Molten Chocolate Mousse Cups
Bake this silky, rich chocolate mousse straight out of the freezer. It couldn’t be easier and you can make a half-batch without compromising the results. For a molten center, stick with the 4-oz. size. For a cooked-through but still meltingly tender crumb, choose the heart-shaped ramekins or any other flat 3-oz. ramekins. Needless to say, they make a killer Valentine’s Day dessert.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Put chocolate and butter in a medium metal bowl and set bowl over (not touching) simmering water in a pot. Heat until chocolate is almost completely melted; remove from heat, stir until smooth, and set aside.
Step 2
2
With a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk egg whites and salt in a bowl until foamy. With mixer still on, slowly rain in sugar and whisk until soft peaks form.
Step 3
3
Lightly beat yolks with a fork, and then stir into chocolate mixture until completely blended. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in whites. Divide mixture among 12 small freezer- and ovenproof coffee cups or ramekins (4 oz. each) or 16 shallow heart-shaped ramekins (3 oz. each). Cover each cup with plastic wrap and freeze at least 3 hours and up to 2 weeks.
Step 4
4
Preheat oven to 325°. Set ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet, remove plastic wrap, and bake until puffed, cracked on the edges, and just wet-looking in the center, 30 to 35 minutes (or 15 to 20 minutes for 3-oz. ramekins). Let cakes cool 10 minutes before serving. Top with whipped cream and dust with cocoa, if you like.
Ingredients
14 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup unsalted butter
6 large eggs, separated
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
Sweetened whipped cream and a sprinkle of cocoa powder, for topping
Directions
Step 1
1
Put chocolate and butter in a medium metal bowl and set bowl over (not touching) simmering water in a pot. Heat until chocolate is almost completely melted; remove from heat, stir until smooth, and set aside.
Step 2
2
With a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk egg whites and salt in a bowl until foamy. With mixer still on, slowly rain in sugar and whisk until soft peaks form.
Step 3
3
Lightly beat yolks with a fork, and then stir into chocolate mixture until completely blended. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in whites. Divide mixture among 12 small freezer- and ovenproof coffee cups or ramekins (4 oz. each) or 16 shallow heart-shaped ramekins (3 oz. each). Cover each cup with plastic wrap and freeze at least 3 hours and up to 2 weeks.
Step 4
4
Preheat oven to 325°. Set ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet, remove plastic wrap, and bake until puffed, cracked on the edges, and just wet-looking in the center, 30 to 35 minutes (or 15 to 20 minutes for 3-oz. ramekins). Let cakes cool 10 minutes before serving. Top with whipped cream and dust with cocoa, if you like.
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