Best Warm Vanilla Cakes Recipes

WARM VANILLA CAKES

Steps:

• In a double boiler over simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter, stirring frequently. When smooth, remove from the heat and whisk in flour and egg yolks. Split the vanilla beans and scrape the seeds into the batter. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the egg whites, cream of tartar and 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Beat at medium speed until peaks just begin to form. Slowly sprinkle in the remaining sugar. Continue to beat for 2 minutes. Stir a good-size dollop of the whites into the chocolate mixture, then very gently fold in the rest. Refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter the insides of 10 ramekins or muffin cups, each with a capacity of about 1/2 cup. Cut out circles of parchment paper for the bottom of each mold, insert and then butter the paper. Fill each mold about 3/4 full and bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and cool 1 minute. Run the tip of a knife around each cake to release it. Gently invert onto plates. Discard the parchment. Sprinkle each cake with confectioners' sugar. Top with a scoop of ice cream and serve.

WARM VANILLA CAKES

Steps:

• Melt butter and 7 ounces white chocolate in a double boiler over water that is hot but not boiling. When mixture is melted, remove from heat and stir until smooth. Whisk in egg yolks and half the vanilla-bean seeds. Sift flour over mixture. Whisk until smooth.
• In an electric mixer fitted with a whisk, combine egg whites and cream of tartar. Whisk until fluffy. Slowly add sugar a little at a time, until meringue is shiny and tight. Fold a little of the chocolate mixture into meringue; then fold meringue into remaining chocolate mixture, until mixture is smooth. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate about 8 hours.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Butter 12 metal rings 2 1/2 inches in diameter and 1 1/4 inches high. Place them on parchment paper. Using a spatula, spoon cool batter into a pastry bag with a tip opening of about 1/2 inch. Fill molds 1/3 full. Break remaining chocolate into pieces about 1 inch square and 1/8 inch thick. Drop a piece in each mold. Sprinkle a little cluster of vanilla seeds from remaining beans. Cover chocolate with more batter so molds are barely 2/3 full.
• Bake 12 to 14 minutes, until risen and still a bit jiggly in center. Remove from oven. Have 12 plates ready. Slip tip of a knife under cake, and lift it a little; then slide a spatula underneath, and transfer to a serving plate. Holding mold in place with tongs, run a sharp knife around top edge of mold; then lift mold off cake with tongs. Repeat with other cakes. Serve immediately with ice cream.