsp. ginger butter and the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. In 10-second bursts, microwave until two-thirds melted. Whisk to melt fully.
Step 5
5
Preheat oven to 325°. In a separate bowl, whisk sugar, eggs, and salt together. Strain prunes (save cognac for cocktails).
Step 6
6
Whisk chocolate-butter mixture into eggs and sugar. Stir in prunes.
Step 7
7
Spoon batter into four 4-oz. ramekins or coffee cups, dividing evenly, then transfer to a small roasting pan. Carefully pour enough hot water into pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins. Cover pan tightly with foil.
Step 8
8
Bake cakes until just set (when you gently touch center of a cake, your finger should come away clean), about 35 minutes. Let cakes cool on a rack until barely warm. Meanwhile, whip jasmine cream into soft peaks.
Step 9
9
To serve, spoon some plum jam onto cakes and top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of toasted hazelnuts.
Step 10
10
Make ahead: Jasmine cream through step 2, up to 1 day, chilled. Cakes, up to 2 days, cooled and then chilled. Let them come to room temperature before serving.
Step 11
11
Wine pairing: A moderately sweet fortified red like Roxo 2011 Método Portugués "Ruby Tradicional" (Paso Robles; $48). --Sara Schneider
Ingredients
6 large prunes, cut into 1/4-in. dice
1/4 cup cognac (or other brandy)
1/3 cup whipping cream
1 heaping tsp. jasmine pearl tea
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into chunks
1/3 cup coarsely chopped peeled fresh ginger
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate (70%-74% cacao), coarsely chopped
5 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 tsp. sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
About 3 tbsp. store-bought or homemade plum jam, for topping
3 tablespoons toasted salted hazelnuts or almonds, coarsely chopped
Directions
Step 1
1
Put the prunes in a small bowl and pour in cognac. Cover and chill overnight.
Step 2
2
In a microwave-safe small bowl or glass measuring cup, microwave cream until barely simmering (do not let boil). Add tea, cover, and let steep off the heat 30 minutes. Strain into a bowl and set bowl in a larger one of ice and cold water. Once cool, cover and chill at least 1 hour.
Step 3
3
In a microwave-safe bowl, heat butter with ginger just until butter melts. Cover and let steep 30 minutes.
Step 4
4
Strain ginger butter into a bowl, pressing ginger against strainer. Discard ginger. Put 6 tbsp. ginger butter and the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. In 10-second bursts, microwave until two-thirds melted. Whisk to melt fully.
Step 5
5
Preheat oven to 325°. In a separate bowl, whisk sugar, eggs, and salt together. Strain prunes (save cognac for cocktails).
Step 6
6
Whisk chocolate-butter mixture into eggs and sugar. Stir in prunes.
Step 7
7
Spoon batter into four 4-oz. ramekins or coffee cups, dividing evenly, then transfer to a small roasting pan. Carefully pour enough hot water into pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins. Cover pan tightly with foil.
Step 8
8
Bake cakes until just set (when you gently touch center of a cake, your finger should come away clean), about 35 minutes. Let cakes cool on a rack until barely warm. Meanwhile, whip jasmine cream into soft peaks.
Step 9
9
To serve, spoon some plum jam onto cakes and top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of toasted hazelnuts.
Step 10
10
Make ahead: Jasmine cream through step 2, up to 1 day, chilled. Cakes, up to 2 days, cooled and then chilled. Let them come to room temperature before serving.
Step 11
11
Wine pairing: A moderately sweet fortified red like Roxo 2011 Método Portugués "Ruby Tradicional" (Paso Robles; $48). --Sara Schneider
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