Minty Mocha Java Cakes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 cup butter
• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate morsels
• 4 egg yolks
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon instant espresso or instant coffee granules
• Pinch of salt
• 12 thin crème de menthe chocolate mints, chopped
• Garnish: powdered sugar

Preparation

1. 1. Preheat oven to 425°. Grease 6 (6-oz.) ramekins or individual soufflé dishes with 1 Tbsp. butter.
2. 2. Microwave 1 cup butter and chocolate morsels in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 2 minutes or until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth, whisking at 1-minute intervals.
3. 3. Beat egg yolks and eggs at medium speed with an electric mixer 1 minute. Gradually add chocolate mixture, beating at low speed until well blended.
4. 4. Sift together sugar and next 3 ingredients. Gradually whisk sugar mixture into chocolate mixture until well blended. Divide batter among prepared ramekins. Place ramekins in a 15- x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Sprinkle center of batter in ramekins with chopped mints. Press mints into batter gently just until submerged.
5. 5. Bake at 425° for 16 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into cakes registers 165°. Remove from oven, and let stand 10 minutes. Run a knife around outer edge of each cake to loosen. Carefully invert cakes onto dessert plates. Garnish, if desired.
6. Note: For testing purposes only, we used Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips and Andes Crème de Menthe Thins.