Chocolate
Chocolate is one of my favorite tastes. I can't remember a time when I didn't love chocolate. That said, here are six yummy chocolate recipes to help you through the day, including Buckeyes and Chocolate Truffles. Enjoy!
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
I saw something similar to this a few years back and tweaked it a little. For anyone who is sure that he or she won't like tofu, this may be the game-changer.
Ingredients
1 10-12 ounce tub of silken tofu
12 ounce bag of chocolate chips
2 - 3 tablespoons milk (you can use soy milk, if you prefer)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Directions
Melt chocolate chips along with the milk over low to medium heat, stirring constantly.
Place silken tofu, melted chocolate chips, vanilla, and syrup into blender. Blend on a medium setting, pulsing if needed to combine.
Pour into 4 bowls or small cups, and let cool for 10 minutes or so.
Dig in! Yum!
BUCK-EYES
This is one of Mom's recipes. Mom made these and passed them out for Christmas presents in 1989. It’s amazing that any of them made the trip home; they are incredibly good.
This can be found in my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.
Ingredients
1 lb. butter or margarine, room temperature
2 – 3 lbs. confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp. vanilla (opt.)
2 lb. peanut butter, room temperature
2-12 oz. packages of chocolate chips
1/2 bar paraffin (4 oz.)
Directions
Mix butter and peanut butter. Add vanilla. Blend well. Mix in confectioner’s sugar. Roll into small balls and refrigerate several hours.
Melt chocolate chips and paraffin in top of double boiler.
With toothpicks in each peanut butter ball, dip ball into melted chocolate, leaving spot on top of peanut butter balls undipped, then place on wax paper to harden. Try not to eat in one sitting!
CHOCOLATE GANACHE TRUFFLES
This one is from page 56 of the January/February 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times.
Makes 25 truffles
The recipe begins, "This recipe offers an introduction to making ganache, a combination of cream and chocolate used for candy fillings, cake frostings, and pastry glazes."
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
5 oz. dark or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3 oz. milk chocolate, chopped
7 Tbs. heavy cream
1 Tbs. light corn syrup
2 tsp. instant coffee granules
2 Tbs. whiskey or liqueur, such as Grand Marnier or Kahlúa, optional
Confectioners’ sugar
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Directions
Combine dark chocolate and milk chocolate in large heat-proof bowl.
Combine cream and corn syrup in medium saucepan, and bring to a rolling boil over medium heat. Remove from heat, and stir in coffee granules until dissolved. Pour hot cream mixture over chocolate, and stir gently until all chocolate pieces have melted. Let stand 20 to 30 minutes.
Add whiskey, if using, and stir 1 to 2 minutes with spatula or wooden spoon until chocolate mixture begins to thicken. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
Fill small plate with confectioners’ sugar, fill small bowl with cocoa powder, and line baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.
Dip hands in confectioners’ sugar.
Roll small lump of chocolate mixture into 1-inch ball, then roll in cocoa powder. Place truffle on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining chocolate mixture, dusting hands with confectioners’ sugar to keep truffles from sticking. Refrigerate truffles until ready to serve.
VEGAN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
This one is from the February, 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times
Makes 40 1-inch truffles
This recipe begins, "Melt-in-your-mouth truffles don't need much to make them irresistible, but if you want to jazz up this recipe, try stirring in 2 teaspoons of flavored liqueur, such as Chambord, Frangelico, or Kahlúa."
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup chocolate soymilk
1 12-oz. pkg. vegan chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
Directions
Warm soymilk until hot to the touch. Set aside.
Melt chocolate chips in large metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Stir in warmed soymilk until smooth. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
Place cocoa on plate. Shape chilled chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls, and roll in cocoa.
WHOOPIE PIES
This is from Carroll Pellegrinelli, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Carroll wrote, "Want to make someone smile? Just offer them a Whoopie Pie. It's a cookie. It's a cake, but I can't think of it as a pie. It's also known as the official treat of Maine. Typically, it's top and bottom are chocolate cake with a middle fluffy frosting often made with marshmallow fluff. These days you can find fancier versions made of Red Velvet Cake, Pumpkin and/or Gingerbread Cake both with a cream cheese frosting filling.
"You'll note that I've included both a from-scratch cake and a cake mix recipe on this page. You could also make yours with a more traditional buttercream frosting. Personally, I prefer the taste and texture of the marshmallow cream frosting."
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 57 minutes
Yield: Makes 8 individual servings
Note: I'm no longer able to find a link to this, but did want to include it, along with who originally came up with the recipe.
Ingredients:
From Scratch Whoopie Pies
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup buttermilk*
Filling
1 cup butter, softened
7-ounce jar marshmallow fluff
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cake Mix Version
one 18-ounce chocolate or Devil's Food cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil or softened butter
3 eggs
3/4 cup water
Preparation:
For From-Scratch Recipe
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt with a wire whisk. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars. Mix in egg. Slowly add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk. Ending with the buttermilk. Scoop 1/4 cup of batter into rounds on prepared baking sheet. You should be able to get 16 cakes. Bake for 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit on baking sheets for 2 minutes, then remove to wire racks for cooling. Cool completely.
For Cake Mix Recipe
Mix ingredients in a bowl with a electric mixer to just moisten. Then, on medium for 2 minutes until well combined. Finish by following the above baking instructions.
Filling Instructions
Cream the butter and marshmallow fluff. Slowly add in the powdered sugar. Add vanilla and beat until smooth.
To Assemble Whoopie Pies -
Place a couple of tablespoons of filling on the flat bottoms of half of the pies. Top the filling with the flat bottoms of the other pies.
Notes in the Margin:
*Don't have buttermilk? Take a glass mixing cup and add one tablespoon of white vinegar. Fill the rest of the cup with milk. Stir and use instead of the buttermilk.
CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
I got this from my oldest son and daughter-in-law for Christmas, 2002. They are so good…These, the buck-eyes, and a pot of coffee…Heaven…
This recipe can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking, which will be updated in the near future.
Ingredients
8 oz. fine semi-sweet chocolate, broken into small pieces
1 C heavy cream
cocoa powder for dusting (see note)
Directions
Put the cream and chocolate into a pan and heat on low until the chocolate has melted. Stir the mixture until smooth and glossy, then pour into a bowl and chill in the fridge for several hours or overnight. Take spoonfuls of the mixture and, wearing gloves, roll between your hands into a ball. Place each truffle into a tray of SIFTED cocoa powder and shake around until well coated.
NOTE: My daughter-in-law added: “I’ll warn you, this process is very messy but WELL worth it. Also, some chopped pecans to roll them around in was really good. I’m sure you can think of all sorts of cool variations; I bet some grated orange peel or ginger would be good, too…” Also, “for the cayenne ones, I used a mixture of cocoa, cinnamon and cayenne.” Addicting. ,
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
I saw something similar to this a few years back and tweaked it a little. For anyone who is sure that he or she won't like tofu, this may be the game-changer.
Ingredients
1 10-12 ounce tub of silken tofu
12 ounce bag of chocolate chips
2 - 3 tablespoons milk (you can use soy milk, if you prefer)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Directions
Melt chocolate chips along with the milk over low to medium heat, stirring constantly.
Place silken tofu, melted chocolate chips, vanilla, and syrup into blender. Blend on a medium setting, pulsing if needed to combine.
Pour into 4 bowls or small cups, and let cool for 10 minutes or so.
Dig in! Yum!
BUCK-EYES
This is one of Mom's recipes. Mom made these and passed them out for Christmas presents in 1989. It’s amazing that any of them made the trip home; they are incredibly good.
This can be found in my e-cookbook Off the Wall Cooking.
Ingredients
1 lb. butter or margarine, room temperature
2 – 3 lbs. confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp. vanilla (opt.)
2 lb. peanut butter, room temperature
2-12 oz. packages of chocolate chips
1/2 bar paraffin (4 oz.)
Directions
Mix butter and peanut butter. Add vanilla. Blend well. Mix in confectioner’s sugar. Roll into small balls and refrigerate several hours.
Melt chocolate chips and paraffin in top of double boiler.
With toothpicks in each peanut butter ball, dip ball into melted chocolate, leaving spot on top of peanut butter balls undipped, then place on wax paper to harden. Try not to eat in one sitting!
CHOCOLATE GANACHE TRUFFLES
This one is from page 56 of the January/February 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times.
Makes 25 truffles
The recipe begins, "This recipe offers an introduction to making ganache, a combination of cream and chocolate used for candy fillings, cake frostings, and pastry glazes."
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
5 oz. dark or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3 oz. milk chocolate, chopped
7 Tbs. heavy cream
1 Tbs. light corn syrup
2 tsp. instant coffee granules
2 Tbs. whiskey or liqueur, such as Grand Marnier or Kahlúa, optional
Confectioners’ sugar
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Directions
Combine dark chocolate and milk chocolate in large heat-proof bowl.
Combine cream and corn syrup in medium saucepan, and bring to a rolling boil over medium heat. Remove from heat, and stir in coffee granules until dissolved. Pour hot cream mixture over chocolate, and stir gently until all chocolate pieces have melted. Let stand 20 to 30 minutes.
Add whiskey, if using, and stir 1 to 2 minutes with spatula or wooden spoon until chocolate mixture begins to thicken. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
Fill small plate with confectioners’ sugar, fill small bowl with cocoa powder, and line baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.
Dip hands in confectioners’ sugar.
Roll small lump of chocolate mixture into 1-inch ball, then roll in cocoa powder. Place truffle on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining chocolate mixture, dusting hands with confectioners’ sugar to keep truffles from sticking. Refrigerate truffles until ready to serve.
VEGAN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
This one is from the February, 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times
Makes 40 1-inch truffles
This recipe begins, "Melt-in-your-mouth truffles don't need much to make them irresistible, but if you want to jazz up this recipe, try stirring in 2 teaspoons of flavored liqueur, such as Chambord, Frangelico, or Kahlúa."
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup chocolate soymilk
1 12-oz. pkg. vegan chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
Directions
Warm soymilk until hot to the touch. Set aside.
Melt chocolate chips in large metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Stir in warmed soymilk until smooth. Cover, and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.
Place cocoa on plate. Shape chilled chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls, and roll in cocoa.
WHOOPIE PIES
This is from Carroll Pellegrinelli, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Carroll wrote, "Want to make someone smile? Just offer them a Whoopie Pie. It's a cookie. It's a cake, but I can't think of it as a pie. It's also known as the official treat of Maine. Typically, it's top and bottom are chocolate cake with a middle fluffy frosting often made with marshmallow fluff. These days you can find fancier versions made of Red Velvet Cake, Pumpkin and/or Gingerbread Cake both with a cream cheese frosting filling.
"You'll note that I've included both a from-scratch cake and a cake mix recipe on this page. You could also make yours with a more traditional buttercream frosting. Personally, I prefer the taste and texture of the marshmallow cream frosting."
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 57 minutes
Yield: Makes 8 individual servings
Note: I'm no longer able to find a link to this, but did want to include it, along with who originally came up with the recipe.
Ingredients:
From Scratch Whoopie Pies
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup buttermilk*
Filling
1 cup butter, softened
7-ounce jar marshmallow fluff
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cake Mix Version
one 18-ounce chocolate or Devil's Food cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil or softened butter
3 eggs
3/4 cup water
Preparation:
For From-Scratch Recipe
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt with a wire whisk. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars. Mix in egg. Slowly add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk. Ending with the buttermilk. Scoop 1/4 cup of batter into rounds on prepared baking sheet. You should be able to get 16 cakes. Bake for 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit on baking sheets for 2 minutes, then remove to wire racks for cooling. Cool completely.
For Cake Mix Recipe
Mix ingredients in a bowl with a electric mixer to just moisten. Then, on medium for 2 minutes until well combined. Finish by following the above baking instructions.
Filling Instructions
Cream the butter and marshmallow fluff. Slowly add in the powdered sugar. Add vanilla and beat until smooth.
To Assemble Whoopie Pies -
Place a couple of tablespoons of filling on the flat bottoms of half of the pies. Top the filling with the flat bottoms of the other pies.
Notes in the Margin:
*Don't have buttermilk? Take a glass mixing cup and add one tablespoon of white vinegar. Fill the rest of the cup with milk. Stir and use instead of the buttermilk.
CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
I got this from my oldest son and daughter-in-law for Christmas, 2002. They are so good…These, the buck-eyes, and a pot of coffee…Heaven…
This recipe can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking, which will be updated in the near future.
Ingredients
8 oz. fine semi-sweet chocolate, broken into small pieces
1 C heavy cream
cocoa powder for dusting (see note)
Directions
Put the cream and chocolate into a pan and heat on low until the chocolate has melted. Stir the mixture until smooth and glossy, then pour into a bowl and chill in the fridge for several hours or overnight. Take spoonfuls of the mixture and, wearing gloves, roll between your hands into a ball. Place each truffle into a tray of SIFTED cocoa powder and shake around until well coated.
NOTE: My daughter-in-law added: “I’ll warn you, this process is very messy but WELL worth it. Also, some chopped pecans to roll them around in was really good. I’m sure you can think of all sorts of cool variations; I bet some grated orange peel or ginger would be good, too…” Also, “for the cayenne ones, I used a mixture of cocoa, cinnamon and cayenne.” Addicting. ,
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