chocolate recipes

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Pecan pie is one of those desserts that I always wonder if it's worth the calories because there is no chocolate.

Today's recipe is the solution.  Add chocolate to pecan pie and now it's the best of both worlds with a great nut and chocolate combination!

Chocolate Pecan Pie

• 9-inch deep pie shell
• 2 tbsp butter
• ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 cup light karo syrup
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1½ cups pecan halves
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Coconut Fudge Balls

Early Spanish explorers named the tropical island coconut after the animal it resembled.  Coco means "monkey face."

Did you know that the coconut provides a nutritious (and delicious!) source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals?  It is one of those "functional foods" I’ve talked about in previous blogs. 

Coconut oil has a bad reputation of being a “bad” fat, but in reality it is not.  Coconut oil is saturated, but it does not contain trans fats.
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Chocolate Rosettes

For many, the rosette is a traditional Christmas treat.  The rosette is a thin cookie, deep-fried and sprinkled in powdered sugar.  The pastry is Norwegian in origin. Rosettes are intricately shaped and formed using a rosette iron.

The iron has to be heated to a very high temperature in oil before dipping it into the batter.  The batter is then re-dipped in the hot oil to create a crispy shell around the iron.  After the rosette separates from the iron, it is cooled and dusted in confectioner’s sugar.
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Candied Orange Peel vs. Jellied Orange Candies

As promised here are two recipes.  The first is for Candied Orange Peel.  The second is for Jellied Orange Candies.

For best results you'll have to temper the chocolate so review those instructional blog posts, or refer to your Chocolate University Online lesson materials, if you need to refresh your memory.

Candied Orange Peel

• 1 large navel orange
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate, chopped
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Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Bryn let's me make the cheesecakes at our house.  In my opinion there's nothing like a good cheesecake to help celebrate any worthy event. 

For your Thanksgiving chocolate fix this year you might want to try a chocolate chip cheesecake.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
 
• 1 1/2 cups finely crushed cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies
• 2 to 3 tablespoons margarine or butter, melted
• 24 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 3 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon flour
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Austrian Style Hot Chocolate

This hot chocolate recipe is big enough to serve your entire crowd for a holiday party!

Cook it up, grab a mug, and share.

Austrian Style Hot Chocolate 
 
• 30 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, broken in pieces
• 10 small strips of orange peel, finely grated
• 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 15 cups milk
• 2 1/2 cups whipping cream
• Grated chocolate or cocoa powder
• 30 cinnamon sticks (each approx. 3 inches long)
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Chocolate-Banana Swirl Cupcakes

Here a delightful combination of chocolate and banana, in a cupcake form.

For a delicious variation of this recipe you can replace the banana with your favorite winter squash or pumpkin!

Chocolate-Banana Swirl Cupcakes 
 
• 6 tbsp butter, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ¼ cup flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup mashed ripe banana (approx. 1 large ripe banana)
• 3 oz bittersweet chocolate, melted over a double boiler
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Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies

I love baking brownies on a cold, blustery day like today.  I love smelling the chocolate cooking in the oven; the way the brownies steam when I cut them in the pan; and the way the vanilla ice cream melts after I drop a scoop on the top.  Ah!

The complete experience should be shared with a loved one.

Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies 
 
• 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
• 3 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped
• 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup raspberry jam
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Black Bottom Cupcakes

Black Bottom cupcakes are chocolate cupcakes with a cream cheese center.  This cupcake is super dense, rich, and moist. 

I like this recipe because of the added chocolate chips, only I prefer the mini-chocolate chip size.  The texture is great, too.  I could eat these everyday – yikes!

Black Bottom Cupcakes 
 
• 12 ounces cream cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1 2/3 cups sugar
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (can use mini-size)
• 1 1/2 cups flour, sifted
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup cooking oil
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
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Irish Chocolate Cake

This cake is neither green nor lucky, it is simply enhanced with Irish Cream Liqueur.

Irish Chocolate Cake 
 
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar (don't pack it down when measuring)
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup Irish Cream liqueur
• 1/2 cup water
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