National Chocolate Cake Day

Today is National Chocolate Cake Day, and to celebrate, I'm putting this lovely image in your head to sustain you while you're shoveling out from Thundersnowpocalypse 2011.

Sure, you'll probably only get a cup of hot cocoa - if you're lucky - but if you feel decadent and have a surfeit of eggs, you can whip up this dessert for yourself.

Morton's Legendary Hot Chocolate Cake

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for the souffle cup
Granulated sugar
12 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
8 large egg yolks, plus 7 large eggs
1 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
18 fresh raspberries
6 scoops of vanilla ice cream

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter six 6-ounce soufflé cups and sprinkle each with granulated sugar. Tap out the excess sugar.

In the top of a double broiler set over barely simmering water, melt the butter and chocolate together. Remove the top of the double broiler pan from the heat.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and set on low speed, beat the egg yolks and eggs for about 2 minutes, or until light and smooth. With the mixer running, pour the melted chocolate into the bowl and mix for about 2 minutes longer.

Put the confectioners’ sugar and flour in a fine-mesh sieve and sprinkle into the chocolate mixture. With the mixer on medium speed, beat for 30 seconds, or until well mixed.

Pour the batter into the prepared soufflé cups, leaving about ¼ inch of space below the rim. Set the soufflé cups on a baking sheet and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until puffed and about 1 inch higher than the rim. The centers will be soft but not sticky.

Remove the cakes from the oven and immediately invert each onto a serving plate. Remove the cup and garnish each plate with three raspberries and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Serves 6
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If you don't have fifteen eggs hanging around, Morton’s is participating in Baltimore Restaurant Week through Sunday, so you can get them to make the cake for you.  Call 410-547-8255 or visit www.mortons.com for reservations.