Chocolate lovers, this is the dessert for you. These decadent pudding cakes are quite rich; you might want to share one; Feed your Lover. It’s a great culmination to a delicious meal.
Chocolate. Some say the great Aztec ruler Montezuma believed in the power of chocolate as an aphrodisiac, to the point, that he would drink large volumes of a chocolate elixir before heading into his harem. In modern days, scientists have shown that chocolate causes a release of the same hormone released during sexual intercourse, and serves up a healthy dose of serotonin, sometimes called the “feel good” hormone.
Chili Peppers. Sex!. Sensuous! Red! Full of Heat! It makes your face flush, promotes sweat at the brow and makes hearts flutter. Sounds like love! And chili peppers also release endorphins when eaten so imagine the double whammy of this chili-spiced chocolate dessert.
Strawberries. Maybe it’s just the cute heart shape or the fact that they can be dipped in chocolate or whipped cream and fed to your lover. Whatever the reason for their power, strawberries have been considered an aphrodisiac since ancient Rome.
Sorry, I forgot to take pictures.
Makes 2 individual-sized cakes
Ingredients
1/4 cup Sugar
2 Tbsp Water
2 1/2 oz. Bittersweet chocolate, 62 – 70% cacao
3 Tbsp Butter, room temperature
1 ea. Egg
1 Tbsp Flour
1 tsp Chili Powder
1/2 cup Sliced strawberries
Mint leaves for garnish
Preparations
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Butter the insides of two 6 oz. ceramic ramekins, and then dust liberally with sugar. Place inside a glass baking dish and set aside.
Make a simple syrup by combining sugar and water in a small pan and heat until the sugar dissolves. While the sugar is dissolving, roughly chop chocolate and place in a small bowl; pour the hot sugar syrup over the chocolate, stirring until all chocolate is melted. Add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking until fully incorporated before adding the next piece. Whisk in egg.
Combine flour and chile powder and whisk into mixture. Divide batter evenly between the two butter-prepared ramekins. Create a water bath by filling the baking dish with hot water to halfway up the outsides of the ramekins and place the entire baking dish into the oven.
Bake until cakes have risen and tops just barely begin to crack, about 50 – 60 minutes. Remove from the oven and carefully remove ramekins from water bath. Let sit for 2 minutes, then using pot holder, invert cakes into dessert plates. (Note that the cakes will be difficult to move once they adhere to the plates.)
To serve: Spoon sliced strawberries onto cakes and garnish with mint leaves.
Share one of these Fabulously Rich Chocolate cakes with your Lover and save the other for breakfast!!!
Bon Appetit!
