What better way to cheer on warmer weather than with a little dose of Irish influence? If you’ve never combined stout with chocolate, here’s the perfect opportunity. A recipe with few ingredients and minimal time spent over a hot stove is our idea of the perfect meal-ender, or late afternoon pick-me-up. We recommend using your favorite stout, we love Guinness. If you really want to get decadent, sip a little Doce or Malbec with your chocolate treat.
Chocolate Stout Lava Cake
5 oz butter , plus extra for the ramekins
7 oz dark chocolate (70% cocoa), roughly chopped
1/3 cup golden caster sugar (regular white sugar will work)
3 large eggs
1/3 cup Guinness
Heavy whipping cream, stiffly whipped, to serve (optional)
1/3 cup chocolate chips (optional)
Butter four 6 ounce ramekins and set aside. Place the butter, chocolate and a pinch of salt into a heatproof bowl. Set over a small pan of just-simmering water and stir until melted, then remove from the heat and leave to cool a little.
Put the sugar and eggs in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until pale, almost doubled in volume and thick enough to leave a trail when the beaters are lifted up. Gently fold in the melted chocolate and the Guinness. Spoon the mixture into the ramekins, then chill in the fridge for 1 hr. Heat oven to 400°f and put a baking tray on the top shelf to heat up.
Place the ramekins on the hot baking tray and bake for 18 mins. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips (if desired) leave to stand for a minute, then serve with a dollop of cream, if you like. Ice cream is also delicious.
Enjoy!