Warm Chocolate Truffle Cakes with Brandied Cherries

It has been shown as proof positive that carefully prepared chocolate is as healthful a food as it is pleasant; that it is nourishing and easily digested… that it is above all helpful to people who must do a great deal of mental work. ~ Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Every job has its perks and its pitfalls.  The benefits of writing about food, travel, wine, and bourbon are that I get to travel and then consume copious amounts of phenomenal food, wine, and bourbon.  The downside of this career choice is that I come home and cook more great food to photograph and share the recipes, drink more wine while in the kitchen preparing these dishes, and then sit all day and write about it.  And you say, “What’s so bad about all of that?”  There are a number of potentially adverse side effects that I could write about, but let’s just say my body is craving a reset.  It’s time for a lifestyle change.

Yesterday I started a three-day detox plan (I figure I can do ANYTHING for three days). While the majority of the cooking I do at home is based on the Mediterranean diet and we don’t need a radical change, we do need to make some adjustments. I thought the detox was a good way to get things in motion. I always find dining out to be the greatest challenge; whether when traveling or having an evening out with friends, it’s hard to avoid rich foods, not drink wine, or tip back a bourbon. My plan for this year is to enjoy everything in moderation and kick up the exercise plan.

The hubs is not nearly as enthusiastic about this detox process as I am and has decided to opt out. Totally. He will be dining on his homemade frutti di mare, sipping a Tuscan wine, and enjoying a late night bourbon while I am slurping down a concoction consisting of mango, blueberry, coconut water, kale, lemon, avocado, cayenne pepper, and flax seeds for dinner. Then I will head to the comforts of my hydrotherapy tub for the evening’s finale, a detox bath with Epsom salts and lavender oil. Not too shabby, huh?  So far, so good.

Before embarking on this journey, I did splurge over the weekend and spent days in the kitchen cooking and baking. We nibbled on a spicy shrimp tapas and some other dishes, ending one evening with a delectable dessert: a dark, decadent, rich, and, creamy chocolate dessert. Worth. Every. Calorie.

This is one of the easier and best desserts you will ever prepare

Dark chocolate, when the percentage of cacao is at least 70%, is considered a super food by many health experts and is included in many lifestyle diets. The antioxidants in dark chocolate and cacao (flavanoids) protect the arteries by helping them to relax, allowing for better blood flow. A quarter ounce of dark chocolate every day has been shown to lower blood pressure without weight gain.  Since almonds are also a super food, the ideal combination is a small piece of dark chocolate with almonds each day. My favorite brand of dark chocolate with almonds also has a touch of sea salt.  It is my nightly splurge (which is on temporary hiatus).

Warm Chocolate Truffle Cakes with Brandied Cherries were the perfect end to my “Last Supper” before the detox. While I only indulged in a small portion of the moist and mousse-like gem, it satisfied my craving for something totally luscious, rich, and chocolatey. These cakes are not molten cakes, so they will not have a gusher of hot chocolate lava ooze from their center when you first delve into the cake. Rather, they have a truffle-like consistency that is velvety and completely decadent.

Be sure not to overcook the cakes. You want the centers loose and the consistency of a mousse.

I used gorgeous cherries that were in my freezer from my friend’s farm, orchards and vineyards in Montana to make the brandied cherries and I served the dessert with vanilla ice cream. The recipe for this dessert is from Small-Batch Baking for Chocolate Lovers, by Debby Maugans.

I love this cookbook because it allows me to make small servings, in this case I made two truffle cakes, which was the perfect amount for the evening. Leftovers of this divine truffle cake would be too much of a temptation. With the high cost of quality ingredients, like good chocolate, we don’t want waste, and we know Roger doesn’t need to eat them all by himself, so recipes for just two are ideal for us.

In a few days, when my juice detox is over, while I may not indulge in a dessert as heavenly as this, I will continue to incorporate dark chocolate in my daily routine. It is good for the mind and body and has important health benefits and is also a nice splurge to end your day.

A perfect dessert for a romantic dinner for two

Enjoy!

Print Recipe

Warm Truffle Cakes with Quick Brandied Cherries

Yield: 2 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided
2/3 cup halved, pitted fresh sweet cherries (I used frozen and thawed cherries)
2 tablespoons brandy
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus butter for greasing the ramekins
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Whipped cream (I served them with vanilla ice cream)
Confectioners’ sugar (optional)

Directions:

1. Position rack in the center of the oven and preheat the over to 375 degrees F. Lightly butter two 8-ounce ramekins and dust lightly with flour, tapping out the excess. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet for easier handling and set aside.

2. Place 2 tablespoons of the sugar and 1 tablespoon water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar melts. Continue boiling until it is reduced and pale golden, about 3minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cherries and brandy. Let cool completely. (* When I added the brandy and cherries, the caramel seized up, so I needed to warm it over the heat for a few minutes, stirring constantly, to melt the hard sugar. It did fine after that and I added the cherry juice that had accumulated from thawing the frozen cherries.)

3. Place the chocolate and the butter in a small, microwave-safe bowl; microwave on medium power for 1 3/4 minutes, or until soft. Stir until melted and smooth. Let cool.

4. Place the egg, egg yolk, vanilla, salt, and the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar in a small. deep mixing bowl. Using a handheld electric mixer, beat the mixture on high speed until pale and thickened, about 2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the cooled melted chocolate. Sift the flour over the mixture, and fold in just until no streaks remain.

5. Spoon the batter into the prepared ramekins and bakes until the cakes have risen, the tops and dry, and the centers are set, just about 20 to 22 minutes. Remove the cakes from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.

6. Loosen the edges of the cakes by running the tip of a small, sharp knife around them; unmold onto servings plates, rounded sides up. Spoon the brandied cherries and whipped cream (or ice cream) onto the plates; dust with confectioners sugar, if desired.

Small-Batch Baking for Chocolate Lovers
Debby Maugans