Menu Description: "Warm chocolate cake w/chocolate fudge filling. Topped w/vanilla ice cream under a crunchy chocolate shell."
Get out your "easy" button for this one. While the clone recipe for this top-requested Chili's dessert is extremely simple to make -- and can even be made days ahead of time -- the resulting presentation is impressive. A chocolate fudge cake mix is all you need for the cake part of the recipe (or you can use the scratch clone recipe here). The cake batter is poured into the large cups of a Texas-size muffin pan. When the cakes are done and cooled, you make a secret hole where the hot chocolate is loaded. Now you can keep the cakes covered in the fridge until dessert time. To serve, heat a cake, plop a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, and top it off with a little Magic Shell (a chocolate topping that hardens on ice cream). When your diners dig into the cake, a delicious hot fudge center oozes out of the warm chocolate cake, and you're launched up to superhero status.
Garnish caramel topping (preferably in a squirt bottle)
1. Make cake batter following directions on the box and pour 1/2 cup of batter into the greased cups of a large (Texas size) muffin pan. If your pan has six cups, bake the cakes in two batches of 4 cakes each. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick stuck into the center of one cake comes out clean. Turn all of the cakes out of the pan and let them cool.
2. The cakes will be served upside down, so you may have to slice a bit of the domed top off the cakes to help them lay flat when inverted. A serrated sandwich knife works best for this. After you've flipped over all of the cooled cakes, use a sharp paring knife to cut out a 1 1/2-inch diameter cylindrical chunk in the center of the bottom (now the top) of each cake. The hole should be about 1 1/2-inches deep. After slicing straight down into the cake in a circle, scoop out the chunk of cake with a teaspoon and discard the piece. Now you have a secret compartment to conceal the hot fudge payload.
3. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of fudge into each of the holes you've made in the cakes, then store the cakes in a sealed container in the freezer.
4. When you are ready to serve, drizzle a serving plate with caramel, then place one cake on the plate and heat it up in the microwave for 40 to 45 seconds, or until you see the fudge begin to bubble. Remove the cake from the microwave and let it rest for 30 seconds or so, then place a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of the cake. Pour a coating of Magic Shell chocolate topping over the ice cream and serve.
Makes 8 desserts.
Pat
10/2/2009 4:08:00 PM
Having a couple in for dinner this past Sat. night I wanted to have something good. This recipe surpassed my expectations and got more raves than anyone could imagine. Would definately make this again, a keeper, as they say.
Laura
5/30/2009 6:08:00 PM
Instead of a muffin tin, I baked them in Corningware (7-oz. cups,they call them ramekins). They were bigger, like the Chili's cakes. They do take a little longer to bake - you have to test with a toothpick. A regular cake mix makes about 8 or so. DELISH!
Cathy
5/17/2009 8:34:00 PM
OMG, could this recipe be any easier. It is truly just like the one I had recently at Chili's. Yummy
Jenn
5/13/2009 2:26:00 PM
I am actually a manager at Chili's in *^&%#$, ** and this is as true as you can get to making the Molten Choco. Cake at home!!
Meayghan
5/7/2009 2:41:00 PM
yo this recipie is so awesome(lol) love it. YUMMMMMMMMMM Go Chilis! (lol)
Robert
12/10/2008 9:42:00 PM
I made this for my parents anniversary and they loved it. Im making it again for my birthday =)
Elizabeth
9/27/2008 10:40:00 AM
Oh my gosh! I'm twelve and I love to bake. I made this for my two sisters and they loved it!!! (They shared one cause they are only 3 and 2 haha.) Thanks a bunch Todd! Oh, and my dad ADORES twinkies so you really helped him with that one!!! BRAVA!
April
9/19/2008 5:26:00 PM
I have made these so many times. I also like the caramel on the plate and I put the top back on the cake. I found the Texas sized cupcake pan at my local craft store. I love that you can have them in the freezer ready to go and grab one whenever you're in the mood. It is the best chocolate dessert I've ever had.
BLS
2/22/2008 2:49:00 PM
We made this last night and it was AWESOME. I used Betty Crocker's Chocolate Fudge cake mix and we too had to use the regular cupcake size but found it to be the perfect size for an individual serving. In our microwave 28 seconds was just the right time. I also saved the TOP part of the cut-out hot fudge well to put back on before freezing and the cupcake was able to withstand the scoop of ice cream on top. THIS is our NEW FAVORITE and super easy--Thanks, Todd!!!
bob
2/3/2008 9:17:00 PM
Awesome! The guests thought it was from Chili's and we said "no, we made it thanks to topsecretrecipes". It was great for Superbowl.
