Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Chocolate!!!! who doesn't like it? Baking is all about measurements but this is one recipe you can really play with it and it comes out perfect every time. I had parties at my house consecutive days and i served this for my guests and they loved it. This cooks in 13 minutes and each person will get their own chocolate cake and when they cut them through chocolate just flows as lava and it is yummylicious.
Bake them for extra 2 minutes if you prefer less lava chocolate in the middle.Serve them hot with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. I liked mine with dulce de leche ice cream. No wonder i burnt my tongue both the times.

Serves - 4 to 6
Preparation time - 10 minutes
Cooking time - 15 minutes


Ingredients :
Semi Sweet Chocolate Bar - 6 oz. (I used Ghiradelli chocolate bar)
Unsalted Butter - 1 stick + extra to grease ramekins
All Purpose Flour - 1/3 cup
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Eggs - 3
Instant Espresso Powder - 1 tsp (optional)
Vanilla Essence - 1 tsp
Salt - a pinch


Method :

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Melt the butter in microwave for 1 minute. Cut chocolate into small pieces and mix in the butter until it is melted.
3. In another bowl, beat together eggs and sugar for 3 minutes until it is frothy and pale in color.
4. Add the butter chocolate mixture into the beaten egg. Add flour, salt, vanilla essence and espresso powder.
5. Mix until everything is well combined.
6. Grease the ramekins with butter and pour the batter until 3/4 th full.
7. Bake for 11-13 minutes. Leave in the oven for another 2 minutes if you want less lava in the middle. (i baked mine exactly 13 minutes)
8. Turn it upside down and drizzle confectioner's sugar on top. Serve hot with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Note :

• Use bitter sweet chocolate if you are chocolate person.
• I found the recipe here - Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Red Velvet Cake

Yesterday was Valentine's day and i wanted to surprise my hubby with nice dinner. I was planning this for a long time and i wanted something that resembles the day. What better recipe can scream valentines day other than red velvet cake? I had red velvet muffin with cream cheese topping in the famous "Porto's Bakery" and i loved it so i thought of using the same frosting for my cake. This recipe is adapted from Martha Stewart's collection. I've never made a double layer cake and i finally got some guts to try it. My husband loved it and it was a big hit in my house. It is too big a cake for 2 people so i distributed to all the friends in the apartment. I made a simple dinner with cheese ravioli with tomatoes and arugula, ginger tea lemonade as the red velvet cake was yesterday's highlight. Had a fun Valentines day!!!!!!

Ingredients : 
Cake Flour - 2 1/2 cups
Cocoa Powder - 1/4 cup
Baking Soda - 1 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Granulated Sugar - 1 1/2 cups
Vegetable Oil - 1 1/2 cups
Large Eggs - 2
Vanilla Extract - 1 tsp
Red Food Coloring - 2 tsp
Buttermilk - 1 cup
White Vinegar - 2 tsp


For Cream Cheese Frosting :
Philadelphia Cream Cheese - 8 oz. (room temperature)
Unsalted Butter - 1 stick (4 oz. room temperature)
Confectioner's sugar - 1 3/4 cups
Vanilla Extract - 1 tsp
Method :

1. Preheat oven to 350deg F.
2. Butter two 9 inch round pan and dust flour and tap our the excess. (This process helps cake to come out of pan without sticking).
3. Sift the first four ingredients, mix and keep aside.
4. In a stand mixer (i used electric mixer) mix sugar and oil, beat until they are well combined for about 2 minutes.
5. Add one egg at a time and beat until well combined. Add vanilla extract and red food color.
6. On low speed add flour mixture alternating with buttermilk. Make sure you start with flour mixture and end with flour mixture. Add 1/4th cup of flour and 2 tbsp of buttermilk at a time so the flour doesn't fall out.
7. Scrape the sides of the bowl for any flour sticking and mix well. Add vinegar and mix well.
8. Pour evenly onto the round pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. Mine took 30 minutes. 
9. Remove from oven and place on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and let it cool.
10. For the frosting, beat butter until light and fluffy about 2 minutes. Add cream cheese and beat until well combined.
11. Add sugar, vanilla extract and beat well fr another 2 minutes.
12. Place the frosting in between the 2 cakes and just spread it on top. 
13. I shaved the top of the cake and placed it on the sides for some decoration.

Note : 

• When you remove from oven just tap the pan on all sides on the counter top. Cake doesn't stick. 
• My icing didnt work at the last minute so i shaved the top layer of the cake and crumbled it to decorate.