Chocolate chips or white chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450. Using the 2 tablespoons of butter, grease four 6-ounce ramekins. Sprinkle cocoa powder in ramekins and tap out excess. Set ramekins on a large baking sheet.
Place the remaining butter in a medium bowl and melt it in the microwave. Add the chocolate and stir until chocolate is completely melted, then whisk until smooth and whisk in the vanilla.
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and egg yolks with the sugar and salt until thickened and pale. I use a whisk for this but you could use a stand mixer or electric mixer.
Fold the chocolate and the flour into the egg mixture, mixing until blended. Spoon the batter into prepared ramekins. At this point, you can stir in a few chocolate chips if you want. Be sure to push them down into the batter.
Leave the ramekins on the baking sheet and bake 7-9 minutes or until tops of the cakes are barely set and centers are still jiggly. Remove from oven and allow cakes to cool in ramekins for 1 minute, then cover with a dessert plate and carefully flip over. Let stand 10 seconds and remove the ramekins. Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top and serve immediately with vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream.
Notes
Err on the side of under-baking rather than over-baking.
The batter can be made ahead and refrigerated for several hours. Bring to room temperature before baking.