Jean-Georges Vongerichten Molten Chocolate Cakes

The original recipe for these wonderfully decadent cakes, a great idea for making them for Valentine's Day or any other special occasion. I included the neat bit of trivia for how these wonderful cakes came to be. Sometimes that best creations come from accidents :) TRIVIA: These cakes were supposedly created when Vongerichten was creating a new dessert recipe and pulled them out of the oven precipitately. When he cut into it one, instead of the dense crumb he expected, a center of molten chocolate oozed out, and a classic was born. — Linda Avery

• Ready In: 27 mins
• Serves: 8
• Yields: 8 cakes

Ingredients

• 1  cup unsalted butter, plus more to butter the molds
• 8  ounces bittersweet chocolate, preferably Valrhona 66%
• 4  eggs
• 4  egg yolks
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 4  teaspoons flour, plus more for dusting

Directions

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.