Or, at least they were supposed to be molten, but I’ll get to that later.
It’s Valentine’s Day next week and quite frankly, I haven’t celebrated this “holiday” in a loooooong time. Not that the Husband and I don’t like to celebrate our love, but when you’ve been together 12 years, the desire to do it in a public way dictated by social mores, traditions and expectations is gone. Also, I’m a total suck when it comes to doing loving things. The Husband is far more romantic than I am. He’s always the one to craft elaborate plans to surprise me and make sweet things like collages, homemade cards, and meals.
The most romantic thing he’s ever done wasn’t on Valentine’s day but on my 30th birthday. He had my friends take me out for a birthday dinner. I thought it was super weird that it was just a girl’s night out and that he wasn’t coming to celebrate a milestone event with me. When I got home, the lights wouldn’t turn on in our apartment and I saw what looked like the flickering of flames in the hallway. I seriously thought our apartment was on fire. I ran down the hall into our living room and saw that the entire room was full of candles and flowers. Photos of the two of us were flashing by on our television. The Husband had set up an electric keyboard in the corner of the room and he was dressed up in a suit and bow tie. He played the piano and sang one of “our songs”, It Might Be You, originally by John Bishop from the Tootsie soundtrack, although the version we prefer is by Kai. I thought this was all just for my birthday, but after he finished singing, he got down on one knee and proposed.
After I said yes, he walked back to our front door and it turned out that all my girlfriends, the ones I had just finished dinner with, were there to celebrate the moment with us. Best surprise ever. The Husband had spent weeks figuring out the music to the song and learning how to play it. That’s how sweet and loving he is. Now picture the opposite of that and you get me. The poor guy definitely got the bum end of the deal here.
So, even though we don’t do anything uber special for Vday, there’s always room for chocolate and eating chocolate is always a cause for celebration. When I heard that this week the Sunday Supper team is cookin’ up aphrodisiacs and baking up sweets for their sweets, I knew I wanted to make something super decadent, rich, indulgent and chocolatey. Molten lava cake is one of my favourite things to eat and it’s been on my culinary bucket list for a long time. I took this opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and decided to make it.
This song was sung as I walked down the aisle. Enjoy, with a big slice of cake!
Chocolate Mint Molten Lava Cakes (adapted from Savory Sweet Life)
1 1/4 stick butter
1 cup chocolate (I used a Lindt mint chocolate bar and broke it up into small pieces)
1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup powdered sugar
3 large eggs
3 egg yolks
1 1/2 tsp peppermint extract *next time I’d use more extract because I found that the mint taste wasn’t as pronounced as I’d like. I’d try at least 2 1/2 teaspoons, especially if you’re not using mint flavoured chocolate. If you don’t mind the taste being subtle, then you can keep it at 1 1/2*
Garnish with whatever your heart desires – powdered sugar, ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, etc. I dusted mine with powdered sugar and added scoops of mint cookie ice cream.
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Generously butter/grease/spray 6 ramekins or a muffin tin.
Melt the chocolate and butter together. I did this by microwaving them together in three or four 15 second intervals. Mix them together.
Add the flour and powdered sugar to the melted chocolate/butter and stir to combine.
Stir in the eggs and egg yolks. Add the peppermint extract and stir to combine.
Divide the batter evenly between the ramekins or muffin tin. The muffin tins will be smaller than the ramekins so you’ll probably end up making more than 6. Fill each tin 3/4 of the way.
Bake for 10 minutes but seriously, keep an eye on these babies. You do NOT want to overcook them as I foolishly did. They will be done as soon as the edges are firm and the middle is still sunken, runny and gooey. I read a tip online that if the lava cakes are domed in the centre, they’re probably overdone.
Remove the ramekins from the oven and allow to cool a few minutes. Run a knife around the edge of each and carefully invert onto a plate. Or you can serve the cake inside the ramekin.
I was cleaning the apartment today because it’s Chinese New Year tomorrow. Before Chinese New Year day, you’re supposed to clean your office and home, which is symbolic of sweeping away misfortune. There is to be no cleaning on New Year day because you’d be sweeping away all your good fortune. You’re not supposed to wash your hair either but I wouldn’t go that far. I mention this only because I was cleaning when my kitchen timer went off to tell me that it’d been ten minutes since my cakes were in the oven and I didn’t hear it. So, I over-baked them and damn was I disappointed. The very centre of the cakes were still liquidy but there was too much overdone cake. It was missing that gushing river of molten chocolate that these cakes are famous for and that I had been dreaming of. Le sigh.
Thankfully I had a pint of cookie mint ice cream to eat with my cake. Ice cream makes everything better.
The centres of the cake were phenomenal – exactly what I expected. Not too sweet and luscious silky smooth. If I baked them properly, they would have been perfect.
Make sure you visit all the other Sunday Supper participants this week for romantic culinary inspiration. Gung hay fat choy to everyone celebrating New Years today and happy Lovey-Dovey Day!
Make sure you check out the other #SundaySupper participants to see what they’ve made for our Valentine’s Day #SundaySupper!
#SundaySupper Valentine’s Day Breakfasts, Apps & Main Dishes:
- Asparagus, Clam & Bay Shrimp Pasta from Galactopdx
- Bacon Double Cheese Burger Bites from In the Kitchen with KP
- Cheese Stuffed Cannelloni from Curious Cuisiniere
- Garlic Shrimp Bruschetta from MarocMama
- Green Olive, Goat Cheese & Basil Crostini from Hip Foodie Mom
- Indian Shrimp Pulao from Soni’s Food
- Individual Beef “Phyll-ingtons” from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Ranch, Bacon and Cheese Crisps from Daily Dish Recipes
- Red Velvet Pancakes with Cream Cheese Frosting from Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Rissóis de Camarão | Portuguese Shrimp Dumplings from Family Foodie
- Spicy Red Cabbage Quiche | Veggie Quiche Recipe from Masala Herb
#SundaySupper Valentine’s Day Sweet Eats:
- Banana Bourbon Blondies from The Messy Baker
- Banana Cream Napoleon from Food Lust People Love
- Brown Butter M&M Cookies from Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
- Brown Butter Rolo Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies from Damn Delicious
- Chocolate Baumkuchen from Webicurean
- Chocolate Bread Pudding from La Cocina de Leslie
- Chocolate Chip Banana Cake with Banana Cream from The Lovely Pantry
- Chocolate Covered Bacon from I Run For Wine
- Chocolate Covered Stuffed Strawberries from Country Girl in the Village
- Chocolate Mousse from Mom, What’s For Dinner?
- Chocolate Roll filled with Nutella Cream from Basic N Delicious
- Chocolate Velvet Ice Cream with Cherry Sauce from Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Cinnamon Sugar Tortillas with Chocolate Sauce from The Roxx Box
- Coconut Sweetheart Cookies from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Coeur a la Creme from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Cream Cheese Mints from Simply Gourmet
- Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Mousse with Coconut Cream from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
- Dark Chocolate Raspberry Torte from Kelly Bakes
- #GlutenFree Chocolate Almond Cloudless Cake from Cooking Underwriter
- Heart Shaped White Chocolate Cakes with Raspberry Cream from Noshing with the Nolands
- Homemade Cherry Mash Candies from Juanita’s Cocina
- Maple-Date Bars from Diabetic Foodie
- Meyer Lemon Marmalade from Shockingly Delicious
- Mini Samoa Bundt Cakes from Ruffles & Truffles
- Molten Chocolate Lava Cake from Gotta Get Baked
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes from The Meltaways
- Pistachio and Chocolate Souffle from Small Wallet Big Appetite
- Raspberry Custard Tart from Kudos Kitchen
- Raw Fudge Love from Mama’s Blissful Bites
- Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Red Velvet French Macarons with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Filling from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwiches from Cravings of a Lunatic
- Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies from Magnolia Days
- Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars from Chocolate Moosey
- Red Wine Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting from The Urban Mrs.
- Strawberry Shortcake! from The Foodie Army Wife
- Strawberry Valentine Cake Hearts from Ninja Baking
- Tres Leches Tea Cakes with Honey Riesling Soaked Fruit from Neighborfood
- Valentine’s Bakewell Tarts from Happy Baking Days
- Valentines Chocolate Apples from Big Bear’s Wife
#SundaySupper Valentine’s Day Drinks:
- Blood Orange Vodka Martinis from The Catholic Foodie
- Bloody Raspberry Cocktail from My Cute Bride
- Strawberry Gin Fizz from girlichef
#SundaySupper Valentine’s Day Tablescape: A Romantic Table For Two Please from An Appealing Plan
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on Twitter today to talk all about Valentine’s eats and treats! We’ll tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag, and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos!
Happy New Year, Nancy! Your husband does sound like he’s stepped out of a Hollywood film =) You are lucky. And he is lucky to have a wife who prepares him luscious molten lava cake with Lindt chocolate!
May I say I am jealous of your Prince Charming husband? You inspire me to find a guy like that 🙂
And maybe this valentines treat is the way to get him 😉
WOW!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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What a great story! Your sweet husband certainly does sound like a romantic. Bet all your girlfriends were very jealous as well as happy for you. Your little molten cakes still look delicious and gooey in the middle so perhaps you swept out the misfortunate after all. Gong Xi Fa Cai!
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LOL good the house wasn’t burning. That’s really sweet what he did. =)
All this years later you are the one making him melt with your molten lava cakes.
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That is just the sweetest story! How great and romantic of your husband. He’s a real keeper. And so is this recipe.
First of all, that´s the sweetest proposal, with having to learn the lyrics and all it´s just too romantic Nancy! The cakes do have a molten middle, don´t be so hard on yourself. The peppermint is such a fantastic idea! Love it!
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The boyfriend ADORES mint/chocolate so I know he’d love love love these! I also love the story of your bday/proposal, that WAS super duper sweet!
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You do know there is no way I can tell that those aren’t just perfect little chocolate molten lava cakes right? And that missing the timer is my ammo all the time, I hate it. Your husband sounds absolutely amazing and I loved reading that whole story. I tend to be less romantic than I Was when I was younger. I’m not sure what happened…. but at any rate – that is the sweetest proposal and the song is GORGEOUS!
And I want one of these chocolate cakes… they look absolutely decadent!
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The pics of your molten lava cakes look fabulous! You definitely inspire me to try to bake more. :). And love stories are wonderful too!
I totally want to try this bit how much (preferably in grams) is a stick of butter please? X
A stick of butter is 113 grams, and 1/2 cup. If you try it, let me know how it turns out!
thanks so much!! Will do x
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I would have never guessed that these cakes are overbaked, Nancy! They look amazing! Mouth-watering! And I need to make some too 🙂
Well, your husband sounds like a great guy and quite deserving of one of these lava cakes! Oh heck, I might even get sentimental and make them for my husband for Valentine’s Day. You’ve inspired me!
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It always makes me smile to hear stories of men who put time and thought into making their lady happy. Yours sounds like he’s got it down pat! Too bad your cakes got a little overdone but hey the best part is always the middle anyway!
Loved reading your post – I’m pretty hopeless at the romance thing too. Luckily I have a husband who understands 🙂 Your husband sounds pretty wonderful – and so does your lava cake!
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Overbaked or not, I think they look fabulous. And who cares if you have ice cream too. And what an adorable story! Thanks for sharing.
What an absolute sweetheart! Those are some special memories that will last so much longer then a cheap greeting card. And for a cake that didn’t cook properly that looks pretty amazing.
Nancy!! Reading your post got me all teary. You are one lucky lady! I’m flying solo these days, but if I end up with someone half as sweet as your hubby sounds, I’ll count my blessings 🙂 Anyway, you could’ve fooled me; these look absolutely perfect! I made lava cakes for an ex boyfriend on Valentine’s Day once, but overbaked them so much that they lost any semblance of lava whatsoever!
Awww, what an awesome 30th birthday. Thanks for sharing that beautiful story with us!
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What a great guy you have!
YUM! One of my favorites to make and eat!
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Oh, my gosh! My husband would have never dreamed of doing anything a fraction of that romantic! What a great memory! I’ve made tons of lava cake recipes…and it’s so hard to know when they’re done. We’ll eat them without the lava (and have MANY times!), but SO much better with the gooey centers!
Wow, that IS quite the romantic story. Congrats to you. 😉 My husband is pretty cool that way, too. Though I will say he was better back when we were dating and just married than almost 16 years later. 😉
We LOVE lava cake, too. Just might have to try this, this week even, because my husband really likes mint, too. Great post!
I’m not good at romantic stuff either but fortunately my boyfriend isn’t either so I don’t have to worry about him outdoing me! We don’t do a lot for Valentines either but I love it as an excuse to make something fancy, especially dessert! These cakes would be perfect – I’m not much of a chocolate person but they look absolutely gorgeous (and not overbaked!) That proposal story almost made me cry – you’re a lucky girl (and I’m sure he’s equally lucky)!
awh, Tony is such a sweet heart. . how romantic! Love the proposal story. . so sweet! I love that you made Chocolate MINT Molten Lava Cakes! you rock!!! and I have this on my bucket list as well so I will definitely listen to your advice!!! Beautifully made!!! they still look fabulous!!! yum!
wonderful story, what a lovely thing he did!
These Mint chocolate lava cakes, oh my 🙂
Nothing wrong with molten chocolate 🙂
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Molten lava alright !!! Good thing you made minis. These are delactable 🙂