Chocolate Gooey Cake
Chocolate Gooey Cake
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, or contents of 1 vanilla bean
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules, optional
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- as needed butter, for greasing
- as needed hot water, for water bath
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Butter a baking dish (an 8x8 inch square dish or a 9-inch round dish works well) and set aside.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 325
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, crack the 4 large eggs. Add the 2 cups of granulated sugar to the eggs.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sugar on medium-high speed until the mixture is light in color, thick, and forms a ribbon-like consistency when the beaters are lifted. This step is crucial for incorporating air and achieving the desired cake structure.
⏱️ 8 min
- 4
Add the 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (or the scraped contents of 1 vanilla bean) to the egg and sugar mixture and mix briefly until just combined.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
In a separate bowl, whisk together the 3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Sift these dry ingredients directly into the wet mixture.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Mix on low speed with the electric mixer until the dry ingredients are just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
⏱️ 1 min
- 7
If using, add the 1 teaspoon of instant coffee granules to the batter and mix until just incorporated. This enhances the chocolate flavor.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Pour the 1 cup of melted unsalted butter into the batter and mix on low speed until fully incorporated and the batter is smooth.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Pour the prepared batter into the buttered baking dish. Place this baking dish inside a larger oven-safe tray or roasting pan.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Carefully pour hot water into the larger tray, surrounding the baking dish, to create a water bath (bain-marie). The water should come about halfway up the sides of the baking dish. This water bath helps control the temperature around the cake, resulting in a wonderfully gooey and evenly baked cake.
⏱️ 1 min
- 11
Carefully transfer the tray with the water bath and cake to the preheated oven. Bake for 1 hour, or until the edges are set but the center remains delightfully gooey. A slight jiggle in the center is desirable.
⏱️ 60 min•🌡️ 325
- 12
Remove the cake from the oven and carefully lift the baking dish out of the water bath. Let it cool slightly before serving. This cake is best served warm, optionally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dusting of cocoa powder.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Chocolate Gooey Cake
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, or contents of 1 vanilla bean
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules, optional
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- as needed butter, for greasing
- as needed hot water, for water bath
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Butter a baking dish (an 8x8 inch square dish or a 9-inch round dish works well) and set aside.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 325 - 2
In a large mixing bowl, crack the 4 large eggs. Add the 2 cups of granulated sugar to the eggs.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sugar on medium-high speed until the mixture is light in color, thick, and forms a ribbon-like consistency when the beaters are lifted. This step is crucial for incorporating air and achieving the desired cake structure.
⏱️ 8 min - 4
Add the 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (or the scraped contents of 1 vanilla bean) to the egg and sugar mixture and mix briefly until just combined.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
In a separate bowl, whisk together the 3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Sift these dry ingredients directly into the wet mixture.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Mix on low speed with the electric mixer until the dry ingredients are just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
⏱️ 1 min - 7
If using, add the 1 teaspoon of instant coffee granules to the batter and mix until just incorporated. This enhances the chocolate flavor.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Pour the 1 cup of melted unsalted butter into the batter and mix on low speed until fully incorporated and the batter is smooth.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Pour the prepared batter into the buttered baking dish. Place this baking dish inside a larger oven-safe tray or roasting pan.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Carefully pour hot water into the larger tray, surrounding the baking dish, to create a water bath (bain-marie). The water should come about halfway up the sides of the baking dish. This water bath helps control the temperature around the cake, resulting in a wonderfully gooey and evenly baked cake.
⏱️ 1 min - 11
Carefully transfer the tray with the water bath and cake to the preheated oven. Bake for 1 hour, or until the edges are set but the center remains delightfully gooey. A slight jiggle in the center is desirable.
⏱️ 60 min•🌡️ 325 - 12
Remove the cake from the oven and carefully lift the baking dish out of the water bath. Let it cool slightly before serving. This cake is best served warm, optionally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dusting of cocoa powder.
⏱️ 5 min