Martha's Warm Chocolate Pudding Cakes

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Martha Stewart Test Kitchen

Updated on July 23, 2020

pudding cakes — Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson

Servings:

4

There's something extra-special about an individually sized dessert -- especially when it's a molten chocolate cake served warm out of the oven. You can prepare these rich chocolate pudding cakes up to a day ahead and refrigerate them, then just pop them in the oven when you sit down to dinner. They'll be done by the time you're ready for dessert. And they reheat easily, so you can have two one night and two the next. This recipe appears in our cookbook "Martha Stewart's Newlywed Kitchen" (Clarkson Potter).

Ingredients

4 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup sugar
2 large eggs, separated
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Ice cream, for serving (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place four 6- to 8-ounce ovenproof bowls on a rimmed baking sheet.
Place chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of gently simmering water. Stir occasionally just until melted, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat; mix in 2 tablespoons sugar, then egg yolks and vanilla.
In a medium bowl, with an electric mixer, beat egg whites and salt until soft peaks form. With mixer running, gradually add remaining 2 tablespoons sugar; beat until mixture is stiff and glossy.
Using a flexible spatula, fold about a third of egg-white mixture into chocolate mixture; gently fold in remaining egg-white mixture just until combined. Divide among bowls. (Puddings can be prepared in advance up to this point; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 1 day.)
Bake until tops are puffed and cracked but insides are still quite soft (a toothpick inserted in center will come out gooey), 20 to 25 minutes (or 25 to 30 minutes if refrigerated). Serve warm or at room temperature (puddings will sink as they cool), topped with ice cream, if desired.