Decadent Dark Chocolate Lava Cake

1Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and grease four ramekins with butter, then dust with flour to prevent sticking.

2In a medium saucepan, melt the chopped dark chocolate (1 cup) and unsalted butter (½ cup) over low heat, stirring until smooth and combined. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.

3In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs (2 large), egg yolks (2 large), and granulated sugar (¼ cup) until the mixture is pale and slightly thickened, about 2-3 minutes.

4Add the melted chocolate mixture to the egg mixture, stirring gently to combine.

5Sift in the flour, vanilla extract (1 teaspoon), and salt (¼ teaspoon), and fold the mixture until just combined, being careful not to overmix.

6Divide the batter evenly among the prepared ramekins, filling each about 3/4 full.

7Place the ramekins on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are firm but the center is still soft and slightly jiggly.

8Remove from the oven and let the cakes cool for 1 minute. Carefully run a knife around the edges of each ramekin to loosen the cakes.

9Invert each ramekin onto a plate and gently lift it off to reveal the lava cake. Dust with powdered sugar and serve immediately, optionally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.