Just a Little Chocolate

Some days, you just need a little chocolate.

When I have those days, what I crave is chocolate cake. Good, dense, chocolate cake.

The problem is, I usually don't want a huge slice of cake, just a few mouthfuls. Enough to satisfy my craving.

To further complicate the issue, I don't want frosting. I don't want spongy cake. I don't want a cake from a box mix. I don't want a cookie.

What I want are these dense chocolate mini-cakes. They are small enough to fit into your mouth, but taking them in two bites extends the chocolately goodness.

The ingredients are simple, and if you keep your kitchen stocked to be ready to bake, you probably have everything you need to make these in the house right now.

This recipes makes enough to share (if you are so inclined). The batter freezes nicely, in case you want to bake a fresh batch now and another one later. They are perfect to take to a potluck, or to wrap as a hostess gift, or to offer to guests with tea or coffee.

Two Bite Chocolate Mini-Cakes



Ingredients:

100 grams (about 3/4 cup) All Purpose Flour

1 cup cocoa powder (not dutch processed)

1/2 tsp salt (non-iodized)

12 oz (3 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

3 large eggs

1 cup sugar

6 oz semi-sweet mini chocolate chips



Method:



1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour a non-stick mini-muffin pan.



2) Sift together flour, cocoa powder and salt. Set aside.



3) In a large bowl, beat eggs on medium speed. Slowly stream in sugar and continue to beat until mixture thickens and is pale in color.



4) Add about half of the dry mixture and half of the melted butter. Mix on low speed to combine. Add remaining dry mix ture and melted butter and continue mixing on low to combine. Stir in mini-chocolate chips.



5) Spoon batter into mini-muffin pans. (Batter will not expand much, so fill almost to the top).



6) Bake in pre-heated 325 degree F oven for 15-20 minutes until top of cakes is just set. (The toothpick test will not work because the mini-chocolate chips will be melted.)



7) Remove from oven and let cool 5-10 minutes. Remove cakes from pan and let cool on a rack.



Makes 36 mini cakes.