This Homemade Dark Chocolate Ice Cream recipe has been a long time coming! As I mentioned in my Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream post, I have been trying to emulate Capogiro’s scuro gelato – a beautifully dark chocolate gelato that I have missed since the day Capogiro closed years ago.
This recipe for Dark Chocolate Ice Cream is just that. It’s ice cream, not gelato. Gelato tends to have less egg yolks and is churned at a lower speed. Regardless of the technicality, this Dark Chocolate Ice Cream is silky, decadent, and decidedly dark chocolatey!
Ingredients:
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups whole milk
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups dark chocolate cocoa powder (paid link)
So, I’ll be honest. I was actually trying to make a different ice cream than what I ended up with. But this oh so chocolatey Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream is so delicious, it was quite a happy mistake!
My original goal/inspiration was to recreate the now defunct Capogiro’s scuro gelato – the most decadent and beautifully silky dark chocolate gelato. It was my mom’s favorite gelato ever and she’s basically been chasing the high of Capogiro’s scuro gelato ever since they sadly closed in December 2018.
I didn’t quite get to dark chocolate status this round (don’t you worry, that will be a future post!), but I am pretty sure this is the best chocolate ice cream ever. EVER. Don’t believe me? Try this recipe out for yourself!
My niece’s first birthday is soon, and my sister asked if I would make her smash cake; what an honor!
My sister requested a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, and as this will be my niece’s first taste of chocolate, I have to make sure it’s tasty with a few more baby-friendly adjustments.
This Chocolate Smash Cake is a fluffy, chocolatey mini cake perfect for (obviously) first birthdays, or for smaller get togethers.
Ingredients:
Chocolate Cake:
3/4 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup applesauce
Chocolate Frosting:
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
It’s that time of year where there are plenty of barbecues and outdoor gatherings again. Whenever our friends host, I never want to come empty handed so I like to have a bunch of dessert recipes on hand, especially no bake dessert recipes!
This No Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake is perfect for summer meet ups – you don’t have to turn on your oven and overheat your own home, and it can be made ahead and served chilled or at room temperature.
The cake is super simple to make. It is layers of graham crackers, whipped cream pudding, and chocolate frosting, mimicking the flavors of a chocolate eclair. If you don’t want to make your own frosting, you can also buy store bought and just use that.
Ingredients:
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 (16 oz box) plus 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar, divided
2 (3.4 oz) boxes instant vanilla pudding mix
3 cups whole milk, divided
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
I originally made this Chocolate Coconut Cake for my dad for his birthday a few years ago. Since then, my parents request it any chance they get!
The recipe is a chocolate cake that substitutes coconut milk for regular milk in the recipe. It is then topped with a coconut cream frosting and some coconut flakes for extra coconut-y goodness!
Cake:
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened (or margarine to make dairy free)
2 cups sugar
4 eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1 (13.5 oz) can coconut milk
Frosting:
4 sticks (2 cups) unsalted butter, softened (or margarine to make dairy free)
I am about to share with you my new favorite cake. Not only does this Tiramisu Cake taste amazing, but it is actually just a more spiffed up cake from a box!
I made this cake originally to celebrate my mom’s birthday, and everyone loved it so much, I decided to share it here too (my husband wasn’t upset at all to have this cake show up in our house again either!)
Ingredients:
1 package white cake mix (I used a Super Moist French Vanilla Cake Mix)
Note: I was sent ingredients from Plugra Premium Butter in order to make this post. Opinions are mine alone. Ingredients included: 1 bar unsalted Plugra Premium Butter,1 container of the Spice House’s Vietnamese Saigon Cinnamon, Valrhona Manjari 64% Dark Chocolate, and Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract.
Do I have a tasty recipe for you today! I was contacted recently by Plugrá Kitchens with a delicious sounding brownie recipe (these Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownies) using some of my favorite ingredients, so I knew I had to share it. This brownie recipe is based off the flavors of Mexican Hot Chocolate, which is a hot chocolate that is spiced with cinnamon and sometimes a little bit of chili to bring additional warmth and heat.
Plugra Kitchens was nice enough to send me a package with the best goodies to make these brownies, including (of course) Plugrá Premium Unsalted Butter, Spice House Ground Saigon Cinnamon, Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract, and Balrhona Manjari 64% Dark Chocolate.
Plugrá Butter is an awesome ingredient to use for baking. Made by Dairy Farmers of America, its slow-churn and extra creaminess has the perfect balance of moisture and fat for use in baking. The Spice House‘s Vietnamese “Saigon” Cassia cinnamon is the strongest and sweetest cinnamon in their collection. The Vietnamese cinnamon bark is ground in house to produce a dark, rich texture that is fiery and fragrant, making it perfect for these brownies. My love of Nielsen-Massey‘s Madagascar Bourbon is well known to those that frequent this blog. Their Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla extract is made from premium, hand-selected vanilla beans cultivated in Madagascar, the world’s leading supplier of high-quality vanilla. It then utilizes a slow, cold extraction process to gently draw out and preserve all 300 natural vanilla flavor notes to create the richest tasting vanilla. Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla has a flavor profile that is full, sweet, creamy, and mellow with velvety after-tones. Valrhona Chocolate has been a partner of artisans of taste since 1922 and is a pioneer and reference in the world of chocolate.
With ingredients like that, you know this recipe is going to taste good! I adapted the recipe a bit, but the overall gist is still there. These Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownies are soft and chewy, with a subtle warmth and heat that pairs really well with the richness of the chocolate.
Ingredients (makes 18 servings):
1 (8 oz) bar unsalted butter, like Plugrá® European Style Butter
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract, like Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, like Saigon cinnamon from the Spice House
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 cup dark chocolate, like Valrhona Manjari 64% Dark Chocolate, chopped
Note: I was sent a Holiday Tea Package from Adagio Teas in order to write this post. Opinions are mine alone.
The holidays are fast approaching, so hopefully you’re ok with me doing a Christmas-themed post. I couldn’t wait to show off this yummy recipe for a Reindeer Fuel Tea Latte, and highlight some awesome holiday offerings from Adagio Teas!
Lattes are typically made with espresso and hot steamed milk, but this uses a stronger blended tea from Adagio Teas calls Reindeer Fuel, topped with steamed froth milk.
Reindeer Fuel is a Limited Edition blend of black tea, toasted mate, cocoa nibs, peppermint and ginger that is “specially formulated to give Santa’s team the caffeine boost they need to keep dashing through the snow.” It is only available as a gift with a purchase starting today, November 15th, so if this sounds yummy to you, make sure to stock up ASAP!
There are plenty of awesome gifts for others (or yourself!) at adagio.com, including a tea Advent Calendar to help you count down the 24 days before Christmas and a 12 Days of Christmas Gift Set is intended to be enjoyed during the 12 days after Christmas.
The advent calendar includes 24 individual servings (enough tea for an 8oz cup of tea) for each day between December 1 and Christmas Day. Adagio sent me one of the calendars so if you purchase one, you can enjoy it along with me on my Instagram stories in December!
The 12 Days of Christmas Gift Set includes 12 different teas that line up with the “gifts” listed in the 12 Days of Christmas song. Each single serving of loose tea comes in its own little tin, which line up to create a fun scene. Even better, they can be hung as ornaments until ready to be brewed!
Adagio Teas have a bunch of other Christmas-themed gifts on their website, along with an impressive number of teas, teaware, and other gifts that are worth checking out too.
On to the recipe!
Ingredients (serves 1, multiply as needed):
8 oz boiling water
2 teaspoons Reindeer Fuel tea
1 tablespoon half and half (or oat milk to make dairy free)
For those that follow me on Instagram or Twitter, it comes as no surprise that I am a huge fan of pumpkin recipes. In fact, I have over 30 recipes that use pumpkin on this blog!
So hopefully you’ll allow me to add another one to the list: Frosted Pumpkin Brownies!
So when I had a nagging sweet tooth recently, I figured it was time to also feed my pumpkin need. This recipe for Frosted Pumpkin Brownies is comprised of a chewy, chocolatey brownie topped with a nice thick layer of pumpkin buttercream frosting, resulting in a decadent treat for the chocolate and pumpkin lovers in your life.
I’m so excited to be a part of the 2021 Good Cookie Food Blogger’s Valentine’s event this year! The event brings a bunch of food bloggers together to post a Valentine’s Day themed recipe as a way to bring awareness and hopefully raise some money for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, so I decided to make these Valentine’s Day Almond Flour Brownies.
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a national non-profit organization committed to funding new therapies used in the fight against pediatric cancer. This is an organization that I try to bring awareness to whenever I can. This is actually my 12th post highlighting them!
Cancer is the #1 cause of death of children by disease in the U.S. There are 40,000 U.S. children actively battling cancer right now. The National Cancer Institute’s budget for childhood cancer is less than 4%. It’s such a small number and that’s why I got involved. And with the ongoing pandemic, children are still being diagnosed with cancer. It’s imperative that we raise awareness and continue to raise funds to fund the ongoing pediatric cancer research!
Help us make a difference by donating to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer! Our goal is to raise at least $3000. Because OXO, Mediavine and Dixie Crystals have each pledged to match our donations raised through this campaign up to $3000! That means when we raise $1, it turns into $4!
Thank you to so many of you who have already donated, please help us reach our goal so we can get the full matching donations and help us make an even huge difference! So if you’re in a position to do so please consider donating today.
Now for the recipe. This recipe was inspired by my husband, who I’m pretty sure has never met a dessert he didn’t like. He is particularly fond of anything chocolatey and covered in sprinkles. So I decided to bake him chocolate almond flour brownies topped with heart sprinkles.
I’m having a little bit of a red velvet takeover on this blog. After making the Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies, I knew I wanted to make a Whoopie Pie version perfect for the holidays, specifically Red Velvet Peppermint Whoopie Pies! In case you don’t know what a whoopie pie is, they are cake-like cookies with creamy goodness sandwiched in between. They are quite popular in the Philadelphia area due to the influence of the Pennsylvania Dutch. In fact, I had whoopie pies at my wedding (along with cannolis and cupcakes)!
Whoopie pies are a lot easier to make than they look (I promise). These little guys are filled with a peppermint cream cheese filling, so they will get you right in the holiday spirit in no time!
Ingredients (makes 12 whoopie pies):
Red Velvet Cookies (makes 24 cookies):
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
2/3 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 (0.67 oz) tube gel red food coloring, about 1 tablespoon
2 cups flour
3 tablespoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Peppermint Cream Cheese Filling:
2 (8 oz) blocks cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
Note: I was sent some baking tools from OXO in order to write this post. Opinions are mine alone.
If you follow this blog, you know I am a huge fan of OXO-branded, well, anything. And every year, OXO helps to raise funds for childhood pediatric cancer research, supporting Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. In order to bring awareness to this organization each year, OXO has organized food blogger cookie swaps, which I’ve participated in since 2012.
Here are some of my old cookie swap and Cookies for Kids’ Cancer posts, in case you’re in a baking mood:
This year is a bit different. Instead, OXO is sponsoring The Cookie Chain, which empowers people to raise funds for pediatric cancer research and awareness of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer by baking, sending, and sharing packaged cookies to friends and loved ones. Participants can sign up via Cookies for Kids’ Cancer for a Cookie Chain kit including cookie bags, stickers and postcards about the promotion.
source: cookies for kids’ cancer
In the hopes of getting as many people involved as possible, I jumped at the chance to set up my own Fundraising page and got to baking! To help me get my bake on, OXO sent over some of their awesome baking tools. Here are some more details on those baking tools:
Silicone Baking Mat (paid link): The OXO Good Grips 2 Piece Half-Sheet Pan and Baking Mat Set is the perfect pair for any baking adventure. The reusable Silicone Baking Mat replaces parchment by transforming sheet pans into a non-stick surface. The food-safe silicone and fiberglass construction resists grease and residue and fits perfectly into the Half-Sheet Pan. Dishwasher safe. The Non-Stick Pro Half-Sheet pan is made from durable commercial-grade aluminized steel with a micro-textured pattern that promotes airflow under and around food for even, consistent cooking. The two-layer scratch- and stain-resistant coating is PFOA free and ceramic reinforced for exceptional performance for years to come.
3 Piece Mixing Bowl Set: Non-slip bottoms ensure the Mixing Bowls stay put on countertops and feature a soft, comfortable handle that’s easy to grip. The wide lip and spout make it easy to pour ingredients. Bowls nest for convenient storage.
Dough Whisk: When it comes to mixing dough by hand, a spoon just won’t cut it. You need a dedicated dough whisk to cut through thick dough. The solid stainless steel wires prevent sticking while the unique shape incorporates wet and dry ingredients with less effort. The innovative handle shape and soft, comfortable grip reduce pressure on your hands to prevent fatigue while you work. Once your cookies are in the oven, it’s easy to clean dough from between the coils. Dishwasher safe.
Medium Cookie Scoop: This size 40 portioner is designed for easy scooping and consistent shaping. The soft grip absorbs pressure while you squeeze to smoothly release your cookie dough. Dishwasher safe.
Baker’s Dusting Wand: With a quick twist to open and close, and a half-solid, half-perforated globe design, the Baker’s Dusting Wand is designed to prevent clumps, dumps and powdery messes. Perforation allows for evenly floured baking pans and lightly dusted baked goods. Sized to fit in most flour containers for storage.
These baking tools were the perfect excuse to make a cookie recipe I had been eyeing up for a while now, Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies!
My recipe is based off a NYT Cooking recipe that can be found here. This recipe utilized both baking powder and baking soda so that the cookies rise and then fall quickly, created the crinkled effect on the cookies.
Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 (0.67 oz) tube of red food coloring gel (about 1 tablespoon)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/3 cups confectioners’ sugar, plus more as needed
Note: I was sent samples of Divine Chocolate’s cocoa powder in order to write this post for #Choctoberfest. Opinions are mine alone.
I love baking, especially when it helps me prepare for a busy week ahead while also relieving some of my stress. I do a lot of my food prep for the week during the weekends. When I can, I like to make something for breakfast that is easy to bring to work during the week. One of my favorite make ahead breakfasts is this Cranberry Pistachio Zucchini Bread, so when I received samples from Divine Chocolate, I thought it would be a great opportunity to make a chocolate version for #Choctoberfest. (For more information about #Choctoberfest and details about the giveaway, see my post here.)
Divine Chocolate’s baking like consists of three premium quality flavors ranging from 55% to 100% cocoa for a wide variety of delicious desserts. To make this Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Bread, I used Divine Chocolate’s Cocoa Powder. The unsweetened cocoa powder is made with the finest fair trade cocoa, in compliance with fair trade standards. Plus, the packaging is gorgeous!
I wanted to highlight vegan baking in this recipe as well, which isn’t nearly as difficult as it seems. This tasty bread is make without butter or eggs, but includes ingredients that are really easy to come by.
Note: I was sent a case of Imperial Sugar for #Choctoberfest in order to write this post. Opinions are mine alone.
When I first signed up for this year’s #Choctoberfest, I knew I wanted to share this recipe! (for more information on #Choctoberfest, plus the chance to enter our giveaway, check out my post here.)
I haven’t made a brownie recipe in a while, but wanted to make something special for this event. If you aren’t familiar with dulce de leche, its a caramel-like sauce that is made by slowly heating sweetened condensed milk until is is light brown and wonderfully sweet.
I used Imperial Sugar, one of the sponsors of #Choctoberfest, in the brownie batter part of this recipe. I wanted to remind you that they are currently hosting their annual Scary Scramble, featuring delicious fall-inspired recipes using Imperial Sugar’s high-quality sweeteners. Imperial Sugar has been a kitchen staple for over 175 years!
Ok. Back to the recipe. Dulce de leche and chocolate are a match made in heaven. These brownies are sure to become a favorite of yours!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more to grease the pan
1 cup sugar (I used sugar from our sponsor Imperial Sugar)
These super chocolatey Devils Food Cupcakes are most certainly going to be a favorite of the chocoholic in your life.
There isn’t anything that specifically determines a chocolate cake as devil’s food cake, but they do tend to be a bit more airy and have quite a bit of chocolate in them!
This moist and fluffy recipe for Devils Food Cupcakes also uses coffee extract to further enhance the chocolate flavor.
