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Dana's Hot Chocolate Cake

Gooey chocolate cake in a perfectly-portioned package — what more could you ask for in a dessert?! This recipe is a little beyond our standard criteria for Healthy Eats desserts, so make it a special treat for your Valentine.

Hot Chocolate Cake
Serves: 8

Ingredients:
1 stick unsalted butter, plus 1 tablespoon for ramekins
3/4 cup sugar, plus more for ramekins
4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
5 large eggs

Nonstick cooking spray
Equipment: 8 (6-ounce) ramekins

The Ingredients: Eggs, Butter, Flour, Sugar, Chocolate Chips

Butter
No fat-free alternatives here, only the real thing will do. Using one stick for the recipe comes out to 1 tablespoon per person.

Sugar
Less than 1 cup of sugar gives these cakes perfect texture and just enough sweetness.

Semisweet Chocolate
Semisweet chocolate has a pleasing balance of sweet and bitter – if you’re a fan of a darker chocolate, use that instead.

Flour
You just need a little flour to bring these cakes together. For best results, use all-purpose, unbleached flour.

Eggs
Eggs make the cakes moist, light and airy – they also help boost the protein to 6 grams per serving.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400-degrees F. Coat the inside of each ramekin with butter and sugar. Melt butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Set aside to cool slightly. Meanwhile, combine eggs and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment; beat on medium speed until well combined. Add melted chocolate and mix on low until well incorporated. Mix in flour using a rubber spatula until just combined. Fill each ramekin halfway with batter and transfer to a baking sheet. Bake for approximately 16 minutes, until the tops are firm and just begin to crack. Serve warm.

Nutrition Info Per Serving:
Calories: 319
Total Fat: 18.5 grams
Saturated Fat: 11 grams
Total Carbohydrate: 34 grams
Protein: 6 grams
Sodium: 45 milligrams
Cholesterol: 163 milligrams
Fiber:  0.5 grams

TELL US: What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day dessert?

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition. See Dana’s full bio »

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