I just posted a almost flourless cake and wanted to share something that will save you time and energy. Because sometimes there is nothing that will do except chocolate, but we are either not in the mood to bake or simply don’t like to bake, here is a great little secret.
At Whole Foods there is a little gem of a chocolate dessert called Miles of Chocolate. It is gluten free and probably one of the most delectable chocolate desserts I have ever had. I have written about it before, so this is just a little reminder. It is in the bakery part of Whole Foods and you might have to ask the bakery attendant to show you where it is located. It is in the cold prepared bakery items part and is individually wrapped like a brownie. But trust me on this. It is so much better than a brownie. It is part brownie and part chocolate truffle. They are a little pricey but oh so worth it. You could buy as many as needed for each guest you are having. Serve them either straight out of the fridge or room temp on a plate with a raspberry or strawberry sauce, topped with whipped cream and your guest will think you have been in the kitchen for days. Trust me on this one. These little Miles of Chocolate are the best thing since disposable diapers. I read that they have them at Central Market also, but have not been there to see. We have bought ours at Whole Foods each time. Let me know what you think of them. If you are curious about them, just google Miles of Chocolate and see all the comments written about them. They truly are a little slice of heaven and the best chocolate dessert around. The man who introduced these to the world use to sit by me in high school, but I don’t think we ever talked. Darn, I should have paid more attention to the people sitting by me instead of what outfit I was going to wear the next day.
Category: Chocolate
Chocolate Decadence
Since we have friends coming in from California next week, I have been looking through different recipes to see what I will be making while they are here. This one will be the one to welcome them in Saturday evening. Isn’t it always just the best to walk in and smell chocolate? They will feel at home instantly when they sit down and share their road trip experience while spooning up this most delicious chocolate dessert. The dessert is made ahead so all you need do is serve it as all of us will have our feet up, ready to hear their road trip stories. (if they are anything like ours, I’m sure there will be some blog stories that will be written.) This is almost flourless, using just 2 tables flour..
2 (8 oz) packages semisweet chocolate baking squares
2/3 cup butter
5 large eggs
2 tables sugar
2 tables flour
Raspberry Sauce
Whipping cream
Line bottom of a 9″ springform pan with parchment paper; set pan aside.
Cook chocolate and butter in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat until chocolate is completely melted, stirring occasionally. Beat eggs at medium speed with mixer until blended, gradually add the chocolate mixture, beating 10 minutes. Fold in sugar and flour. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake at 400 for 15 minutes. Cake will not be set in center. Cool 30 minutes. Cover loosely and chill 8 hours. Spoon about 2 1/2 Tables Raspberry sauce on each dessert plate. Place wedge of chocolate dessert on sauce. Garnish with whipped cream and a fresh raspberry.
Raspberry Sauce
2 cups fresh raspberry sauce
2 cups water
1/4 cup sugar
2 tables cornstarch
2 tables water
Combine raspberries, 2 cups water and 1/4 cup sugar in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered about 30 minutes. Press raspberry mixture through a wire mesh strainer, using the back of a spoon to squeeze out juice. Discard pulp and seeds. Return raspberry mixture to saucepan; set aside.
Combine cornstarch and 2 tables water in a small measuring cup, stir until smooth. Stir into raspberry mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture comes to a boil. Cook 2 more minute; stirring. Remove from heat and cool completely.
Chocolate Chip Cookies Ah La TKbakesalot
Because we are still stuck at home because of the weather and I wanted to get in the kitchen and bake. What perfect weather to keep the fireplace going and get the chocolate chips out and get some cookies in the oven.
Because I have had so many friends tell me that they love my chocolate chip cookies. I thought I would post the changes I make to the recipe which is on the back of Nestle’s semi-sweet chocolate chips. I follow the recipe except for two things.
I use half butter and half Crisco shortening.
I only use 1 large egg instead of 2.
Today I used 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and ground up with a food processor, Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate truffle bars. The cookies are amazing.
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup Crisco shortening
3/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 teas vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teas baking soda
1/2 teas salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 cup of grated dark chocolate
1 cup chopped pecans (if desired)
Cream the softened butter and Crisco with both sugars. Add the egg and vanilla and mix well. Mix flour, baking soda and salt together. Beat in the flour mixture with the creamed mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips and pecans (if you are using pecans)
Bake on ungreased cookie sheets in a preheated 375 oven for 9-12 minutes depending on the size of the cookies.
I cool them on paper towels. Then I wrap in waxed paper and freeze while still just a little warm. They freeze beautifully and stay very moist. Or just keep them out and watch them disappear.
Chocolate Cookie Pudding
Being at our daughter’s house last week, I began to look for simple desserts since my son-in-law had informed me before I got there that I was expected to make at least 3 of them while there. This one caught my eye since it would be simple, not many food items to purchase and even the 3 year old would love it. To change it up, feel free to change out the Oreo cookies for Double Delight Oreo Peanut Butter & Chocolate cookies.
1 (5.9 oz) package chocolate instant pudding mix
2 cups milk
1 (3 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 (8 oz) container Cool Whip
16 double stuffed cream-filled chocolate Oreo cookies, crushed (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Whisk together the chocolate instant pudding mix and 2 cups milk for 2 mins. Cover pudding and chill 5 min.
Stir together cream cheese and Cool Whip; blend well.
Place 1 cup crushed cookies in an 8 cup bowl. Spread half of cream cheese mixture over crushed cookies; sprinkle with half of pecans if using. Spread all of the pudding evenly over top; spread remaining cream cheese mixture evenly over pudding. Sprinkle with remaining cookies and pecans. Chill for about 2-4 hours until ready to serve.
Red Velvet Whoppie Pies Via Duncan Hines
Tomorrow I am baking these little gems for a lady who has requested them for friends coming in from out of town. I am using my favorite Cream Cheese Frosting for the filling instead of the canned frosting that this says to use. If you want to make your own, all it is is:
1 (8 oz) softened cream cheese
1 stick butter
1 box of powdered sugar
Enough whipping cream or milk to get it to spreading consistency.
Whoppie Pies
1 package Duncan Hines® Signature Red Velvet Cake Mix
• 2 large eggs
• 6 Tbsp. butter, melted
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Baking Instructions
1.Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease baking sheets.
2.Combine cake mix, eggs, butter and vanilla in large bowl with wooden spoon until dough forms.
3.Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2-inches apart on prepared pans.
4.Bake 8 to 9 minutes or until edges are set. Cool cookies 1 minute on pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
5.Spread frosting on flat side of 20 cookies. Top with remaining cookies.
6.Baking Tip: Use a 1 to 1-1/4 inch scoop to form dough into balls. For best results, bake one baking sheet at a time. If baking two sheets together, rotate pans halfway through baking.
Fudge Spoon Pie
I noticed that I have a new follower on Twitter, Kennbuck Inn and want to say welcome. This dessert would be fabulous served after dinner at any B&B. It is taken from Southern Living Desserts and would be a great ending to any meal. To gooey to slice like a pie, but served as a cobbler with whipping cream or ice cream…I know I would come back to anyplace that served it.
1/2 cup butter
1 (1 oz) sq unsweetened chocolate
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 teas vanilla
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Ice Cream or Whipping Cream
Melt butter and chocolate in a saucepan over low heat, stirring often. Remove from heat. Stir in sugar and next 3 ingredients.
Pour batter into a greased 8″ square pan. Bake at preheated 325 oven for about 22 minutes. (Do not overbake) Serve warm with cream or ice cream.
Mississippi Mud Cake
To continue our month of Chocolate Desserts, this cake has always been one of my favorites.
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
4 large eggs, beaten
1 teas vanilla
1/8 teas salt
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans, toasted
1 (10.5 oz) bag miniature marshmallows
Chocolate Frosting:
1 ( 16 oz) package powdered sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter (4 tables), softened
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
Cake:
whisk together the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in flour and chopped pecans. Pour batter into a greased and floured 15×10″ jelly-roll pan.
Bake in a preheated 350 oven for about 20 min, or until cake tests done. Remove from oven and sprinkle the marshmallows over the top of the cake. Return to oven and bake about 3-4 min. Drizzle the Chocolate Frosting over the warm cake, over the melted marshmallows. Top with more chopped pecans if desired.
Frosting:
Beat all ingredients at medium speed with mixer until smooth.
Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies
A few days ago I read on a blog called, Two Chums about substituting some of the butter in chocolate chip cookies with cream cheese for a moist chewy cookie. I had to try it so today I made my regular chocolate chip cookie (if you make the one on the package of chocolate chips, the only difference is that I use half unsalted butter and half Crisco which gives you a much more fluffy cookie) using 1 stick unsalted butter, 4 tables Crisco and 4 Tables softened cream cheese. I always only use 1 large egg instead of 2. The cookies are so soft and chewy.
Plus a little cream cheese flavor, which always is a plus! Try it and see what you think. Will look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Chocolate Fudge Cheesecake
2 (1 oz) squares of unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs (room temp)
1/2 cup flour
1 teas vanilla
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 (8 oz) packages of softened cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
4 large eggs
1 teas vanilla
Chocolate Glaze
Microwave chocolate sq in glass bowl on high for 1 min and 15 sec, stirring once after about 45 sec. Stir until melted and smooth.
Beat butter and 1 cup of sugar at medium speed with mixer until light and fluffy. Add 2 eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add melted chocolate, beating just until blended.
Add flour, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in the 1 teas vanilla and chocolate morsels.
Sprinkle toasted pecans evenly over bottom of a greased and floured 9″ greased and floured spring form pan. Spoon batter over pecans. (You can skip the pecans if you desire and just pour the batter into the pan.)
Beat cream cheese at medium with mixer until smooth, add 3/4 cup sugar, beating just until blended. Add 4 eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in 1 teas vanilla. Pour cream cheese over brownie batter.
Bake at 325 1 hour or until set. Remove from oven immediately running a knife around edge of pan, releasing sides. Let cool on wire rack. Spread warm Chocolate Glaze over top of cooled cheesecake; cover and chill at least 8 hours. Remove sides of pan before serving.
Garnish with Fresh Strawberries, mint springs or chocolate curls.
(*Taken from Southern Living Desserts)
Mocha Brownie Cake
Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate! What a great month to try all new chocolate desserts Finding the Southern Living Chocolate Dessert cookbook, well,what better place to look for all new recipes. 
1 (21 oz) box chewy fudge brownie mix (Duncan Hines is recommended)
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup oil
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 tables instant coffee granules
1/4 cup powdered sugar
Garnish: chocolate shavings
Coat 2 ( 8″) round cake pans with cooking spray. Line pans with wax paper and coat with the cooking spray.
Combine brownie mix and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in pecans (Hum…I might be tempted to add about 1/2 cup chocolate chips). Spread batter evenly into prepared pans; bake for almost 23-25 min or until they test done.
Remove from oven and place on wire racks to cool completely.
Combine whipping cream and coffee granules. Beat at medium speed with mixer until starting to hold shape. Gradually add the powdered sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Spread whipped cream mixture on top of one brownie layer that you have placed on a serving platter. Top with remaining brownie layer and spread the rest of the whipped cream mixture over the top and sides of the brownie cakes. Store in fridge and garnish as desired.
Chocolate Castles 