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Chocolate Mint Stout Lava Cake

 

 

 

Let’s talk about mint for a second.

If you know me well, you know I have an issue with mint. Although it would be hard to tell, given that I’ve made you Chocolate Porter Brownies with Mint Frosting, Chocolate Mint Stout Ice Cream, and our neighborhood beer float hussy, The Dirty Girl Scout. You could have even assumed that I LOVE mint by all of those recipes, but the truth is that this is my culinary equililant of Exposure Therapy.

The devolution of mint in my life happened in Morocco. I was traveling though Middle Atlas a few year ago with my sister, being carted from one town to another in the back of what was surely the car of a Moroccan drug dealer (or at least drug dropper-offer-guy, *actual term). I can’t even really pinpoint which incident linked Mint with Morocco in my brain. Maybe it was the cave dweller in Middle Atlas who made me mint tea, or the three Moroccan rug makers who locked me in the back of the factory plying me with mint tea in an effort to convince me to spend $6000 on a rug, or maybe it was the mint vendors waving their wares at me in the walled maze that was the old City Medina.

To be honest, the experience wasn’t entirely bad. Terrifying and life changing, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to have gone to the other side of the world, even if it did involved running for my life through the late night streets of Fez. The rumor is that your sense of taste is more strongly linked to memories than images. Which makes sense. Because even when I see my photos from that trip, it doesn’t even come close to evoking the memories that come screaming back when I smell or taste fresh mint.

I want to like mint, it’s an incredible flavor. It’s fresh and bright, and makes me gag. But I’m working on it. Exposure therapy, one chocolate mint dessert at a time.

Months ago, when I found out about the Ken Schmidt / Iron Fist / Stone Mint Chocolate Imperial Stout I was excited that my self imposed mint affliction could extend into my love of craft beer.

This might do it. And with a bold and creamy taste, and a gentle, but not sweet, mint flavor, I have high hopes that I will someday be the cure to my mint aversion. I think I need to send Ken Schmidt a mint flavored thank you card.

 

Chocolate Mint Stout Lava Cake

Ingredients
  

  • 3.5 oz 100 g Dark Chocolate 70%
  • 1 1/2 sticks butter 10 tbs
  • 2/3 cup Chocolate Mint Stout or chocolate stout
  • 1/4 tsp peppermint extract
  • 3 eggs plus 3 additional yolks
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1 tsp espresso powder this will not make the dessert taste like coffee. Espresso intensifies chocolate
  • 2 tbs dark chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425.
  • Butter six soufflé dishes very well. The best way to do this is to soften butter (or use vegetable shortening or margarine) and a wadded up paper towel, smear a large amount inside each dish, making sure to get into the edges.
  • In a saucepan over medium heat, add the chocolate and butter. Stir constantly until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add beer, and peppermint extract, stir to combine.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, yolks and powdered sugar.
  • Pour chocolate mixture over egg mixture, stir to combine.
  • Sprinkle cocoa powder, espresso powder and flour over chocolate mixture, stir until just combined.
  • Divide equally between souffle dishes, making sure not to fill more than 2/3 full. Press about 4 to 5 chocolate chips into the very center of each cake (can be made one day ahead, cover and chill).
  • Bake at 425 until the outside is set, but the center is still liquid, about 9 minute no more than 13. (Note: Glass baking dishes cook much faster then ceramic dishes. Take these out of the oven when it looks as if they "need a few more minutes," you want a very runny center.)
  • Run a butter knife around the edge of the cake. Place a plate on top of each ramekin, turn upside down, lift ramekin to reveal cake. Serve immediately.

 

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Comments


Cassie October 18, 2012 um 8:19 am

Must try this stout. And this cake. I love it!

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Erin @ The Food Doctors October 18, 2012 um 10:25 am

Mint is such a strong and distinct flavor, sometimes I’m overwhelmed by it. This cake looks incredible though, and I thoroughly enjoyed your traveling tales!

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Jackie October 18, 2012 um 11:27 am

Thank you! It took me a while to process the Morocco trip, and I still can’t even really explain what happened. But, I’m glad I went. The cave dweller and his tea was one of my favorite moments of the trip.

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Michelle Collins October 18, 2012 um 10:34 am

I’ve never seen that chocolate mint stout before. I must find that!

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Jackie October 18, 2012 um 11:22 am

Look for it! It’s really great, very subtle in the best way.

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Averie @ Averie Cooks October 18, 2012 um 10:44 am

I love this cake! I’ve been wanting to make a lava cake for awhile but one of the reasons I havent? The photography seems like it has about 3 seconds of a 'good' window to take the pics and I worry I won’t be fast enough. Lame reason, but at least I’m honest.

I want to try your cake! Choc + mint…yes!

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Jackie October 18, 2012 um 11:23 am

That’s why I made 6 and there was only 3 people to eat it! I had three extra chances to take the photos and I got it on the second try 🙂

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Katie @ Blonde Ambition October 18, 2012 um 11:05 am

Oh my dear, this looks amazing. I’ve always loved chocolate and mint together, but I can definitely see how the fresh herb might remind one of Morocco… North African/Mediterranean cooking uses a lot of it!

A lot of my study abroad friends visited Morocco when we studied in France, but none of them had stories as wild as yours! Sounds exciting ;P

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Jackie October 18, 2012 um 11:26 am

I think it’s my constant drive to stay "off the beaten path" as much as possible. Which is good, because you eat the best food and have the best stories, but it can also be scary and risky!

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addie | culicurious October 18, 2012 um 1:43 pm

Mint is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea 😉 It’s good that you’re acclimating slowly. I’ve never seen that mint stout. Very interesting!

And this dessert looks a-mazing 🙂

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amy @ fearless homemaker October 18, 2012 um 1:50 pm

i couldn’t agree more that i remember flavors + tastes from lots of my travels more so than images – it’s crazy how the mind associates things like that. i’m a mint lover, + even more so a mint/chocolate lover, so I’d be allll over this lava cake. have you ever posted anything I didn’t love? I don’t think so! YUM.

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Gerry @ Foodness Gracious October 18, 2012 um 2:43 pm

This should be called Luva cake…Me and that cake should be together!

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Jackie October 18, 2012 um 3:15 pm

That totally made me laugh!

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Julie October 18, 2012 um 3:18 pm

I have the same issue with jasmine rice because of a long trip to Thailand. Ten years later, I still can’t eat the stuff.

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Jackie October 18, 2012 um 7:27 pm

I want to go to Thailand, it’s on my list. My Grandma went there in her 80’s, traveled by train and stayed in youth hostels and completely love it. I SO want to be that way when I’m in my 80’s. Serious life goal.

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Amber @ Slim Pickin’s Kitchen October 19, 2012 um 7:01 am

Squeee! I love your recipes. I absolutely adore mint. Always have, always will, but I’m preeeeeeeety sure I’d have an aversion to it too if my memories were anything like yours! Mine are more about Black Friday shopping, Tavern on the Green at Christmas, and singing christmas hymns in three part harmony with my cousins at my grandmother’s every year <3

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Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom October 19, 2012 um 1:56 pm

I’ve always wanted to try to make one of these. . this weekend might be it. This is lovely, thanks!

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Anna @ Hidden Ponies October 19, 2012 um 8:06 pm

"fresh and bright and makes me gag" – I totally lolled 🙂 I love chocolate and mint, so this looks amazing to me!

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Mitch LIkes Beer October 19, 2012 um 11:46 pm

OMG! YUM! nom nom nom

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Senna Bowman October 22, 2012 um 5:18 am

Hi, I just started following your blog and I love it 🙂 Beer and chocolate are my favorite foods ever. Thank you for so many great recipes!

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Ree R October 22, 2012 um 6:49 am

Easy to understand why I keep seeing your recipes pinned! This cake looks awesome 🙂

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Lita October 22, 2012 um 11:36 am

You make the lava cake look so easy! I’m going to get some stout and give this a try next time I have company over

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Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies October 22, 2012 um 4:55 pm

I’m weird about mint. Sometimes it can be cloying and almost chemical-tasting and then I can’t stand it. But when it’s under-stated and natural, I just love it. I totally want to try that stout. And the cake!

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Kevin (Closet Cooking) October 31, 2012 um 8:58 am

Those lava cakes look amazing!

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Jessica February 4, 2013 um 12:13 pm

What size ramekins did you use for this recipe? I would imagine the size would determine the cooking time. Looks delicious!

Reply

Jackie February 4, 2013 um 8:23 pm

3/4 to 1 cup size should be good.

Reply

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