Molten Chocolate-cherry Cakes

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar, divided
• 3/4 cup butter or 3/4 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup unsweetened dutch process cocoa
• 1/4 cup whipping cream
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/3 cup maraschino cherry, finely chopped
• sweetened whipped cream, garnish
• 6 maraschino cherries, with stems
• 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, plus
• 1/2 teaspoon shortening (do not use butter, margarine, spread or oil)

Recipe

• 1 prepare chocolate dipped cherries:.
• 2 drain 6 maraschino cherries with stems. pat dry with paper towels. place 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1/2 teaspoon shortening (do not use butter, margarine, spread or oil) in small microwave-safe bowl. microwave at high (100%) 45 seconds. stir until chips are melted. dip cherries into chocolate mixture. place on wax paper-lined tray. refrigerate until serving time.
• 3 for cakes:.
• 4 heat oven to 400 degrees f (200 degrees c).
• 5 grease six 3/4-cup souffle dishes or 6-ounce custard cups.
• 6 sprinkle inside of each with some of the 1 tablespoon sugar.
• 7 place dishes in a 9 x 13-inch baking pan or a jelly-roll pan.
• 8 melt butter in medium saucepan.
• 9 remove from heat.
• 10 whisk in cocoa, 1/3 cup sugar, whipping cream and vanilla.
• 11 whisk in flour just until combined, set aside.
• 12 beat eggs, egg yolks and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in large bowl on high speed of mixer about 5 minutes or until slightly thickened and lemon-colored.
• 13 beat in chocolate mixture on medium speed.
• 14 pour about 1/4 cup into each prepared dish.
• 15 sprinkle chopped cherries evenly over each.
• 16 carefully pour remaining chocolate mixture into each dish.
• 17 bake 13 to 15 minutes or just until top of each cake looks dry. (do not over bake.).
• 18 let stand in dishes 3 minutes.
• 19 loosen sides of each and invert onto serving plates.
• 20 serve warm topped with whipped cream and a chocolate dipped cherry.