Warm Chocolate-Chipotle Cakes with Cinnamon-Caramel Sauce
This dessert is always a hit in my cooking classes. The combination of chocolate, cinnamon, and smoky chipotle often appears in Southwest American and Mexican cuisine, and the flavors marry beautifully in a wood-fired cooking environment. If you want a bit more heat, add more chile paste. You can also add a touch of chile powder to the Cinnamon-Caramel Sauce.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 8
Ingredients
Cinnamon-Caramel Sauce
Preparation
Step 1
Prepare a medium heat fire (350°F) in a wood-fired oven or cooker. Butter eight 4-ounce ramekins and dust with sugar, knocking out the excess sugar.
Step 2
In the wood-fired oven or cooker, toast the chiles in a dry skillet, turning as they toast, for about 2 minutes. Discard the stems, seeds, and ribs, then soak the chiles in hot water to cover until softened, about 30 minutes. Drain, reserving the soaking liquid.
Step 3
Puree the drained chiles in a food processor or blender, adding enough soaking liquid to form a paste. Force the paste through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and discard the solids. Set aside 1 1/2 tablespoons of the chile paste and freeze the remainder for another use.
Step 4
Bring the prune juice and sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Pour the hot sugar syrup over the chocolate in a large bowl, stirring until the chocolate is melted. You may need to place it over a simmering water bath to melt completely. Add the butter and stir until melted. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the 1 1/2 tablespoons chile paste, the flour, cinnamon, and salt.
Step 5
Place the ramekins in a baking pan; divide the batter among the sugar-lined ramekins and place in the oven or cooker. Fill the pan with 1/2 inch hot water and bake, uncovered, until the cakes are firm and crusted, 30 to 35 minutes. Check after 20 minutes for doneness, as each oven is different. The cakes need to be moist, not dry.
Step 6
If using a Big Green Egg, put the plate setter in place with the grate on top, creating an oven. Place the sheet pan on the grate, fill with hot water, and close the lid.
Step 7
Transfer the ramekins to a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Unmold the warm cakes directly onto serving plates, crusty top side up. Drizzle with the caramel sauce and serve.
Cinnamon-Caramel Sauce
Step 8
Combine the sugar and water in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to medium-high; boil without stirring until the syrup becomes a deep amber color, occasionally brushing down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush and swirling the pan. Remove from the heat. Stir in the ground cinnamon until completely combined. Gradually add the cream and stir over low heat until the sauce is smooth. Remove from the heat and let stand until cool and pourable, about 30 minutes.
Step 9
Store in a plastic squeeze bottle and use immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 month.
