Chocolate Syrup

We can buy chocolate syrup here, but it's pretty expensive. Enter cheap, easy, homemade chocolate syrup.

Original recipe credit: allrecipes.com

Yield: 1 1/2 cups

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup cocoa

dash of salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Combine sugar, water, cocoa and salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring with a whisk constantly, until mixture bubbles and begins to thicken. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Store in an airtight container.

Chocolate Peanut-Butter Banana Popsicles

Oh yum. I've been perfecting some popsicle recipes over the summer, so here's our first winner!

yield: 6 pops

1 cup whole milk

1/4 cup peanut butter

2 ripe bananas

2 Tbsp cocoa

1 Tbsp honey

1/2 tsp vanilla

dash of salt

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender; pour into popsicle molds. Freeze.

Chocolate Pudding

My mother-in-law brought us a can of evaporated milk on her recent visit, so I made this pudding for the first time. I'll never use instant pudding mix again (as long as I have access to evaporated milk).

Original recipe credit: Cooking Light (I think)

yield: 6 servings

1/2 cup sugar
3 Tbsp cornstarch
3 Tbsp cocoa
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups 1% milk
1/2 cup evaporated milk
2 oz bittersweet chocolate
1 tsp vanilla

1. Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium saucepan; stir with a whisk. Gradually add evaporated milk and 1% milk, stirring with a whisk. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a whisk. Reduce heat and simmer 1 minute or until thick. Remove from heat; add chocolate, stirring until melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour about 2/3 cup pudding into each of 6 ramekins; cover each serving with plastic wrap. Chill at least 4 hours.

Chocolate Cupcakes

I've had this recipe for a long time, but the original just called for dusted powdered sugar on top. I've been waiting until I remembered to actually write down my own frosting recipe to share, since powdered sugar alone just didn't cut it, in my opinion.

Original cupcake recipe: Cooking Light
Frosting recipe: mine
yield: 12 cupcakes

Cupcakes:
1 cup flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1/4 oz dark chocolate, finely chopped

Frosting:
2 Tbsp butter, softened
1 1/2-2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
dash of salt
2 Tbsp milk

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare cupcakes, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; stir with a whisk.
3. Combine sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well combined. Add eggs and vanilla, beating well. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Fold in chocolate. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups. Bake at 350° for 18 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan; cool completely on a wire rack.
4. To prepare frosting, combine butter and 1 cup of powdered sugar in a medium bowl; beat well with a mixer on medium speed. Add vanilla extract, salt, and 1 tablespoon of milk, mixing well. Gradually mix in remaining powdered sugar and as much of the 1 tablespoon of milk as is necessary until frosting is a good texture for spreading. Top each cupcake with frosting and enjoy!

Chocolate Marshmallow Meltaways

We still have some marshmallows left from the package my mom sent us back in December, and I've been trying to figure out what to do with them. Allrecipes.com did not disappoint. A few minor adjustments to their original recipe and yum. Shannon claims they're better than chocolate chip cookies. Get a full glass of milk, whatever you think, because these are rich and sweet.

yield: 3 dozen

Cookies:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
18 large marshmallows, halved

Frosting:
3 Tbsp butter, softened
3 Tbsp milk
3 Tbsp cocoa
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 tsp peppermint extract (option, if you want Chocolate Mint Marshmallow Meltaways)
3 cups powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare cookies, cream together butter and sugar in a mixer on medium speed; add egg, milk, and vanilla, and beat until well combined. In a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt, stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, stirring until combined and soft dough forms.
3. Using your hands, roll dough by the tablespoonful gently into balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten dough slightly with your hand. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes. Remove from oven, press one marshmallow half onto the top of each cookie, and return to oven. Bake 2 minutes; remove from oven and cool cookies on a wire rack.
4. To prepare frosting, using a mixer on medium-high speed, combine butter, milk, cocoa, and salt (and peppermint extract, if you choose) in a large bowl. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until well combined. Frost cooled cookies. Enjoy with a large glass of milk.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nothing makes you feel quite like you're at home like good old fashioned chocolate chip cookies!

yield: 4 dozen

1 1/2 cups white flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 egg whites or 1 whole egg
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Combine flour, baking soda and salt, stirring with a whisk.
3. Combine sugars and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add vanilla and egg whites; beat 1 minute. Add flour mixture and chips; beat until blended.
4. Drop dough by level tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on pans for 2 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely.

**NOTE**
I just made these for the second time in America and this recipe STINKS! It's wonderful for overseas, but in America DO NOT follow as above. Instead, use 1 cup white flour and 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, or maybe 3/4 of each. 2.5 cups of flour total is way too much. The flour in America is different…more dense…so you don't need as much. 

Chocolate Biscotti

Crunchy, crumbly, and oh-so-chocolaty, these biscotti are perfect for dunking in coffee or hot chocolate.

yield: 2 dozen

1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate minichips
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 egg white

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Combine flour through salt in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Combine vanilla, eggs, and egg white in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add flour mixture to egg mixture; stir until well blended. Divide dough in half. Turn dough out onto a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. With floured hands, shape each dough half into a 12-inch-long roll; pat to 1/2-inch thickness.
3. Bake at 350° for 22 minutes. Remove rolls from baking sheet; cool 10 minutes on a wire rack. Cut each roll diagonally into 12 1/2-inch thick slices. Carefully stand slices upright on baking sheet. Bake biscotti 15 more minutes or until almost firm. Remove biscotti from baking sheet; cool completely on wire rack.

Cool Creamy Chocolate Dessert

Cold, creamy pudding, cream cheeses, and whipped topping combine for a smooth, delicious, and refreshing dessert. This is the perfect dessert for a party or summer holidays.

yield: 15 servings

Crust:
1 1/4 cups flour
1/4 cup powdered sugar
6 Tbsp butter, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted

Filling:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup (4 oz) 1/3-the-fat cream cheese
1/2 cup (4 oz) fat-free cream cheese
1 8-oz carton whipped topping, thawed
3 cups 1 % milk
2 3.9-oz packages chocolate instant pudding mix
cocoa (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 325°.
2. To prepare crust, combine flour and 1/4 cup powdered sugar in food processor; pulse 3 times or until combined. Add butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in pecans. Firmly press mixture into the bottom of a 9x13-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 325° for 20 minutes or until crust is lightly browned. Cool completely.
3. To prepare filling, place 1 cup powdered sugar and cream cheeses in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until fluffy. Fold in half of whipped topping. Spread cream cheese mixture on cooled crust. Cover loosely and refrigerate 1 hour.
4. Combine milk and pudding mix in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed 2 minutes. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until pudding is set. Spread pudding mixture over cream cheese layer. Spread remaining half of whipped topping over pudding layer. Cover and chill 30 minutes. Sprinkle with cocoa if desired.

Espresso Crinkles

Chocolate and espresso combine to make a tasty, chewy cookie.

yield: 2 dozen

1 cup flour
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar, divided
1/4 cup cocoa
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
5 1/4 tsp canola oil
1 1/2 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 tsp instant espresso granules
3/4 cup brown sugar
3 Tbsp corn syrup
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 egg whites

1. Combine flour, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; stir with a whisk. Combine oil and chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat; cook until chocolate melts, stirring constantly. Add espresso granules to pan; stir until blended. Pour chocolate mixture into a large bowl; cool 5 minutes. Stir in brown sugar, syrup, and vanilla. Add egg whites, stirring with a whisk. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, stirring just until combined. Cover; chill at least 2 hours or overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 350°.
3. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar; place balls 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until tops are cracked and almost set. Cool cookies on pan 2 minutes or until set; remove from pan.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Crunchy and sweet with the texture of oatmeal cookies but the chocolaty-ness of chocolate-chip, these are sure to be a hit with everyone.

yield: 3 dozen cookies

1 1/4 cups flour
1 cup oats
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate minichips

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk.
3. Place sugars and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add vanilla and egg; beat until blended. Gradually add flour mixture, beating at low speed just until combined. Stir in pecans and minichips. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool on pans 2 minutes. Remove cookies from pans and cool on wire racks.

Chocolate Shortbread

A crisp and semi-bitter cookie, perfect to go with a cup of tea. Not too sweet, so great for those who don't like chocolate because it's "too rich."

yield: 24 servings

1 cup flour
3 Tbsp unsweetened dark cocoa
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup powdered sugar
5 Tbsp butter, softened
1/4 cup canola oil

1. Combine flour, cocoa, and salt in a small bowl; stir with a whisk.
2. Place sugar, butter, and oil in a medium bowl; mix with hands until combined. Add flour mixture and mix with hands until combined; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 325°.
4. Place dough on baking sheet coated with cooking spray; press dough into an 8x5-inch rectangle about 3/8-inch thick. Pierce entire surface liberally with a fork. Bake at 325° for 30 minutes or just until set. Cut shortbread into 24 pieces. Cool completely.

Cocoa Fudge Cookies

A moist, chewy, chocolaty cookie perfect to satisfy any chocolate craving.

yield: 2 dozen cookies

1 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
5 Tbsp butter
7 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
3. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; stir in cocoa and sugars. Add yogurt and vanilla, stirring to combine. Add flour mixture, stirring until moist. Drop by level tablespoons onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes or until almost set. Cool on pans 2 to 3 minutes or until firm.

Mocha Fudge Brownies

Chocolate decadence in the form of a soft, moist brownie.

yield: 16 servings

Brownies:
1 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
3 1/2 Tbsp butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 Tbsp instant coffee granules
2 tsp vanilla
1 egg white
1 egg
3/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Glaze:
2 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp corn syrup
2 tsp butter
1 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Coat the bottom of an 8-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Do not coat the sides of the pan.
3. Combine 1 oz chocolate and 3 1/2 Tbsp butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave on high 1 minute or until chocolate almost melts. Stir until completely melted. Stir in 1 cup sugar through egg.
4. In a large bowl combine flour through salt, stirring well with a whisk. Add chocolate mixture; stir just until moist. Pour into prepared 8-inch baking pan. Bake at 350° for 22 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.
5. To prepare glaze, combine 2 Tbsp sugar through butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high 40 seconds or until sugar dissolves, stirring once. Add 1 oz chocolate and stir until chocolate melts. Spread over brownies; cool 20 minutes or until glaze is set.

Chocolate Cake

Fluffy, rich, and oh-so-chocolatey, this is the best chocolate cake I've had that's made from scratch. Thanks, Cooking Light, for the inspiration.

yield: 12 servings

Cake:
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup boiling water
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
2 egg whites
1 cup buttermilk

Icing:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp cocoa
2 Tbsp 1% milk
1 tsp butter, softened
1/2 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350° .
2. To prepare cake, combine 1/2 cup cocoa and water in a small bowl; cool. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl, stirring with a whisk. Place sugar, butter, and vanilla in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add egg and egg whites, beating well after each addition. Beat in cocoa/water mixture. Add four mixture and buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture and beating well after each addition.
3. Pour batter into a 9x13 baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until the cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool in pan 10 minutes on wire rack.
4. To prepare icing, combine the powdered sugar and 3 Tbsp cocoa in a medium bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add milk, butter, and vanilla; stir with a whisk until smooth. Spread over cake.

German Chocolate Bundt Cake

yield: 16 servings

Streusel:
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp cold butter, cut into small pieces
1/3 cup flaked coconut
1/3 cup chopped pecans

Cake:
Cooking Spray
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 oz baking chocolate
1/2 cup boiling water
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup softened butter
2 tsp vanilla
2 egg whites
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp melted butter
4 tsp milk

1. Preheat oven to 325° .
2. Prepare streusel: Combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter until coarse and crumbly. Stir in nuts and pecans. Set aside.
3. Prepare pan: Coat a bundt pan with cooking spray and sprinkle with 1 Tbsp sugar. Set aside.
4. Prepare cake: In small bowl combine cocoa, baking chocolate, and boiling water; stir until chocolate melts. Set aside. Combine 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/3 cup butter with mixer set on medium-high. Add vanilla and eggs, beating until thoroughly mixed. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk until combined. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk to sugar/butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in cocoa mixture.
5. Pour half of cake batter into prepared pan; top with streusel. Pour remaining batter over streusel. Bake at 325° for 1 hour or until a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely before adding glaze.
6. Prepare glaze: Combine powdered sugar and butter in a small bowl. Add milk; stir with a whisk to combine. Drizzle over cake.

White Chocolate-Cashew Coffee Biscotti

yield: 40 cookies

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp softened butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 egg white
2 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup instant coffee granules
3 Tbsp cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp nutmeg
3/4 cup chopped cashews
Cooking spray
1 Tbsp sugar
3 oz white chocolate

1. Preheat oven to 350° .
2. Beat 1/2 cup sugar through egg white in mixer until well blended.
3. Combine flour through nutmeg in bowl. Stir with a whisk to combine. Add to sugar mixture gradually, beating until well blended. Stir in cashews.
4. Turn dough out on lightly floured surface. Knead a few times, until dough is sticking together and not too sticky. Divide dough in half. Shape each portion into a 12-inch-long roll. Place rolls on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray; pat to 3/4-inch thickness. Sprinkle rolls with 1 Tbsp sugar. Bake at 350° for 22 minutes.


5. Remove rolls from oven. Reduce temperature to 325°. Cool rolls on wire rack for 10 minutes.


6. Cut each roll diagonally into 20 pieces. It works best if you cut each roll in half, and then each half in half. Then cut each section into 5 pieces. Stand pieces upright on baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes at 325°.


7. Remove from oven and cool completely. Place chocolate in a heavy-duty ziploc bag. Microwave on high for 10 seconds at a time, removing chocolate from microwave to squish and make sure the bag is not melting. When chocolate is melted, cut a tiny hole in the corner of the bag. Drizzle chocolate over biscotti. Let chocolate harden. Enjoy with coffee or hot chocolate!