Chocolate

Chocolate is one of those iconic tastes that so many of us love. If you love chocolate as much as I do, you're bound to find something in today's post to please. Will it be the Double-Chocolate Mascarpone Raspberry Pie? Maybe the Chocolate Mousse? Whichever you decide to try, remember one thing: Enjoy!

SUPER CHOCOLATE VEGAN GELATO

This is from the June 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 64. It begins, "To get the rich texture of Italian gelato, this ice cream base is thickened with cornstarch, like a pudding." Makes 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/super-chocolate-vegan-gelato/.

Ingredients

2 cups plain soy creamer

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 Tbs. cocoa powder

3 Tbs. cornstarch

1/2 tsp. salt

4 oz. semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preparation

Combine soy creamer, brown sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt in small saucepan, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until slightly thickened, whisking constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in chocolate and vanilla until chocolate is melted.

Cover, and chill 4 hours, or overnight.

Freeze in ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s directions.

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!

CHOCOLATE LOVER'S CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE

This recipe is from FamilyTime, and begins, “Chocolate crust with a milk chocolate coating, fluffy chocolate filling, whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle: this pie is not for the faint of heart!”

Serves: 12; Prep. time: 25 minutes; Cooking time: 11 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/3 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Baking Cocoa

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup butter, melted

2-3/4 cups (16 ounces) NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels, divided

2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided

2 teaspoons Powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine graham cracker crumbs, cocoa and granulated sugar in 9-inch pie plate. Stir in butter until all ingredients are moistened; press onto bottom and up sides of pie plate. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle 1/2 cup morsels over bottom of hot crust; let stand for 10 minutes or until all morsels are shiny. Spread chocolate over bottom and up sides of crust. Cool to room temperature.

Microwave 2 cups morsels and 3/4 cup cream in large, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; stir. Microwave at additional 10- to 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Cool to room temperature.

Beat remaining cream, sugar and vanilla extract in chilled small mixer bowl until soft peaks form. Fold 2 cups whipped cream into chocolate mixture. Spoon into crust; swirl top. Garnish with remaining whipped cream. Refrigerate until firm.

Microwave remaining 1/4 cup morsels in heavy-duty plastic bag on HIGH (100%) power for about 30 seconds; knead until smooth. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to drizzle chocolate over pie; let stand a few minutes before serving.

DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE MASCARPONE RASPBERRY PIE

This is from Better Homes and Gardens. Prep Time: 30 minutes; Bake Time: 14 minutes; Chill Times: 3 hours; Makes 10 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.bhg.com/recipe/double-chocolate-mascarpone-raspberry-pie-1/.

Ingredients

1 recipe Pastry for a Single-Crust Pie (below)

1 8 ounce carton mascarpone cheese

6 ounce bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoon raspberry liqueur

1 cup whipping cream

2 cup fresh raspberries

1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam, melted and cooled slightly

1 recipe White Chocolate Topping (optional)

Semisweet chocolate shavings (optional)

White Chocolate Topping

2 ounce white baking chocolate

1/4 cup whipping cream

2/3 cup whipping cream

Pastry for a Single-Crust Pie

1-1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup shortening

1/4 cup butter, cut up

1/4 cup ice water

Directions

Preheat oven to 450°F. Prepare Pastry for a Single-Crust Pie. On a lightly floured surface, use your hands to slightly flatten pastry. Roll pastry from center to edges into a circle about 12 inches in diameter. Wrap pastry circle around the rolling pin. Unroll into a 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate without stretching it. Trim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold under extra pastry even with the plate's edge. Crimp edge as desired. Generously prick bottom and sides of pastry with a fork. Line pastry with a double thickness of foil. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove foil. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes more or until golden. Cool on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan combine mascarpone cheese, bittersweet chocolate, and powdered sugar. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat; stir in liqueur. Cool to room temperature.

In a chilled medium mixing bowl beat whipping cream with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form (tips curl). Stir about 1/2 cup of the whipped cream into chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in the remaining whipped cream just until combined. Spoon chocolate mixture into pastry shell, spreading evenly. Cover and chill for 3 to 24 hours.

To serve, in a medium bowl gently stir together raspberries and melted jam; spoon over chocolate mixture. If desired, garnish with White Chocolate Topping and semisweet chocolate shavings.

White Chocolate Topping

In a small heavy saucepan heat and stir white baking chocolate and 1/4 cup whipping cream until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth; cool. In a medium chilled mixing bowl beat 2/3 cup whipping cream with an electric mixer on medium speed until mixture mounds but does not form peaks; turn off mixer. Add white chocolate mixture; beat on low speed just until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight).

Pastry for a Single-Crust Pie

In a medium bowl, stir together flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening and butter until pieces are pea size. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the ice water over part of the flour mixture; toss gently with a fork. Push moistened dough to side of bowl. Repeat with additional ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time (1/4 to 1/3 cup total), until all of the flour mixture is moistened. Gather mixture into a ball, kneading gently until it holds together.

Make-Ahead Tip:

Lightly cover pie; store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

CHOCOLATE MISSISSIPPI MUD PIE

This is from Diana Rattray at The Spruce Eats. She wrote, " This Mississippi mud pie is a mouthwatering chocolate pie, and it's so easy you'll make it again and again. The amazing pie is made with a moist chocolate filling and the signature crumbly top that resembles the cracked, dry Mississippi river mud. The butter and chocolate are melted and then beaten into the egg mixture, which will take no more than 8 to 10 minutes. Fill your homemade or ready-made graham cracker or cookie crust pie and bake. That's all there is to it!

"This is perfect for a weekend snack when everyone is asking for something sweet or a chocolate dessert, and you probably have all of the ingredients in your pantry.

"We've included a simple homemade graham cracker crust recipe, but we used a store-bought crust for the pie in the picture. We usually bake a homemade crust for a few minutes to firm it up a bit before filling, but there is no need to bake a ready-made crust."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 52 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/chocolate-mississippi-mud-pie-3053483.

Ingredients

For the Graham Cracker Crust (or Use a Store-Bought 9-inch Ready-Made Crust):

1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

6 tablespoons butter (melted)

dash of salt

For the Filling:

1/4 lb. (1 stick) butter

2 (1 oz. each) squares unsweetened chocolate

3 large eggs

3 tablespoons white corn syrup

1-1/3 cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Directions

Gather the ingredients.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Position the baking rack in the center of the oven.

For the optional homemade crust: combine the graham cracker crumbs in a bowl with the confectioners' sugar, 6 tablespoons of melted butter, and a dash of salt. Pat the crumbs into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. Remove the crust to a rack and set aside (There's no need to bake a ready-made crumb crust).

Place a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the butter and unsweetened chocolate and cook, stirring frequently, until both are melted and well blended. Let the mixture cool slightly.

In a medium bowl with an electric mixer, beat the eggs. Stir in the corn syrup, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Add the chocolate mixture to egg and sugar mixture and stir until well blended.

Place the pie crust on a baking sheet. The baking sheet makes it much easier to move the pie to and from the oven and will catch any spills.

Pour the filling into the prepared pie shell and transfer the pie to the oven.

Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the filling is set with a very little jiggle.

Serve the pie slightly warm or cold with a scoop of ice cream, a drizzling of chocolate syrup, or a dollop of whipped cream.

Serve and enjoy!

Tip

Store the leftovers, loosely covered, in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

CREAM-FILLED CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

This is from the October 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 62. It begins, "This vegan version of store-bought cupcakes will win over a crowd."

Makes 12 vegan cupcakes

To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/cream-filled-chocolate-cupcakes/.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 Tbs. rice vinegar (unseasoned)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 7.5-oz. container vegan whipped topping

4 oz. semisweet vegan chocolate chips (2/3 cup)

1 cup confectioners' sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Coat 12 muffin tin cups with cooking spray.

Sift flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into bowl. Add oil, vinegar, vanilla, and 1 cup plus 2 Tbs. cold water. Stir 50 strokes, or until smooth. Pour batter into muffin cups. Bake 18 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, unmold, and cool completely.

Cut wide cones out of cupcake bottoms, reserving cones. Scrape 1 Tbs. cake from insides. Spoon whipped topping into plastic bag. Snip corner of bag, and squeeze topping into cavities. Reinsert cake cones, and chill 30 minutes.

Melt chocolate in double boiler, whisk in 1/4 cup boiling water, and use to frost cupcakes. Chill 30 minutes. Combine confectioners’ sugar and 1 Tbs. water in bowl. Transfer to plastic bag, and snip corner. Pipe curlicues atop cupcakes.

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