Happy birthday, Kavi!

Belated birthday post for Kavi, but that's okay, since we were able to make her warm chocolate cake in celebration! Yum.


We are so related. Check out those matching toothy grins. (We did go to the same orthodonist.)


The dessert party guests.

If you ever need a simple but impressive dessert for a dinner party, I highly recommend the warm chocolate cakes, aka chocolate lava cakes, aka molten chocolate cake. It is delish, perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, not too heavy. Like chocolate chip cookies, this lovely recipe was created by mistake, when Chef Jean Georges Vongerichten pulled some cakes out of the oven too early.

Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter, plus more to butter the molds
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, preferably Valrhona
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons flour, plus more for dusting

1. In the top of a double boiler set over simmering water, heat the butter and chocolate together until the chocolate is almost completely melted. While that’s heating, beat together the eggs, yolks, and sugar with a whisk or electric beater until light and thick.

2. Beat together the melted chocolate and butter; it should be quite warm. Pour in the egg mixture, then quickly beat in the flour, just until combined.

3. Butter and lightly flour four 4-ounce molds, custard cups, or ramekins. Tap out the excess flour, then butter and flour them again. Divide the batter among the molds. (At this point you can refrigerate the desserts until you are ready to eat, for up to several hours; bring them back to room temperature before baking.)

4. Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). Bake the molds on a tray for 6 to 7 minutes; the center will still be quite soft, but the sides will be set.

5. Invert each mold onto a plate and let sit for about 10 seconds. Unmold by lifting up one corner of the mold; the cake will fall out onto the plate. Serve immediately.