Chocolate Desserts

The Chocolate Connoisseur March 12th, 2007

A chocolate dessert is perfect for any occasion and always a big hit, whether it is for the family after a meal or you take it to a special event or dinner. Here are two chocolate dessert recipes that are delicious and easy to make. The first is a chocolate dessert pudding.

Chocolate Dessert Pudding

Chocolate Crust Ingredients

· 1 ½ cups of flour
· 1 ½ sticks of butter
· 1 ½ cups of chopped nuts such as walnuts or pecans

Combine the butter, flour, and chopped nuts and press into a cake pan that is 13 x 9 x 2 inches. Bake for fifteen minutes in a 350F degree oven. Remove this and let it cool.

Filling

· 1 cup of cool whip
· 1 cup of confectioners sugar
· 8 ounces of cream cheese

Combine these three ingredients and then spread this on the chocolate crust.

Pudding Filling

· 3 cups of cold 2% milk or whole milk
· 2 packages of chocolate instant pudding
· 1 cup of cool whip

Combine the milk and instant pudding, mix and then pour this onto the top of the filling. Top with cool whip and then refrigerate. This chocolate dessert pudding is scrumptious.

The second recipe is a chocolate dessert cake that will draw raves from everyone lucky enough to have a piece. This is great alone or served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipping cream.

Chocolate Dessert Cake

Ingredients

· 2 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour
· 2 cups of granulated sugar
· 2/3 cup of unsweetened cocoa
· ½ teaspoon of baking powder
· 1 teaspoon of salt
· 1 ½ teaspoons of baking soda
· ¾ cup of water
· 3 eggs
· ½ cup of oil
· 8 ounces (1 container) of sour cream

Start by preheating the oven to 350 F degrees and then flour and grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients, mixing thoroughly and then add the oil, water and eggs. Beat with a mixer at medium speed for approximately two minutes, and then add the sour cream, stirring well. Pour this into the baking pan, and bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

An easy and delicious chocolate dessert frosting that is wonderful with chocolate dessert cake contains 1/3 cup of margarine or butter, 4 ½ cups of sifted powdered sugar, ½ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 ½ teaspoons of vanilla and ¼ cup of milk. Beat the margarine or butter until fluffy, mix in the unsweetened cocoa powder and only 1½ cups of the powdered sugar. Add the vanilla and milk, mixing well. Beat in the remaining 3 cups of powdered sugar. Add a little more milk if you find it a little difficult to spread.



Chocolate Brownies

The Chocolate Connoisseur February 28th, 2007

During the Columbian Exposition in 1892, the chef of the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago invented the brownie. Bertha Palmer wanted a dessert that women could eat without getting their hands dirty when put into box lunches. Sears and Roebuck published the first chocolate brownie recipe in their 1898 catalogue.

Just the mention of chocolate or a chocolate brownie has most people’s faces light up and their mouths water. Often referred to as ‘America’s favorite dessert’, chocolate brownies, named after their rich brown color, are popular not only across America but are known and eaten around the world. Many like their chocolate brownies covered with fudge icing, or with chips such as chocolate, peanut butter or butterscotch, while others prefer nuts or a combination of both. People also love fresh, hot chocolate brownies served with toppings such as vanilla ice cream, fresh whipped cream or hot fudge. In most fine dining establishments, country diners or other restaurants, brownies are often the most popular dessert item.

For people that love to cook, there are thousands of recipes for chocolate brownies, which are available in cookbooks, magazines and on the internet. You can even experiment to create a chocolate brownie recipe all your own or try different ingredients in a recipe you already have. Here is a brownie recipe with nuts that is not only delicious but also easy to make.

Ingredients

· One cup flour
· One cup sugar
· One cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans etc.)
· One teaspoon vanilla
· One teaspoon baking powder
· One quarter cup of cocoa
· One stick or four ounces of butter or margarine
· Three eggs

On low heat, melt cocoa and butter in a small saucepan and then remove this from the heat. In a bowl, beat the eggs until foamy and then slowly add in sugar and the melted cocoa and butter mixture. Sift together the baking powder and flour, and add half of this into the cake batter. Mix the nuts into the remaining flour mixture and then add this to your cake batter, being sure to blend it together well. Stir in the vanilla and then spread the batter evenly into an 8 x 8 inch greased and floured baking pan. Place this into a preheated 350-degree oven for twenty to twenty-five minutes.

You can make a quick and easy chocolate icing by sifting two cups of powdered sugar and four tablespoons of cocoa together. Add one teaspoon of vanilla and stir in enough half-and-half or heavy cream, until you get the desired spreading consistency. Make sure the brownies are cool and then apply the icing.

Taking a delicious plate of chocolate brownies to any gathering is sure to be a big hit. Be sure to make lots, as it is almost impossible for most people to eat only one chocolate brownie.