Chocolate University Online Blog
Plain chocolate cake is downright delicious, but at times, it can become such a bore. (Did I really say that?) And what better way to give it more oomph than putting in additional ingredients. Case in point: carrots.
One of the most sought-after nutritional benefits you can get from carrots is the beta-carotene that gets converted into vitamin A, helpful for eyesight. But aside from that, carrots have been proven to lower the levels of cholesterol in the system and also aid in combating heart attacks and cancer.
However, there are people who just aren’t big fans of carrots, or vegetables, for that matter. If you’re one of them, fret not because the carrot-y taste is not gonna outstand the chocolaty taste. Instead, the carrot will just enhance the overall flavor of the chocolate cake.
You can serve this cake to your kids who hate vegetables with passion, and they will never even know it has carrots while getting all the nutrients carrot offers!
Chocolate Carrot Cake
• 1 1/2 cups finely grated carrots
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
Pre-heat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine carrots, sugar and oil. Pour water over the mixture. In a separate bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients. Add to the carrot mixture and mix well.
Pour into a non-stick or lightly oiled 8-inch square pan. Bake for 35
minutes. |
Enjoy!
Categories: chocolate recipes
Tags: carrot cake, carrots, chocolate cake, vitamin A
Truffles are the bomb. They never fail to give us the little pleasure we root for when it comes to chocolates. Below is a recipe for a strawberry truffle which is quite a variation to the conventional chocolate truffle.
Even at first sight, the heart-shaped silhouette of strawberry would give you a hint that it is good for you. They pack a lot of nutritional benefits like vitamin C, fiber, manganese, potassium, and also contain a great deal of antioxidant properties called polyphenols. Strawberries are free of sodium, fat, cholesterol, and are considered a low-calorie food.
Did you know that strawberry is a member of the rose family? Truth be told, it is not actually a real fruit or berry, but the enlarged receptacle of the flower. Interesting, eh?
Try this recipe if you plan on throwing a party, inviting people to come over to your house, or just because!
Strawberry Truffles
• 5 ounces white chocolate
• 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
• 18 medium fresh strawberries
• 1/4 cup finely minced crystallized ginger (get it in a gourmet food
store or well-stocked supermarket)
• 1/2 cup toasted coconut
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pistachio nuts
Melt white chocolate in the top of a double boiler, let cool.
Beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and ginger root until smooth. Add melted white chocolate and mix well. Chill for at least 1 hour or until easy to handle.
Use a small melon baller (or small spoon) to scoop out the center of each strawberry, half way down each fruit. Pat strawberry dry. Put a little crystallized ginger into each strawberry. Shape the cheese/chocolate mixture around the fruit. Coat one end in the toasted coconut, the other in the pistachio nuts. Place truffles in candy cups and chill until serving time. |
Bon appetit!
Categories: chocolate recipes
Tags: chocolate covered fruit, confectionery, nutritional benefits, strawberries, strawberry, super fruits, truffles, white chocolate
Everyone knows about lollipops. These kiddie treats are especially popular with the, er, kids. This lip-smacking type of confectionery, also called lolly, pop, sucker, or sticky-pop comes in different shapes, sizes, and flavors. They are known for being mounted on top of a stick.
The origins of lollipop are somewhat a blur. Many people claim that it has been around since the 18th century. The Roman word “lolly” apparently means tongue and “pop” means slap.
These sweet delights have always had a special place in our hearts since most of us grew up loving them. These days, various companies are producing delectable and entertaining lollipops but most of these treats come in fruit flavors. Just for fun, let’s make some delicious alteration and come up with chocolate-chip lollipops!
Chocolate Chip Lollipops
• 1 chocolate chip cookie mix
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons water
• 24 flat ice cream sticks
• Assorted edible decorations
Preheat oven to 375°. Combine cookie mix, buttery flavor packet from mix, egg and water in large bowl. Stir until thoroughly blended. Shape dough into 24 (1″) balls. Place balls 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Push ice cream stick into center of each ball. Flatten each ball with hand to form round lollipop. Decorate by pressing decorations onto dough.
Bake at 375° for 8-9 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on baking sheets. Remove to cooling racks. Cool completely. Store in airtight container. |
Eat your heart out!
Categories: chocolate recipes
Tags: chocolate candy, chocolate chips, confectionery
Coffee is a staple in our daily routine. It never fails to jumpstart our day. Sometimes we long for the kick it gives as we get up in the morning. Other times we might want a pick-me-up. And in another moment we might be eager for the enticing flavor and aroma.
Aside from the little pleasures we get from drinking coffee–just like chocolate–it actually offers several health benefits such as fighting free radicals that can cause cancer. This is because coffee is known to contain a significant amount of antioxidants, even more than green tea does.
Almond extract doesn’t offer a lot of nutritional values, but let me shine some light about almonds anyway. Almonds pack a lot of nutritional benefits. Not only do they taste good, but almonds are considered as one of the healthiest nuts. It is a good source of protein and essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E and calcium and magnesium. Plus, almonds are loaded with compounds called phytochemicals that protect against cardiovascular diseases and even cancer. No wonder a lot of people go nuts with almonds! (pun intended)
Combine the flavors of coffee, almond, and chocolate in one drink and you’re in for a treat!
Chocolate Almond Coffee
• 1/3 cup ground coffee
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon chocolate extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/4 cup toasted almonds, chopped
Blend together the nutmeg and coffee. Add extracts. Blend 10 seconds longer. Place in bowl and stir in almonds. Store in refrigerator or use right away.
To brew: Place mix in filter of an automatic drip coffee maker. Add 6 cups water and brew. |
Enjoy!
Categories: chocolate recipes
Tags: almonds, chocolate and coffee, chocolate recipe, coffee
Everything good in life is either illegal, immoral, or fattening, or so they say. Butterfinger Cake can be cold hard (and yummy!) proof to that, but so be it. After all, it’s not so bad to indulge once in a while in something that you know can’t do your figure any good.
Butterfinger® is a candy bar made by Nestlé which has a crumbling and orange-colored center that can be compared to crisp caramel and peanut butter and it is covered in chocolatey coating. It has been around for decades and is a darling to many.
This cake recipe is such a guilty pleasure most especially to those who love Butterfinger candy bar per se.
Butterfinger Cake
• 1 box German chocolate cake mix
• 8 ounces butterscotch topping for ice cream
• 2 large Butterfinger® candy bars
• 1 large carton whipped topping
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
Mix cake according to package directions, and bake in a 9×13-inch pan. While cake is still hot, pour butterscotch topping over cake, poking small holes in cake so that topping can soak in. Cool completely. Crush Butterfinger bars. Reserve 1/2 of one bar and mix the rest into a large carton of whipped topping along with the pecans. Spread over cooled cake, and top with reserved Butterfinger. Refrigerate until ready to serve. |
Enjoy!
Categories: chocolate recipes
Tags: butterfinger, candy bars, chocolate bars, chocolate cake, chocolate candy, peanut butter
If you’re having guests come over to your house, you can always serve chocolate mousse as a dessert. Whether your visitors are kids or kids at heart, chocolate mousse will definitely make you hear them go ‘mmmm’. Plus, you can make it without much hassle.
Just in case you wanted to know, the word mousse is French and it means foam or lather. This is a specialty in French restaurants, which made its way into the British and American culture in the 1960s. The most essential part in creating chocolate mousse is the foam, which gives this treat an airy and light texture. You have the freedom of choice to prepare it light and fluffy or creamy and thick. It all boils down to your liking.
This simple yet appetizing dessert can come in handy this time of year especially when all the food you’ve prepared is finished by some other guests, and unexpected ones come over!
60-Second Chocolate Mousse
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup heavy cream
• Whipped cream
Place chocolate, egg, and vanilla in blender and chop. Heat heavy cream until small bubbles appear at the edge. Do not boil. With the blender running, slowly pour in the hot cream. Blend until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Pour into dessert dishes. Cover with plastic wrap and chill. Serve with whipped cream dollops. |
Enjoy!
Categories: chocolate recipes
Tags: chocolate dessert, mousse
Chocolate and mint always make a good pair. I guess it’s safe to say by now you already know some significant tidbits about chocolate. Let me shine some light on you about mint this time.
Mint flavor is extracted from mint leaves that have a rather powerful scent, and available all through the year. Its leaves are typically green, but there are some that are purple, blue, and yellow in color. The plant can grow to approximately 120cm tall.
Mint leaves can be used to repel mosquitoes and as a medicine to soothe the stomach. While sometimes used even in beauty products, mint is mostly utilized in the culinary department. It is often used in beverages, syrups, ice cream, and chocolate candies.
Chocolate mint is produced when mint flavoring, such as peppermint, spearmint, or crème de menthe, is combined with chocolate. Just so you know, every 19th of February is the Chocolate Mint Day as declared by the National Confectioners Association.
Here’s a simple yet luscious chocolate mint drink recipe for you!
Chocolate Mint Drink
• 6 peppermint tea bags
• 6 cups 2% milk
• 6 tablespoons hot chocolate mix, divided
Place peppermint tea bags in bottom of pan. Add milk and heat to just under boiling. Gently squeeze tea bags and remove. Place 1 tablespoon chocolate in each of 6 mugs, and pour 1 cup of hot minted milk over the chocolate. Serve with a fresh mint leaf on the side or with a peppermint stick candy. |
Enjoy!
Categories: chocolate recipes
Tags: chocolate drinks, chocolate pairings, food pairings, mint chocolate, peppermint
You have the freedom in selecting the way you make your chocolate brittle. In this particular recipe, we will be using semi-sweet chocolate, but you can always opt for white, milk, or dark chocolate. It’s all up to your liking, or the one you plan on giving it to. Especially now that it’s December already, you can make some of these to give as a holiday gift.
But don’t stop here, you can modify the recipe by using other dried fruits and nuts available in your kitchen or fridge. And always keep in mind, the quality of the chocolate brittle will be as good as the quality of the chocolate you will be using, so see to it that you use quality chocolate!
Chocolate Brittle
• 1 pound butter
• 1 pound sugar
• 1 pound almonds
• 1 pound walnuts, finely chopped
• 1 pound semi-sweet chocolate
• 1 cup whole walnuts
In a saucepan cook butter & sugar, boiling 5 minutes. Stir in almonds and cook 10-20 minutes or until nuts begin to pop & turn brown. Pour into a shallow pan & let cool. Melt chocolate & pour over mixture in pan. Sprinkle with finely chopped walnuts. After mixture hardens, turn over and sprinkle bottom side with walnuts. Break candy into pieces. |
Better yet, get some other chocolate recipes from the previous posts and try to make all you can. Then put them together in gift baskets to give away to your friends and loved ones. This is one surefire way of making their Christmas merry!
Categories: chocolate recipes
Tags: chocolate dessert, chocolate gifts, Christmas, holidays
Chocolate is divine all its own. I’d pretty much eat anything that has chocolate in it. But orange and chocolate combination is just downright scrumptious.
The tangy note of orange is just heavenly when united with the sweetness of chocolate. When a certain cake features the combo, it leaves an intricate taste in your mouth. You’ll know it’s not just another boring dessert.
You can use this recipe for these up-and-coming holidays and entertain your guests with a cake that has the interesting combination of orange and chocolate with the crunch of walnuts.
| Orange Chocolate Crunch
• 2 cups orange sections, about 6 oranges
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 2/3 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350°. Peel and section oranges. Cut sections into small pieces. Combine the orange pieces and orange juice. Beat eggs and add oranges, vanilla and almond extract. Mix well. Sift dry ingredients together and add all at once. Pour into a greased and floured 9×13-inch pan. Combine the brown sugar, chocolate chips and nuts. Sprinkle on top of cake. Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes. |
Enjoy!
Categories: chocolate recipes
Tags: baking chocolate, cake, chocolate dessert, chocolate pairings, orange
Yep, chocolate and beer pairing is getting so popular I might as well share a recipe that has it.
It may sound bizarre to others who don’t experiment with food much, but beer and chocolate go together splendidly, especially the dark variants. The pairing sounds pretty strange but boy does it work!
People who aren’t crazy about beer often have a fancy for chocolate, so it’s safe to say it’s a win-win recipe. Huge beer fanatics can find flavors in beer that can also be found in chocolate.
With some experimentation, foodies now have come up with something that would make beer fans and chocolate lovers meet halfway. Those who have a sweet tooth are the ones who will enjoy it better, though!
Chocolate Beer Pudding Cake
Batter:
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup beer
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
Syrup:
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
• 3/4 cup beer
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/3 cup sugar
For batter, mix dry ingredients; make a well in center. Add beer, oil and egg to the well. Beat just until smooth. For syrup, make a paste of cocoa and a little beer. Add remaining beer and sugars. Heat to boiling. Pour batter into a greased 8-inch square baking pan. Drizzle syrup over top. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes. Cool about 5 minutes, loosen sides of cake from pan; invert onto platter. Even out pudding layer with knife. Serve warm or cool. |
Enjoy!
Categories: chocolate recipes
Tags: baking chocolate, beer, cake, chocolate dessert, chocolate pairings, food pairings, pudding, snacking
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