Valentines Day is not a day to be watching what you eat. This past summer I went on a binge after reading about S'mores cakes in jars. I first saw them over at How Sweet It Is and just had to make them! After a few delicious tries I decided to tweak the recipe. I was after a more melty gooey cake like the melted chocolate in a S'more so I decided to swap the cake for my own flourless chocolate cake recipe. Back in the days of my internet dating I also used to post recipes on Allrecipes.com, this cake is tried and true and always welcome at our table.
Simply make up your favourite graham cracker crust recipe (or the recipe on the back of the graham cracker package), equally distribute among six jars and pack them down with the handle of a wooden spoon. Top with flourless chocolate cake batter and bake them off for about 15 minutes. From this point they can be stored in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
You know those molten lava cakes at fancy restaurants? They are all made well in advance and simply microwaved before serving. For reals. I think it's the greatest trick - everyone thinks lava cakes are so fancy but really they are an incredibly easy timesaver dessert for restaurants.
So right before you are ready to eat dessert simply microwave your jars for about 30 seconds or a minute. While they are in the microwave getting their chocolate cake all gooey preheat your broiler.
Here's a Pro Tip - while the cakes are in the microwave do a lot of banging around in the kitchen and turn the tap on high - basically you'll want to drown out the sound of the microwave and make it seem like you are working really hard in the kitchen. Trust me no one else needs to know you're microwaving dessert.
Once your cakes are out of the microwave place jars on a cookie sheet, top with mini marshmallows and fire under the broiler. Keep the oven door open and do not take your eyes off them for a minute. When marshmallows are toasted remove from oven and serve immediately.
I've made these cakes for birthdays, Bar-b-ques and I even made 75 of them for a wedding reception this summer.
When you eat them you need to get right down in there deep and make sure you get some of each layer.
Individual desserts are impressive but this year Valentines Day is on a weekday and who has time for that malarkey after working all day? Not this girl. So instead I'll just be making a giant pan of S'mores cake for the Hubs.
My graham cracker crust recipe is 1 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup melted butter and a big pinch of coarse sea salt. I love a little salty with my sweet.
I'll top the graham cracker crust with the flourless chocolate cake.
Flourless Chocolate Cake
4 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
In the top of a double boiler over lightly simmering water, melt chocolate and butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, cocoa powder, eggs, and vanilla. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.
Then I'll cover it with marshmallows and broil until toasted and gooey.
We may or may not eat the entire thing for dinner. There will definitely be wine and maybe even candles, we'll then watch reruns of Law & Order SVU and I'll think about how lucky I am that internet dating paid off for me.
Happy Valentines Day! I hope yours is just as sweet.
