Chocolate Desserts

Chocolate is one of those iconic flavors that people either love or have a strong aversion to. Add the word dessert to it, and you definitely have my attention.

To that end, here are six Chocolate Desserts to help you through the day, including a Texas Sheet Cake and Fabulous Vegan Fudge Cake with Bittersweet Icing. Enjoy!

ORIGINAL FANTASY FUDGE

I found this on Allrecipes. It begins, "This fantasy fudge recipe is straight from the label of a well-known brand of marshmallow cream. After some time, the company changed the recipe, but this is the original for smooth chocolate and marshmallow cream fudge with walnuts. This recipe makes a large batch (3 pounds!) so consider gifting some of these sweet fudgy morsels to friends and family during the holidays."

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Additional Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Servings: 48; Yield: 3 pounds

View this online at https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/228782/the-original-fantasy-fudge/.

Ingredients

3 cups white sugar

3/4 cup margarine

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1 (12 ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips

1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow cream

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Grease a 9x13-inch pan.

Mix sugar, margarine, and evaporated milk in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Bring mixture to a full boil and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Remove from the heat and add chocolate chips; stir until chocolate chips are melted and mixture is thoroughly combined. Stir in marshmallow cream until incorporated. Mix in walnuts and vanilla.

Transfer fudge to the prepared pan and use an offset spatula to spread out and flatten. Let cool for at least 1 hour before cutting into squares.

CHOCOLATE-POMEGRANATE CHEESECAKE MINIS

This is from Philadelphia Cream Cheese, and begins, "Serve up some sweetness next time you entertain with Chocolate-Pomegranate Cheesecake Minis. Black, white and topped with a pomegranate sauce and seeds, Chocolate-Pomegranate Cheesecake Minis look like they're ready for a formal affair."

Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes; Makes 24 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.creamcheese.com/recipe/212922/chocolate-pomegranate-cheesecake-minis.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups finely crushed chocolate wafer cookies

3 Tbsp. butter, melted

1-1/4 cups plus 2 Tbsp. sugar, divided

4 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1 Tbsp. vanilla

4 eggs

3/4 cup pomegranate juice

1/3 cup pomegranate seeds, patted dry

Directions

Heat oven to 325°F.

Combine cookie crumbs, butter and 2 Tbsp. sugar; press onto bottoms of 24 paper-lined muffin pan cups.

Beat cream cheese, vanilla and 1 cup of the remaining sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Spoon over crust.

Bake 20 to 22 min. or until centers are almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 2 hours.

Meanwhile, bring pomegranate juice and remaining sugar to boil in saucepan; simmer on medium-low heat 14 to 16 min. or until thickened, stirring frequently. Cool completely, then refrigerate until ready to use.

Spoon pomegranate sauce over cheesecakes just before serving; sprinkle with pomegranate seeds.

TEXAS SHEET CAKE

This is from Genevieve Ko at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Genevieve wrote, "Expansive yet barely an inch tall, this chocolate-on-chocolate special of the Lone Star State starts with a cake that’s even lighter than devil’s food. A hot cocoa icing sheens its surface and soaks into the warm cake a bit, deepening its richness. Variations abound among cooks, but baking the batter in a shallow pan is key to achieving the just-right, fudgy-fluffy balance of icing to cake. While some recipes include pecans in the icing, this version keeps them on top of the cake so they stay crisp. It also calls for enough nuts to generously cover the whole top so there’s crunch in every bite. If you’d like, you can sprinkle the top with a little flaky or coarse salt too."

Time: 45 minutes, plus cooling; Yield: One 13-by-18-inch cake

This was featured in "Even the Sheet Cakes Are Bigger in Texas", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022422-texas-sheet-cake.

Ingredients

For the Cake

1 cup unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the pan

2 cups chopped pecans

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/3 packed cupunsweetened natural cocoa powder

1 cup hot coffee or water

1/2 cup sour cream

2 large eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Icing

3/4 cup unsalted butter

1/3 packed cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder

1/4 cup whole milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2-1/2 packed cups confectioners’ sugar

Preparation

Make the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a half-sheet pan (13-by-18-by-1-inch). Spread the pecans on a second half-sheet pan and bake until lightly toasted, 7 to 9 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt, and make a well in the center. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, stirring often. Add the cocoa powder and stir well. Then add the hot coffee and boil for 30 seconds, stirring continuously. Pour the mixture into the well in the dry ingredients, then fold gently just until no traces of flour remain. Set saucepan aside without washing.

Whisk the sour cream, eggs and vanilla in a medium bowl. Pour into the chocolate mixture and fold gently until incorporated. Pour into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs, 18 to 20 minutes. Set the pan on a wire rack.

Right after the cake comes out of the oven, make the icing: Melt the butter in the reserved saucepan over medium heat, stirring often. Add the cocoa and stir until smooth and bubbling, then turn off the heat. Add the milk, vanilla and confectioners’ sugar, and stir until smooth. It’s OK if there are tiny lumps.

Pour the warm frosting over the warm cake and spread evenly. Sprinkle the toasted pecans all over the top and gently press into the icing. Cool completely in the pan on a rack. The cake keeps, tightly wrapped, at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week and in the freezer for up to 3 months. If needed, bring to room temperature before serving.

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE TACO

This is from Laura Rege at Delish. Laura wrote, "We can hear the ice cream truck music in our heads with each bite of these super decadent dessert tacos made with Ortega® Yellow Corn Taco Shells. There’s a bit of freezer work involved here, but don’t be intimidated. The recipe is incredibly simple and the end result is totally worth the wait."

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Makes 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a33527634/death-by-chocolate-taco-recipe/.

Ingredients

2-1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 c. refined coconut oil

6 Ortega® Yellow Corn Taco Shells

2 pt. chocolate chocolate chip ice cream

3/4 c. hot fudge, chilled

1/2 c. chopped cocktail peanuts

1/2 c. sweetened coconut flakes, lightly toasted

2 tbsp. rainbow sprinkles

Directions

Line two small rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 cup of the chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon of the coconut oil. Microwave until just melted, about 1 minute on high. Stir to combine.

Holding one taco shell from the inside over the bowl of chocolate, use a spoon to spread the outside with melted chocolate, letting excess chocolate drip back into the bowl. Repeat with remaining shells and melted chocolate.

Arrange on prepared baking sheets and freeze until chocolate is hardened and chilled, at least 10 minutes.

Using a serrated knife, slice the ice cream crosswise into thin rounds. Cut each round crosswise into strips. Keep ice cream frozen when not using.

Working with one coated taco shell at a time, remove the shell from the freezer. Fill halfway with ice cream. Spread fudge over top. Return to sheet tray in freezer. Repeat with remaining coated taco shells, ice cream, and fudge. Freeze 1 hour until fudge is hardened. Freeze filled taco shells until frozen and firm, at least 2 hours.

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine remaining 1-1/2 cup of the chocolate chips and remaining 3 tablespoons of the coconut oil. Microwave until just melted, about 1 minute on high. Stir to combine.

Working with one filled taco at a time, spoon the chocolate sauce over the top of the ice cream, completely covering the ice cream. Sprinkle with either half the peanuts(1/4 cup), half the coconut flakes (1/4 cup), or half the sprinkles (1 tablespoon). Arrange finished tacos standing up on the parchment lined baking sheet (use small bowls or measuring cups to hold tacos up). Repeat with remaining tacos, chocolate sauce, and toppings.

Freeze filled taco shells until frozen and firm, at least 1 hour.

BROWNIE PIE

This is from Elizabeth Mervosh at Allrecipes. Elizabeth wrote, "This brownie pie is rich and fudgy with a perfectly crisp crust. Definitely serve with ice cream, whipped cream, and salted caramel."

Prep Time: 30 minutes; Freeze Time: 30 minutes; Cool Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Bake Time: 55 minutes; Total Time: 3 hours 25 minutes; Servings: 6; Yield: 1 brownie pie

To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/8487044/brownie-pie/.

Ingredients

Crust:

1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

3 tablespoons ice water, or more as needed

Filling:

10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1 large egg yolk, at room temperature

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons instant espresso granules

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or hazelnuts

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, divided

Directions

For the crust, combine flour, sugar, and teaspoon salt in a food processor and pulse about 3 times until combined. Scatter cold butter over flour mixture in food processor. Pulse about 6 times until butter resembles pea-sized pieces. Drizzle 3 tablespoons water over butter mixture. Pulse about 6 times until couscous-like beads of dough form, adding 1 more tablespoon ice water if needed.

Transfer dough to a work surface, and press into a single mass. Shape and flatten dough into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.

Unwrap dough and place on a lightly floured work surface. Let dough sit at room temperature for 10 minutes to soften. Dust top of dough with flour. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll disk into a 12-inch circle. Place in a 9-inch pie plate, pressing into bottom and up sides of pie plate. Fold edges under, and crimp as desired. Cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place parchment paper over dough in pie plate; fill with pie weights or dried beans.

Bake in the preheated oven until crust is starting to set, about 15 minutes. Carefully remove pie plate from oven and take off parchment paper and pie weights. Return pie plate to oven, and bake until pie crust is light golden brown, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.

Whisk together melted butter, sugar, eggs, egg yolk, canola oil, and vanilla extract in a bowl until blended and smooth. Whisk in cocoa, flour, instant espresso, and salt just until combined. Stir in nuts and 1/4 cup chocolate chips. Scrape mixture into cooled crust, and smooth top with a small offset spatula. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips on top of the pie.

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes, covering the crust with aluminum foil if it gets too dark. Let cool 20 minutes before serving.

FABULOUS VEGAN FUDGE CAKE WITH BITTERSWEET ICING

This recipe, from the September 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 66, begins, “'I’ve tried vegan cake recipes in the past, but didn’t like the sour taste of the vinegar that is usually used to activate the leavening,' says single mom and café manager Shelly Platten. 'I tinkered with some recipes that didn’t use vinegar to come up with a fudgy, satisfying cake.'” Serves 8.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1-1/4 cups Bob’s Red Mill organic unbleached white flour

1-2/3 cups Florida Crystals organic cane sugar, divided

1-1/3 cups Chatfield’s cocoa powder, divided

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup Silk vanilla soymilk, divided

1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup canola oil, divided

1 cup toasted chopped hazelnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 9-inch round pan with parchment paper, and spray with cooking spray.

Whisk together flour, 1 cup sugar, 2/3 cup cocoa, baking soda, and salt in bowl. Whisk together 2/3 cup soymilk, 1/3 cup oil, and 1/2 cup water in separate bowl. Stir soymilk mixture into flour mixture. Spread in prepared pan, and bake 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Unmold onto plate.

Warm remaining 2/3 cup cocoa, 2/3 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup oil in saucepan over medium heat. Pour in remaining 1/3 cup soymilk, and cook 1 minute, or until smooth. Spread icing over warm cake, and sprinkle with hazelnuts.

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