Lava Cakes

LAVA:

• 7/8 Bar (3.5 oz) Ghirardelli 60% Cacao chocolate baking bar, broken into 1/2" pieces
• Pinch of Salt
• 1/4 Cup Milk
• 3 Tbsp. Butter, Softened, cut into chunks

CAKES:

• 2 Bars (8 oz.) Ghirardelli 60% Cacao chocolate baking bars broken into 1/2" pieces
• 6 Tbsp. Unsalted butter, cut into chunks
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 3 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
• 2 Tbsp Flour
• 3 Large Eggs, Separated and at Room temp.
• 3 Large egg whites, room temp.
• 1/2 tsp Cream of tartar (or 1 1/2 tsp white vinegar)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• Powdered sugar for sprinkling
• As needed Sugar to coat the cups

LAVA

1. Put the chocolate and salt in a small bowl.
2. Bring milk to a simmer and immediately pour over chocolate.  Shake bowl to submerge chocolate and cover it with plastic wrap for 3 minutes.
3. Uncover and whisk until chocolate is completely melted.  Add butter and whisk until completely blended.
4. Refrigerate until mixture is firm enough to scoop, 2-3 hours.
5. Use a spoon or small scoop to shape 8 balls; place them on a wax paper lined dish and put in the freezer until needed.

CAKE

1. Spray eight 6-oz custard cups or ramekins with vegetable oil spray and coat them with sugar, tapping out the excess.
2. Put the chocolate, butter and salt in a medium heatproof bowl (Preferably stainless steel) and set it directly in a wide skillet of almost simmering water.  Stir frequently until the chocolate is almost entirely melted.
3. Remove the bowl from the skillet and stir to finish melting the chocolate.
4. Whisk the cocoa powder, flour, and egg yolks into the warm chocolate.  Set aside.
5. In a large bowl, beat the 6 egg whites and cream of tartar (or vinegar) on medium speed until soft peaks form when the beaters are lifted.
6. Gradually beat in the sugar on high speed until the egg whites are stiff but not dry.
7. Fold one quarter of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture.  Scrape the mixture over the remaining egg whites and fold just until incorporated.
8. Divide the batter evenly among the cups (being careful not to deflate it by extra mixing or handling).
9. Center a ball of lava on top of the batter in each cup.  Push the lava into the batter until it is about 1/4 inch below the surface of the surrounding batter (it should not touch the bottom of the cup).  Spread teh batter to cover the lava.  
10. Cover cups with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake.
11. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees with a rack in the lower third.
12. Uncover and set cups on a baking sheet.  Bake 13-15 minutes until cakes are puffed and a toothpick inserted in the center meets no resistance and emerges coated with sauce that feels slightly warm when you touch it to your lip.
13. Let cakes rest for 3 minutes
14. Run a think knife around the inside of each cup, pressing against the sides to avoid tearing the cake.  Cover each cup with a serving plate, invert and lift the cup off slowly.  Dust cakes with a little powdered sugar and serve immediately.