Category: Chocolate


Jan
2015

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

categories: Chocolate, Cookies, Desserts
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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies- How can you go wrong with easy to make chocolate, chocolate chip cookies that get all cute and “crinkly” when you bake ’em?Chocolate Crinkle Cookies- How can you go wrong with easy to make chocolate, chocolate chip cookies that get all cute and "crinkly" when you bake 'em?

I found a recipe for Chocolate Crinkle Cookies in a used cookbook I bought in a used bookstore while on vacation last summer in Washington.

Whoa… I had to spend a whopping $2 dollars on it (great deal, right?), and found some great recipes in it, including this one for a simple, fudgy, chewy cookie.

If you like chocolate chip cookies, then you will enjoy this cookie! I love chocolate chip cookies AND finding great cookbooks at bargain basement prices to add to my ever-increasing cookbook collection!

These cookies are very easy to make. Melted chocolate chips give the batter it’s dark brown color. The dough also contains whole chocolate chips, so basically, it’s a 2 in 1 chocolate cookie.

That’s why you will like these! Seriously, how can you go wrong with chocolate, chocolate chip cookies that get all cute and “crinkly” when you bake ’em?

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Make The Cookie Dough

These cookies are so easy to make. The first thing you will need to do is cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer.

Butter and granulated sugar are mixed to begin batter for chocolate crinkle cookies.

Next, melt the chocolate chips. I melted mine in the microwave. Cook on high for 30 seconds, stir well. If necessary, place back into microwave and cook and additional 30 seconds.

Give them a good stir, and they should be fully melted. If not, pop them back in the microwave for a few more seconds.

Chocolate chips are melted to add to batter for chocolate crinkle cookies.

Mix in all of the melted chocolate with the batter. This is where the dough for these chocolate crinkle cookies starts to get GOOD!

Melted chocolate is added to batter for chocolate crinkle cookies.

Finish the Cookie Batter

The melted chocolate gives the batter a beautiful color, because it is nicely brown. Now it’s time to add the remaining ingredients to the cookie batter.

Batter for chocolate crinkle cookies turns brown.

Add the flour a little at a time to the batter. Mix the dough on slow speed and continue adding the flour until it is all gone.

Mix all the ingredients together until the mixture becomes a smooth light brown and thick batter.

Flour is added to chocolate crinkle cookies batter a little at a time, and mixed.

Add The Chocolate Chips

Now add the chocolate chips to the cookie dough. Stir well, until all of the chocolate chips have been incorporated into the dough.

The cookie dough should be quite thick. Cover and refrigerate the dough for about 15 minutes. After the dough is chilled it is much easier to roll into balls.

Chocolate chips are added to the batter for the chocolate crinkle cookies.

Shaping The Cookies

Shape the dough into 1½ inch balls by rolling teaspoons of dough between your clean hands to shape into balls.

Place the balls of dough onto a large baking sheet a couple of inches apart. Separate them because the cookies will spread out while cooking.

Dough for the chocolate crinkle cookies is rolled into small balls before baking.

Bake The Cookies

Let the cookies bake for about 10-12 minutes at 350°F.  In the photo below you can see one of the cookies straight out of the oven. See how cute and crinkly they are?

Let the cookies cool a bit before transferring them from the pan onto a wire rack to finish cooling.

Chocolate crinkle cookies come out of the oven nice and wrinkly, and ready to eat!

Sift a tiny bit of powdered sugar on top of each one! because it helps to finish the chocolate crinkle cookies off with a little extra pizazz.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are topped with sifted powdered sugar, to finish them off before eating.

Enjoy Some Chocolate Crinkle Cookies!

Once the cookies have a light dusting of sifted powdered sugar, they are ready for you and your family and friends to enjoy them.

Pour yourself a nice, cold glass of milk and grab a few delicious, chocolate crinkle cookies! I am confident you’re going to love them!

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies on a plate, ready to eat, with a cup of cold milk on the side.

Look at the inside of that cookie (see photo below). YUM! I took one for the team and bit into one just so you could see the chocolate chips on the inside. You’re welcome!

The inside of the Chocolate Crinkle Cookies is chewy and fudgy!

I hope you will give this recipe for chocolate crinkle cookies a try because they are scrumptious! The recipe yields about 2½ dozen cookies.

Thank you for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day.

Looking For More Cookie Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have LOTS of fantastic cookie recipes to choose from, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

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Author's signatureRecipe Source: The cookbook “Company’s Coming-Christmas Gifts From the Kitchen”, by Jean Paré, pg.31. Published by Company’s Coming Publishing Unlimited, 2006

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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
27 mins
 
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies- How can you go wrong with easy to make chocolate, chocolate chip cookies that get all cute and "crinkly" when you bake 'em?
Category: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate crinkle cookies
Servings: 30 cookies (2.5 dzn)
Calories Per Serving: 145 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 6 Tablespoons butter , softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar (for dusting finished cookies)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  2. In a large bowl or base of a stand mixer, cream butter and granulated sugar until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time. Beat well after each egg. Add vanilla and beat until batter is smooth.

  3. Place 1 cup chocolate chips in a microwaveable bowl. Heat on high in microwave for 30 seconds. Stir well. Put back in microwave for another 30 seconds. Remove, and stir until chocolate is smooth. (You can also melt chocolate chips in saucepan over low heat). Add melted chocolate to batter mixture. Continue beating until smooth.

  4. In separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Add this to batter, in small increments, until flour is fully incorporated. Stir in remaining 1 cup of chocolate chips. Mix dough well. Cover and refrigerate dough for 15 minutes.

  5. Roll cookie dough between your hands into 1½ inch balls. Place dough balls on a greased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart.

  6. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are firm. The centers may still be a bit soft, but that's okay. Remove cookies from oven. Let them stay on cookie sheets and cool for 5 minutes before removing them. Place cookies on wire racks to cool completely. Using a sieve or sifter, sift powdered sugar over the top of cooled cookies. Serve, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Amount Per Serving (1 cookie)
Calories 145 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Cholesterol 17mg6%
Sodium 45mg2%
Potassium 98mg3%
Carbohydrates 18g6%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 90IU2%
Calcium 19mg2%
Iron 1.1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Chocolate Crinkle Cookies- How can you go wrong with easy to make chocolate, chocolate chip cookies that get all cute and "crinkly" when you bake 'em?

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Dec
2014

Chocolate Fudge Truffle Cheesecake

categories: Chocolate, Desserts, Holidays!
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Entertaining for the holidays? You will LOVE this creamy Chocolate Fudge Truffle Cheesecake with chocolate graham cracker crust and chocolate drizzle garnish!Entertaining for the holidays? You will LOVE this creamy Chocolate Fudge Truffle Cheesecake with chocolate graham cracker crust and chocolate drizzle garnish!

Cheesecake is my favorite dessert. Ever. This recipe for Chocolate Fudge Truffle Cheesecake is one of my favorites! Creamy AND fudge-like… cheesecake AND chocolate?

How could you NOT love this dessert? So here you go… sure hope you enjoy it! I know we do!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How I Created This Chocolate Fudge Truffle Cheesecake Recipe

Years ago, I was trying to come up with a recipe for chocolate cheesecake. I read through several recipes (none of which I remember 20+ years later) and combined various elements from 3 of them to create this recipe.

I’ve made this chocolate fudge truffle cheesecake with a chocolate graham cracker crust for so many special occasions over the past 2 decades, I can’t even count them.

I made this absolutely delicious cheesecake again for some friends who came over for dessert about a week ago, and decided it was time to put the old Chocolate Fudge Truffle recipe on my blog.

Here are the “basics” for making this cheesecake. The full detailed recipe is at the bottom of the page.

How To Make Chocolate Fudge Truffle Cheesecake

A chocolate graham cracker crust is made (easy). This crust is formed by patting down the crumbs firmly in the bottom of a springform pan. Here is the crust, ready for the chocolate fudge truffle cheesecake filling to be added on top.

Chocolate graham cracker crust in pan, waiting for cheesecake filling.

Chocolate fudge truffle cheesecake filling is poured onto the chocolate graham crust. Now the cheesecake is ready to be baked in the oven!

The chocolate fudge truffle cheesecake filling is added to springform pan to bake.

This is what the cheesecake looked like, immediately after it came out of the oven. You can tell it has risen quite a bit during the baking. Let it cool, in the pan, on a wire rack.

Chocolate fudge truffle cheesecake, right out of the oven after baking.

Make The Topping For The Cheesecake

The next thing to do is mix up the sweetened sour cream topping for the cheesecake while it is cooling. This topping is simple to make with sour cream, vanilla and sugar, and is spread on top of the cooled cheesecake.

Mixing the sweetened sour cream topping up, for the chocolate fudge truffle cheesecake.

 The surface of the cheesecake is already looking good, so far. Now it’s time to “fancy it up” a little bit by added chocolate swirled topping to the top of the dessert.

Decorate The Chocolate Fudge Truffle Cheesecake

 It’s easy to make a simple melted chocolate glaze in a snap, then it is drizzled on top of the cheesecake in a decorative design.

Sweetened sour cream layer is added to top of chocolate fudge truffle cheesecake, after baking.

Here’s the finished chocolate fudge truffle cheesecake! It has been drizzled with chocolate and topped with a decorative holly leaf garnish!

After decorating, the cheesecake is thoroughly chilled until nice and cold, and then it’s ready to slice. Want to have a piece? It’s YUMMY GOOD.

Chocolate fudge truffle cheesecake on platter, with Christmas candle and picture.

You can also drizzle the serving plates with caramel and chocolate sauce if desired. The only thing left to do now is slice a piece and dig in!

A slice of chocolate fudge truffle cheesecake on a plate.

We LOVE this rich, creamy decadent cheesecake, especially during the holidays! Hope you enjoy it, as well. I really hope you like it, too!

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you will come back again soon. Take care, may God bless you, and have a great day!

Looking For More DESSERT Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have LOTS of delicious dessert recipes, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

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Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Author's signature

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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Chocolate Fudge Truffle Cheesecake
Prep Time
1 hr
Cook Time
1 hr
Refrigeration (inactive time)
8 hrs
Total Time
10 hrs
 
Entertaining for the holidays? You will LOVE this creamy Chocolate Fudge Truffle Cheesecake with chocolate graham cracker crust and chocolate drizzle garnish!
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate fudge truffle cheesecake
Servings: 12 slices
Calories Per Serving: 475 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For The Crust:
  • 1 sleeve graham crackers , crushed into fine crumbs
  • 1/3 cup cocoa
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter , melted
For The Cheesecake Filling:
  • 3 - 8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese , softened, at room temperature (important!)
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips , melted, then cooled slightly
  • 2 Tablespoons butter , melted, then cooled slightly
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Cheesecake Topping:
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
For Chocolate Drizzle:
  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable shortening
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Make the crust: Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, cocoa, sugar and melted butter in a small bowl, until well combined. Press this mixture into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of a 9" springform pan. Press tightly into pan to form solid crust. Set aside.
  3. Make the cheesecake filling: Mix all cheesecake filling ingredients together. Beat with electric mixer until mixture is smooth and well combined. (Make sure cream cheese is room temp before making filling... this will help ensure no lumps...) Pour cheesecake mixture over the crust. Spread to level out the mixture. Bake the cheesecake for 55-65 minutes in 325 degree oven, until center is set on the cheesecake. IMPORTANT: Place a cake pan filled half way up with water, on the oven shelf below the cheesecake while it cooks!
  4. When cheesecake is done, remove to a wire rack. Let the cheesecake cool for about 10 minutes, then carefully release the sides from the springform pan. Let cheesecake completely cool to room temperature.
  5. While cheesecake is cooling, make the Cheesecake Topping: Mix the topping ingredients together in a small bowl (you can use a spoon for this... doesn't have to be beaten). Once cheesecake has completely cooled, evenly spread the topping over the top surface.
  6. Make the chocolate drizzle: Melt the chocolate chips and shortening in microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir. Heat again for 30 seconds. Stir until completely smooth. Do not overcook or burn the chocolate. Let the smooth chocolate cool just a bit, then decoratively drizzle the chocolate over the Cheesecake topping.
  7. Refrigerate (uncovered) cheesecake for at least 8 hours or overnight. Slice and serve. Enjoy!.
Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Fudge Truffle Cheesecake
Amount Per Serving (1 slice)
Calories 475 Calories from Fat 297
% Daily Value*
Fat 33g51%
Saturated Fat 19g119%
Cholesterol 92mg31%
Sodium 165mg7%
Potassium 307mg9%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 31g34%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 665IU13%
Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
Calcium 73mg7%
Iron 2.9mg16%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards! Entertaining for the holidays? You will LOVE this creamy Chocolate Fudge Truffle Cheesecake with chocolate graham cracker crust and chocolate drizzle garnish!

 

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Dec
2014

Chocolate Orange Truffles

categories: Candy, Chocolate, Desserts, Holidays!, Truffles & Bon Bons
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Chocolate Orange Truffles are delicious treats to enjoy any time of year, with creamy orange chocolate centers, and dipped in chocolate. YUM!Chocolate Orange Truffles are delicious treats to enjoy any time of year, with creamy orange chocolate centers, and dipped in chocolate. YUM
Do you enjoy Christmas goodies?  Some of my favorite Christmas goodies to make are Chocolate Orange Truffles. Creamy orange flavored chocolate centers, covered with more chocolate… oh my goodness! They taste wonderful and are perfect for gift giving!

Rich, creamy, chocolate truffles infused with just the right amount of orange flavor…YUM… what a taste treat! These delicious truffles are wonderful to give as gifts over the holidays, or simply to enjoy any time of the year.

The pairing of chocolate and orange remains one of my top flavor combos… it’s so GOOD! These truffles are easy to make (really… trust me!) and are a delicious and pretty treat or homemade gift for friends or family. They are absolutely delicious, and I think you will LOVE them!

I’ve been making these for as long as I can remember (over 30 years). I don’t even remember where I found the original recipe. I copied it down on a 3×5 card many, many years ago and have been making these for family and friends ever since!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Many Ways To Decorate Chocolate Orange Truffles

I’ve made these chocolate orange truffles with semi-sweet chocolate topping with just a little bit of grated orange zest for a garnish. Once they are placed in cute little candy paper liners, they look so festive, especially for gift-giving. 

Chocolate-Orange Truffles / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Another option is to dip the chocolate orange truffles in white chocolate and then drizzle them with semi-sweet chocolate on top.

Chocolate-Orange Truffles / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
My favorite way is to dip them in semi-sweet chocolate and garnish each truffle with a melted white chocolate drizzle. Trust me, you really can’t go wrong with any of these dipping methods! Any way you make them, these chocolate orange truffles are delicious!

Chocolate-Orange Truffles / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Don’t let the Prep Time scare you away from making these… most of the prep time is not active prep time. this prep time means letting the truffles cool off in the refrigerator before dipping them in melted chocolate coating!

Go wrap presents or put Aunt Edna’s fruitcake by the front door to use as a doorstop… whatever YOU like to do with some “hurry up and wait” time!

Thanks for stopping by today, and I invite you to come back soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a wonderful day.

Looking For More TRUFFLE Or BON BON Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have some delicious truffle and bon bon recipes you might enjoy, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Chocolate-Orange Truffles / The Grateful Girl Cooks!Original recipe source: unknown

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Chocolate Orange Truffles
Prep Time
2 hrs 30 mins
Cook Time
3 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 33 mins
 

Chocolate Orange Truffles are delicious treats to enjoy any time of year, with creamy orange chocolate centers, and dipped in chocolate. YUM!

Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate orange truffles
Servings: 24 truffles
Calories Per Serving: 117 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For Truffles:
  • 4 Tablespoons butter (1/2 stick)
  • 3 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • 4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips , finely chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons orange liqueur (I use liqueur, but orange juice may be substituted)
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated orange peel (I use a zester for smaller pieces)
For coating the truffles:
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable shortening
  • 1/4 cup white chocolate chips (for drizzling over the truffles... this is optional)
  • Additional orange peel zest (for sprinkling on top of truffles... this is optional)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. To make the truffles: Bring the butter and the cream to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat. Immediately add the chocolate chips, orange liqueur, and grated orange peel. Stir well until mixture is completely smooth.
  2. Place saucepan in refrigerator and chill chocolate mixture for 2 hours. When totally chilled, remove pan from refrigerator. Using a teaspoon (mixture will be semi-hard by now), remove chocolate and shape into 3/4 inch balls by rolling the mixture between your hands. Your hands will get a bit messy...don't worry about it! Place chocolate ball onto aluminum foil or wax paper covered baking sheet once formed. Once you have the chocolate balls (approx. 24) formed, place baking sheet back into the fridge for 30 minutes to re-harden the chocolate. When chocolate has firmed up again, make the chocolate coating.
  3. To make the chocolate coating: Place 1 cup chocolate chips and the vegetable shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Remove. Stir. Put back in microwave and repeat for 30 seconds. Remove. Stir. The mixture should be smooth after stirring, but if it still has some lumps, place back into microwave for 15 seconds. Remove and stir. Do not overcook the chocolate chips or they will burn.
  4. Remove truffles from refrigerator, and one at a time, place them into the warm chocolate. You may use two forks to hold the truffle. I like to use a toothpick stuck down into the middle of the truffle to coat them. Once coated, let excess drip off back into chocolate, then place onto foil to dry. Carefully remove toothpick, cover hole with a bit of chocolate, to cover, and continue coating the rest of the truffles in the same way, until done.
  5. Allow chocolate coating to harden, then if you want, drizzle some melted white chocolate over the top of each truffle to pretty them up. Garnish with a tiny bit of orange zest onto the white chocolate before it firms up. Once chocolate toppings have hardened, place truffles into individual decorative paper wrappers, then place into a sealed container.
  6. Keep truffles refrigerated. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes

Most of the prep time listed is not active "cooking time"... it's just letting the chocolate truffles cool off in the refrigerator before finishing them off with the coating.

Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Orange Truffles
Amount Per Serving (1 truffle)
Calories 117 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Cholesterol 8mg3%
Sodium 20mg1%
Potassium 74mg2%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Sugar 6g7%
Vitamin A 90IU2%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 13mg1%
Iron 0.8mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Chocolate Orange Truffles are delicious treats to enjoy during the holidays! Creamy orange flavored chocolate centers, and covered in chocolate. YUM!

 

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Nov
2014

Candied Citrus Peels

categories: Candy, Chocolate, Desserts, Holidays!
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Candied citrus peels (orange and lemon), dipped in chocolate are a unique, sweet treat to make and give to friends and family during the holidays!Candied citrus peels (orange and lemon), dipped in chocolate are a unique, sweet treat to make and give to friends and family during the holidays!
Over the years, I’ve made chocolate drizzled, Candied Citrus Peels, made from oranges and lemons during the holidays, to add to the gift baskets of Christmas goodies I give to friends and family.  They are delicious and are a unique treat!

Candied citrus peels are easy to make and require only a few ingredients. I found these to be quite a unique gift idea, and they are delicious, too! I’ve made this recipe using both orange AND lemon peels. Both are wonderful, but my personal favorite is definitely the candied orange peels, because I might possibly have a genetic weakness for chocolate and orange… oh mercy!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Making Candied Citrus Peels Is Fairly Simple But Has a Few Steps

These take a bit of prep work (nothing hard at all, though), and involves several hours of drying time, but the results are worth it, especially when you consider how inexpensive these are to make, when contrasted with how expensive they are to BUY!

The process is pretty simple. Basically you repeat the cooking process three times to rid the citrus peels of bitterness. then the peels are cooked in a simple sugar syrup. The peels are then fully dried, then decorated the next day with a chocolate coating or drizzle (to fancy them up)! That’s it! You can make as many, or as few as you like.

How Candied Citrus Peels Are Made

Boil citrus peel strips in water, then drain and boil again two more times. This process is done, because it softens the peels and removes some of the bitterness.

Boiling strips of orange peels in water in saucepan, for candied citrus peels.

After boiling the peels 3 times, cook the candied citrus peels in a sugar/water mixture for 15 minutes.

Citrus peels are cooked in a boiling sugar and water mixture for 15 minutes.

Dry Candied Citrus Peels Overnight

Dry the cooked candied citrus peels on wire racks overnight or until completely dry.

Cooked candied citrus peels dry on a wire rack overnight.

After drying completely overnight, the peels are now completely dried, and are not as shiny. The candied citrus peels can be eaten now, as is, or they can be decorated with white or dark chocolate.

Candied Citrus Peels have completely dried on a wire rack, and are ready to eat!

Decorating Citrus Peels With Chocolate Makes Them Look Fancy

Here are some  of the candied citrus peels (orange), dipped 3/4 of the way in melted semi-sweet chocolate. Chocolate and orange is a favorite flavor combination for me.

Candied Citrus Peels that have been dipped in melted chocolate.

Below are the candied citrus peels (lemon), dipped in white chocolate and drizzled with melted semi-sweet chocolate.

Candied Citrus Peels from lemons, dipped in white chocolate then drizzled with semi-sweet chocolate.

Here are more of the orange candied citrus peels, but these have been drizzled with semi-sweet chocolate.

Orange Candied Citrus Peels drizzled with semi-sweet melted chocolate.

And last but not least, here are some of the orange peel slices, dipped in white chocolate, then drizzled with semi-sweet chocolate. See how many ways you can decorate candied citrus peels?

Candied Citrus Peels (orange), with white and semi-sweet chocolate.

Hope you will give these candied citrus peels a try this holiday season (remember citrus is in season during this time of year), and enjoy! Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you will come back soon for more delicious recipes.

Looking For More Christmas Goodies?

You can find ALL of my Christmas candies and goodies in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few favorites include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

The original recipe source is unknown. I copied it down onto a 3×5 card over 15 years ago, but have no record of where I got the recipe from

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Candied Citrus Peels
Prep Time
1 hr 5 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Inactive Drying time
4 hrs
Total Time
5 hrs 15 mins
 
Candied citrus peels (orange and lemon), dipped in chocolate are a unique, sweet treat to make and give to friends and family during the holidays!
Category: Candy
Cuisine: American
Keyword: candied citrus peels
Servings: 72 (Approximately 6 dozen pieces)
Calories Per Serving: 13 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • Oranges or lemons (Enough to make 2 cups of sliced peels. I used 6.)
  • Water
  • 1 cup sugar (for syrup)
  • 1/4 cup sugar (for rolling cooked peels in, (IF NOT DIPPING IN CHOCOLATE)
  • Semi-sweet chocolate
  • White chocolate
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Score your orange or lemons with sharp knife. Cut peel into thin strips. Remove as much of the white "pith" as possible (it's really bitter).
  2. Put the peel strips into a medium saucepan. Cover the peel with cold water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Once it begins boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 8 minutes. Drain water.
  3. **Repeat the above process with the peels 2 more times.**
  4. Once you have boiled the peels 3 times, wash the pan and set peels aside.
  5. In medium saucepan, bring 1/2 cup water and 1 cup granulated sugar to a boil, stirring twice. Once water is boiling and sugar is dissolved, add the peels to the pan. Simmer peels in syrup on low heat for about 15 minutes (most of the syrup will be absorbed).
  6. Remove peels with tongs to wire rack. **IF YOU ARE NOT PLANNING TO DIP FINISHED SLICES IN CHOCOLATE, THEN ROLL THEM IN SUGAR AFTER THEY HAVE DRIED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR** Place sugar coated peels back on rack to dry at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight. IF YOU ARE DIPPING OR DRIZZLING THESE IN CHOCOLATE, THIS STEP IS NOT NECESSARY!
  7. To decorate, melt semi-sweet chocolate or white chocolate (or both in separate batches) in a double boiler or in the microwave, depending on how you choose to decorate the peels. Be careful not to burn the chocolate. If melting them in microwave, cook in 30 second intervals, stirring after each 30 seconds, until smooth. Dip or drizzle melted chocolate over peels and place back on wire rack to completely dry. Keep peels stored in a cool place to prevent chocolate from melting. Enjoy
Recipe Notes

The cook time indicated INCLUDES approximately 4 hours of drying time...don't freak out and think these take that long to actually prepare. The whole cooking process takes about an hour and a half to get them to the point of being ready to dry.

Caloric calculation does NOT include optional chocolate drizzle.

Nutrition Facts
Candied Citrus Peels
Amount Per Serving (1 piece (without choc. drizzle)
Calories 13
% Daily Value*
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Sugar 3g3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Candied citrus peels (orange and lemon), dipped in chocolate are a unique, sweet treat to make and give to friends and family during the holidays!

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Oct
2014

Rich Chocolate Mini-Cakes

categories: Cakes, Chocolate, Desserts
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Made in mini-muffin pans, you will LOVE these fudgy, rich chocolate mini-cakes, drizzled with white chocolate icing. Recipe makes 24 decadent treats!Made in mini-muffin pans, you will LOVE these fudgy, rich chocolate mini-cakes, drizzled with white chocolate icing. Recipe makes 24 decadent treats!

Sweet, dense, fudgy, amazingly delicious! These are just a few of the words I would use to describe these Rich Chocolate Mini-Cakes! I found this recipe online at Hershey’s Kitchens several years ago, and am sure glad I did!

Recently I made these for a chocolate-themed dinner party with friends. I was responsible for bringing several chocolate-based treats, and this is one of the “small bite” desserts I made.

I don’t have photos of them while I prepared them, but they are easy enough to make with the instructions below.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Why We Love These Rich Chocolate Mini-Cakes

These miniature “chocolatey” cakes are rich and decadent. They are made in miniature muffin tins, so this recipe makes 24 mini-cakes. Each cake may be fairly small in size, but they make up for it in FLAVOR! They are unbelievably moist, dense, and completely, ridiculously, “chocolatey”!

The rich chocolate mini-cakes were a cinch to make and were perfect, small bite treats to add to the dessert tray offerings. Everyone loved them, and I recommend them, without hesitation. Hope you will give them a try… you won’t be disappointed!

Looking For More CHOCOLATE Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have some wonderful chocolate desserts you’ll enjoy, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc..
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

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Author's signatureOriginal Recipe Source: https://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipe-details.aspx?id=5190

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Rich, Chocolate Mini-Cakes
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
27 mins
 

Made in mini-muffin pans, you will LOVE these fudgy, rich chocolate mini-cakes, drizzled with white chocolate icing. Recipe makes 24 decadent treats!

Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate mini-cakes
Servings: 24 mini-cakes
Calories Per Serving: 98 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For mini-cakes:
  • 2/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons cocoa
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Chocolate Glaze:
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 Tablespoons cocoa
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
For White Drizzle:
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable shortening (do NOT use butter, margarine or oil!)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease or spray miniature muffin cups (1 3/4 inches in diameter). Set aside.
  2. To Make the Mini-Cakes:
  3. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the water, oil and vanilla to the dry ingredients. Mix ingredients together until well blended. The batter will be fairly thin, so don't worry. Carefully spoon the batter into the greased muffin cups (these can be made in two batches if you only have one muffin pan). Fill each muffin cup 2/3 of the way full.
  4. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes or until the top springs back when you gently touch it in the middle. When done, remove the muffin pan to a wire rack to cool. Let them cool for 3-4 minutes, then remove cakes from the muffin pan. (If making in two batches, clean pan, re-grease it and repeat previous directions for rest of the batter).
  5. Make sure cakes cool completely before glazing.
  6. To Make the Chocolate Glaze:
  7. Melt the 2 Tablespoons of butter in a saucepan on low heat. Stir in the 2 Tablespoons water and 2 Tablespoons cocoa. Cook, stirring constantly until smooth, and slightly thickened, but do not let mixture come to a boil. Remove the pan from heat and let it cool slightly. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla in gradually. Whisk the sauce as you add the sugar until mixture is smooth and lumps are gone.
  8. Carefully spread the chocolate glaze over the tops of each cooled mini-cake. Place frosted cakes on a wax-paper or parchment lined baking sheet. Refrigerate cakes for 10-15 minutes to let the glaze "set" and firm up. While the cakes are refrigerating, prepare the white drizzle.
  9. To Make The White Drizzle:
  10. Place 1/2 cup white chocolate chips and 1 Tablespoon of shortening into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on MEDIUM (50%) power for 30 seconds. Remove and stir until smooth. If it is necessary, microwave the chips an additional 10-15 seconds, just until the chips can be stirred and become smooth. Let cool slightly. Drizzle this onto the mini-cakes.
  11. Let drizzle firm up a bit, then serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Rich, Chocolate Mini-Cakes
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 98 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 3mg1%
Sodium 47mg2%
Potassium 29mg1%
Carbohydrates 14g5%
Sugar 11g12%
Vitamin A 30IU1%
Calcium 12mg1%
Iron 0.2mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Made in mini-muffin pans, you will LOVE these fudgy, rich chocolate mini-cakes, drizzled with white chocolate icing. Recipe makes 24 decadent treats!

 

 

 

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Oct
2014

Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons

categories: Chocolate, Cookies, Desserts, Holidays!
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You’ll enjoy chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons! Easy to make, with chocolate bottoms and drizzle, they’re a delicious chewy treat for eating and gift giving!You'll enjoy chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons! Easy to make, with chocolate bottoms and drizzle, they're a delicious chewy treat for eating and gift giving!

The holidays are coming… the holidays are coming! Hope that fact doesn’t stress anyone out! This is the time of year I begin planning out the goodies I will make for my family and friends during the holiday season.

Do you plan your Christmas goodies, too? My list this year will include these easy and delicious Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Do You Like Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons?

I really like the slightly crisp outside on these wonderful, sweet cookies. The inside is chewy coconut and tastes amazing. The taste of these chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons is complemented by dipping the bottoms of each treat in melted chocolate, then drizzling some on top. Yum!

If you like coconut and chocolate, you’re going to love these chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons! They are very easy to make, and taste great any time of the year.

I tend to make these yummy treats each December for the holidays. They are easy to plate up and are fun to give to friends and neighbors for Christmas. A lot of love is shown to those you care for, when you give them a homemade food gift!

Chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons, ready to eat, on a Christmas plate.

They Are Fairly Simple to Make

The recipe makes approximately 2 dozen of these beautiful macaroons, and they are pretty simple to make. The coconut cookie mixture is mixed, formed into balls, then baked.

Once done, the bottoms of the macaroons are coated with melted chocolate, then more melted chocolate is drizzled over the tops. EASY!

Chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons are full of flavor! Go ahead and grab one from the plate below. There’s enough to share, so I saved you one. Yum.

Chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons, on a Christmas plate, ready to eat!

These chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons are a great treat to add to your homemade food gift list to bless family or friends with over the holidays, or ANY TIME during the year.

I hope you will give them a try! They’re fun to make them during the holidays, but since when do we need a special holiday to eat a great cookie, right? I really hope you enjoy these delicious macaroons!

Looking For More Christmas Goodies To Make?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page.  I have LOTS of recipes for yummy Christmas goodies, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc.
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

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Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Author's signature

Recipe Source: http://www.bakerita.com/black-bottomed-coconut-macaroons/

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Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons
Prep Time
50 mins
Cook Time
13 mins
Total Time
1 hr 3 mins
 
You'll enjoy chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons! Easy to make, with chocolate bottoms and drizzle, they're a delicious chewy treat for eating and gift giving!
Category: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Keyword: macaroons
Servings: 24
Calories Per Serving: 184 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For cookies
  • 5 cups shredded , sweetened coconut (20 oz.)
  • 6 large egg whites
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
For chocolate base and drizzle
  • 6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable shortening
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, place the egg whites, sugar, salt, vanilla and almond extract. Whisk these ingredients together until they are fully incorporated; mixture will be a bit foamy. Add the coconut to the egg mixture, and stir until well combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap; refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes. This mixture will thicken.

  2. While mixture is refrigerating, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Make sure your oven racks are set in the middle and lower positions. Place parchment paper on the bottoms of two large baking sheets. Spray the parchment paper with a non-stick spray or grease the paper.

  3. With wet (clean) hands, roll 1 Tablespoonful of the macaroon mixture into a round ball. (You can also use a cookie scoop if desired, but find it easier to use my hands). Place each of the "dough" balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart. You should have approximately 24 macaroons.

  4. Bake macaroons at 375 degrees for 13-15 minutes. Halfway through baking time, rotate baking sheets (from one rack to the other for even baking). When done, the macaroons should be light golden brown on top. Remove from oven. Keep macaroons on the baking sheets while they cool, for about an hour. They need to be completely cooled before removing from baking sheets or dipping in chocolate glaze. Once macaroons have completely cooled, lay a clean piece of parchment paper on counter, then make the chocolate glaze.

  5. To make glaze: Melt the semi-sweet chocolate and 1 Tablespoon shortening in a microwave. Cook on high for 45 seconds. Stir, then continue to cook in 30 second increments, stirring after each increment, until chocolate is smooth. Be careful not to overcook and burn the chocolate.

  6. Carefully (macaroons are delicate) dip the bottom of each macaroon into the melted chocolate (just enough to cover), then place macaroon on clean parchment paper to let chocolate harden. Repeat with remaining macaroons. Use remaining chocolate to decoratively drizzle over tops of macaroons.

  7. Let macaroons cool, at room temperature, until the chocolate is completely "set". This will take about 30-45 minutes. Keep macaroons stored in an air-tight container for best results! Hope you enjoy them!

Recipe Notes

Note: If you do not want to use vegetable shortening when you make the chocolate glaze, simply omit it, and proceed per instructions. I use it, because I it thins out the chocolate slightly, and makes the chocolate a bit shinier, but choose your own preference!

Nutrition Facts
Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons
Amount Per Serving (1 macaroon)
Calories 184 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Sodium 123mg5%
Potassium 132mg4%
Carbohydrates 19g6%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 17g19%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 5IU0%
Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
Calcium 8mg1%
Iron 0.9mg5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!You'll enjoy chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons! Easy to make, with chocolate bottoms and drizzle, they're a delicious chewy treat for eating and gift giving!

 

 

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Sep
2014

Chocolate Creme Brulee

categories: Chocolate, Desserts
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Chocolate creme brulee is a delicious flavor variation on a classic dessert, complete with crispy sugar crust to crack into. Recipe makes 4 servings.Chocolate creme brulee is a delicious flavor variation on a classic dessert, complete with crispy sugar crust to crack into. Recipe makes 4 servings.
My husband LOVES Creme Brulee. He also LOVES chocolate. So when I found this recipe for Chocolate Creme Brulee, how could I go wrong? Chocolate AND Creme Brulee???… whoa. That’s a winning combo, in my book!

I found the original recipe on Pinterest a while ago, and finally decided to try a chocolate version of this classic dessert. My husband had just finished taking a few more continuing ed. classes to renew his Real Estate Appraisal License once again. I wanted to celebrate with one of his favorite desserts! He was pleasantly surprised… and enjoyed these very much!

If you like creme brulee, I highly recommend this delicious chocolate version. Perhaps you would like to make a non-chocolate version? Check out one of my recipe for Classic Creme Brulee! I think you will love it!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Do I Need Special Equipment To Make Chocolate Creme Brulee?

This delicious treat is a nice and easy, yet impressive dessert to serve to those you love. I have a creme brulee set (a birthday present from years ago). I’ve given directions which include a way for you to make this without specialty pans. All you will need are four 6oz. ramekins and a cake pan (with sides).

To make the hardened sugar top, I use a chef’s kitchen blowtorch. That is not necessary, because you can also use your oven broiler to do this. The instructions are in the printable recipe.

Chocolate Creme Brulee Is Easy To Make

Making this treat is pretty easy! A chocolate custard-style base is cooked and then poured into ramekins and baked. Once baked, the desserts are refrigerated until very cold.

Here are 4 ramekins filled with chocolate creme brulee, straight out of the oven. They are now ready to refrigerate until they have fully chilled. Later we will sprinkle the top of each dish with granulated sugar and take a blow torch to them. THAT’S where the magic happens!

Four ramekins of brulee, out of the oven after baking.

The Crisp Sugar Top Is Fun To Crack Into On Creme Brulee

This dessert is so easy to prepare, and there’s nothing more fun than to crack into the hardened sugar “shell” on top. Granulated sugar is heated with a cook’s blowtorch and it forms a hard shell on top. Now to crack into it, and enjoy every bite!

The creme brulee has a hardened sugar topping.

See how the torched/broiled sugar topping cracks? Do you see all that delicious chocolate creme brulee underneath it? YUM.

Cracking through the sugar crust, to see the chocolate creme brulee underneath.

Sure hope you enjoy this delicious chocolate creme brulee dessert! Have a GREAT day, and stop by again soon!

Looking for More DESSERT Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have LOTS of wonderful dessert recipes, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Recipe Source: http://www.melangery.com/2013/02/chocolate-creme-brulee-have-most.html

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Chocolate Creme Brulee
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

Chocolate creme brulee is a delicious flavor variation on a classic dessert, complete with crispy sugar crust to crack into. Recipe makes 4 servings.

Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate creme brulee
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 674 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 3 oz. bittersweet chocolate , finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 4 Tablespoons granulated sugar (For garnishing the top of the cooked creme brulee)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a full boil. While the water is boiling, prepare the recipe.

  2. Place the finely chopped chocolate pieces into a heatproof bowl.
  3. Add the whipping cream, 1/4 cup sugar, and the salt to a saucepan. Stir and cook over medium heat for approximately 5 minutes (until you can see the steam beginning to rise). Do not boil. Remove the hot cream mixture and pour it over the chocolate pieces. Let it stand for a couple minutes, then whisk it to combine. Mixture should be smooth.

  4. Beat the egg yolks and vanilla in a medium sized bowl until smooth. Slowly and in a very thin stream, pour (just a little at a time) the hot chocolate mixture into egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly. You don't want the eggs to scramble, so do this slowly and stir continually. Once mixture is fully incorporated and smooth, pour the mixture into four 6 oz. ramekins.

  5. Using A Standard Creme Brulee Pan And Rack? Prepare the recipe. Place ramekins and rack in pan. Place the pan onto a middle baking rack. Now carefully pour the boiling water into the pan (but NOT into the ramekins!). Pour the boiling water in the pan until it reaches about half way up the sides of the ramekins. Loosely cover the entire pan with aluminum foil. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 25-30 minutes. The custard should just be "set" at this point.

  6. Preparing This Without A Creme Brulee Pan And Rack? Take a dish towel and get it damp. Lay it in the bottom of a baking pan (with sides). The damp towel is there so ramekins don't move around while baking. Place ramekins on towel in pan. Now carefully pour the boiling water into the pan (but NOT into the ramekins!). Place the pan onto a middle baking rack. Pour the boiling water in the pan until it reaches about half way up the sides of the ramekins. Loosely cover the entire pan with aluminum foil. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 25-30 minutes. The custard should just be "set" at this point.

  7. Remove baking pan from oven; and remove ramekins from pan. Chill ramekins for 4-6 hours (can even chill overnight!), to ensure they are fully "set" and cold. Right before serving, sprinkle 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar over the top of each ramekin. Use a kitchen torch to brown/crystallize the top OR place under the oven broiler to brown (about 2-3 minutes). If broiling, keep a close eye on the dessert, so it won't burn. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Creme Brulee
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 674 Calories from Fat 495
% Daily Value*
Fat 55g85%
Saturated Fat 33g206%
Cholesterol 310mg103%
Sodium 63mg3%
Potassium 224mg6%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 32g36%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 1945IU39%
Vitamin C 0.7mg1%
Calcium 108mg11%
Iron 1.7mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Chocolate creme brulee is a delicious flavor variation on a classic dessert, complete with crispy sugar crust to crack into. Recipe makes 4 servings.

 

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Aug
2014

Orange Meringue Kisses

categories: Chocolate, Cookies, Desserts
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Light, airy and crisp, these chocolate dipped Orange Meringue Kisses are a fancy “cookie” you will enjoy! Easy prep, and a long, low temp. bake time.Light, airy and crisp, these chocolate dipped Orange Meringue Kisses are a fancy "cookie" you will enjoy! Easy prep, and a long, low temp. bake time.

Today I am sharing a delicious recipe I found online a few years ago for Orange Meringue Kisses (from Saveur Magazine). These light meringues with a hint of orange are fantastic!

Do you like to eat meringues? I do. There’s something about a “light as air cookie” with a crunchy exterior that I find quite lovely! The original recipe called for sandwiching two of the meringues together with a “glue” of white chocolate, but I decided to let them stand on their own as a single meringue.

I fancied them up a bit by dipping the bottoms of the meringue in a semi-sweet chocolate mixture. Once that hardened, I drizzled then with more chocolate (semi-sweet and white). Chocolate and orange is a favorite flavor combination of mine, and this pairing proved to be no exception. Delicious!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Make Orange Meringue Kisses With A Few Ingredients

With only a few very basic ingredients, you can make these delicious orange meringues in no time at all. They are very easy to make! The majority of the time needed to make these crispy light cookies is simply letting them cook slowly in the oven. While they’re cooking on a really low temp, you can relax, or work on other projects. How easy is that?

 Meringues Bake And Then Are Decorated With Chocolate

Here is a photo of what the orange meringue kisses looked like straight out of the oven. They are ready to eat as soon as they cool, but I like to embellish them! Nothing too fancy, but now we will fancy them up a bit!

The orange meringue kisses are piped onto baking sheet and baked slowly.

Decorating Orange Meringue Kisses

First, “paint” the bottoms of the meringues with melted chocolate. Let them dry, then dip half of the meringue in chocolate. Place the “painted” meringues on wax paper to let the chocolate firm up. Semi-sweet chocolate AND white chocolate chips were to used to drizzle on the orange meringue kisses.

Orange meringue kisses are dipped in chocolate after baking.

Once the semi-sweet chocolate hardens, drizzle a bit of melted white chocolate over the tops. I even experimented with the shapes of the meringues (as you can see in this photo). When the chocolate firms up and hardens, the meringue cookies are ready to enjoy! You will be surprised how light, airy, and crunchy they are!

The meringues are dipped in chocolate and drizzled with more chocolate.

I really hope you will enjoy making AND eating these crunchy orange and chocolate flavored meringues. Remember to keep them in an airtight container, to ensure maximum crispness! Sure hope you enjoy them! Have a great day.

If you enjoy these treats, be sure to check out my recipe for Raspberry Chocolate Meringues! They are absolutely delicious, too! You can find ALL of my dessert recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page.

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Adapted From: http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/White-Chocolate-and-Orange-Meringues

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Orange Meringue Kisses
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs
Total Time
2 hrs 15 mins
 

Light, airy and crisp, these chocolate dipped Orange Meringue Kisses are a fancy "cookie" you will enjoy! Easy prep, and a long, low temp. bake time.

Category: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Keyword: orange meringue kisses
Servings: 36 cookies
Calories Per Serving: 53 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For Meringues:
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 egg whites
  • 2 teaspoons orange extract
  • 10 drops yellow food coloring
  • 2 drops red food coloring
For Garnish:
  • 6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips , melted
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable shortening (melted, with the chocolate chips)
  • 1/4 cup white chocolate chips , melted
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
  2. In a medium bowl, place the sugar and the egg whites. Whisk this mixture in the bowl, over a saucepan of simmering water. Be careful not to get any water into the bowl. Continue stirring until the mixture reaches 140 degrees on an instant read thermometer. Once the mixture reaches correct temp., remove the bowl from the pan.
  3. Beat the egg white/sugar mixture with a hand mixer for about 6 minutes, or until it has cooled down.
  4. Once egg white mixture is cool, add the orange extract and the drops of food coloring; Beat until the colors are well combined.
  5. Spoon the meringue into a pastry bag that has a 3/8" star tip on it. Pipe the meringue mix into 1" circles onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  6. Bake at 200 degrees for approximately 2 hours, or until the meringues are crisp and dry. Once they are at this point, just turn off the oven; let the meringues finish cooling completely in the oven before removing. Place on wire rack to cool.
  7. Melt the chocolate chips and the shortening in the microwave (30 seconds-remove, stir...repeat for 20 seconds,if necessary, stir. Be careful not to burn chocolate.
  8. Using a pastry brush, "paint" the chocolate onto the bottoms of the meringues. Let dry. Paint the chocolate onto one side of the meringues. Let harden.
  9. Melt white chocolate the same method as for chocolate chips. Drizzle white chocolate over the hardened semi-sweet chocolate. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes

Store in covered container. When exposed to air too long, meringues can become "tacky" and lose their crispness.

Nutrition Facts
Orange Meringue Kisses
Amount Per Serving (1 cookie)
Calories 53 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 7mg0%
Potassium 35mg1%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Sugar 6g7%
Calcium 5mg1%
Iron 0.3mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Light, airy and crisp, these chocolate dipped Orange Meringue Kisses are a fancy "cookie" you will enjoy! Easy prep, and a long, low temp. bake time.

 

 

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Aug
2014

Chocolate Butterhorns

categories: Breads, Breakfast, Chocolate, Doughnuts/Pastries
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Chocolate butterhorns are made from scratch yeast rolls, with a delicious chocolate filling. Recipe yields 32, using a bread machine or made by hand.Chocolate butterhorns are made from scratch yeast rolls, with a delicious chocolate filling. Recipe yields 32, using a bread machine or made by hand.
Well, after almost a week of insane “busy-ness”, I am back to taking time out of my day to add a new recipe to this blog.  Today’s recipe is for Chocolate Butterhorns. I found this recipe online a couple of years ago from Jessica Fisher (at Life As Mom.com). After looking at the recipe, I thought these rolls sounded pretty good, so I gave them a try. Delicious!

The butterhorns are filled with chocolate chips (so how bad can that be?), are easy to make, and freeze well. This chocolate butterhorns recipe makes 32 rolls, so freezing some for another time is a perfect option for busy families!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Making Chocolate Butterhorns

The recipe (as written) utilizes a bread machine. The dough is mixed and rises in the bread machine. The dough is then removed, rolled out, cut into portions, then chocolate pieces are added. Chocolate butterhorns are then rolled, rise again, and then are baked. That’s the instructions in a nutshell.

Do I Have To Have A Bread Machine To Make Chocolate Butterhorns?

The answer is NO. If you don’t have a bread machine, there are a couple other options, shown below.

Option #1: You can mix the dough in a stand mixer, with a dough hook.
Option # 2: You can also mix the dough by using your muscles and mixing the dough by hand.

Once Dough Is Mixed By Hand

If making the dough by hand (or stand mixer), once your dough has been mixed, place it in a lightly greased mixing bowl. Cover the dough, and place in a warm spot. Let the dough rise until it has doubled in size.

Once the dough has doubled in size, simply follow the remaining instructions in the recipe card for rolling them up, filling, baking, etc.

The dough for chocolate butterhorns in a large bowl has doubled in size.

The dough is rolled into a circle, then cut into individual rolls. Once cut, the dough is topped with semi-sweet chocolate, rolled into crescent shapes, and baked.

To Serve

Once done, the warm butterhorns are lightly dusted with sifted powdered sugar and cocoa powder before serving.

Platter of chocolate butterhorns, ready to eat!

Here is a picture of the rolls, fresh from the oven. They sure look good enough to eat!!!!

Close up photo of chocolate butterhorns.

I hope you will give these soft, chocolate butterhorns a try…we really enjoyed them! I think they would also taste fantastic with seedless raspberry jam added to the chocolate chip filling! Wouldn’t THAT be decadent to sink your teeth into??? YUM.

Looking For More “From Scratch” Bread Recipes?

All of my homemade bread recipes are located in the Recipe Index, which can be found at the top of the page. A few favorites you might enjoy include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
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Author's signatureRecipe Source: http://lifeasmom.com/2010/04/chocolate-butterhorns-perfect-for-freezing-perfect-for-anytime.html

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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Chocolate Butterhorns
Prep Time
1 hr 30 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
1 hr 42 mins
 
Chocolate butterhorns are made from scratch yeast rolls, with a delicious chocolate filling. Recipe yields 32, using a bread machine or made by hand.
Category: Bread/Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate butterhorns
Servings: 32
Calories Per Serving: 145 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For dough:
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup butter , melted
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 Tablespoon (heaping) dry active yeast
For rolls:
  • 1 - 2 cups chocolate chips (how much you add is up to you, depending on taste preference)
For Garnish: (optional-not included in caloric calculation)
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Place the dough ingredients in a bread machine cannister. Set controls for dough cycle and start machine. Once dough cycle has completed, remove dough from pan. Place on lightly floured work surface and divide into 4 equal parts.

  2. Roll each section of dough into a 12 inch circle. Cut each circle into 8 pie shaped wedges. Place a small amount of chocolate chips over the surface of each individual wedge. Roll up each of the wedges, beginning at the wide part of the triangle and rolling up, ending at the point. Roll up each of the wedges, beginning at the wide part of the triangle and rolling up, ending at the point.

  3. Place rolls on greased baking sheet or parchment paper lined baking sheet. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
  4. Bake rolls in a preheated 375 degree oven for 12-15 minutes (until golden brown). Remove from oven and cool on wire racks.
  5. TO PREPARE AHEAD FOR FREEZING: Once you roll up the rolls, place them (point side down) on a baking sheet. Place in freezer. Once frozen, remove rolls and store them in freezer bags in freezer until you want to prepare them. To prepare the frozen rolls: Remove from bag, place on greased or parchment paper lined baking sheet. Let thaw and rise for approximately 5 hours (until rolls are doubled in size). Bake in 375 degree oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

  6. TO GARNISH: Once rolls are baked, lightly sift cocoa powder and powdered sugar over the top of each butterhorn.  Serve warm, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

No Bread Machine Available? Here are two options to prepare the dough:  Lightly spray a large mixing bowl with spray. Option #1: Mix the dough in a stand mixer, with a dough hook. Option # 2: Mix the dough by hand (really takes muscles!). Once dough is mixed, transfer to the greased mixing bowl. Cover the bowl, place in a warm spot, and let dough rise until doubled in size. One doubled in size, continue with Step #2 in recipe.

Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Butterhorns
Amount Per Serving (1 butterhorn)
Calories 145 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 19mg6%
Sodium 111mg5%
Potassium 35mg1%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 135IU3%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 24mg2%
Iron 0.9mg5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Chocolate butterhorns are made from scratch yeast rolls, with a delicious chocolate filling. Recipe yields 32, using a bread machine or made by hand.

 

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Jul
2014

Easy Chocolate Mousse

categories: Chocolate, Desserts
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Make light and creamy, easy chocolate mousse in about 10 minutes! This yummy treat can be eaten as is or added to cakes or puff pastry!  Make light and creamy, easy chocolate mousse in about 10 minutes! This yummy treat can be eaten as is, or added to cakes or puff pastry!

If you enjoy decadent desserts, you will love this very easy to prepare recipe for Chocolate Mousse! This classic dessert can be eaten simply as it is.

It can also be used as filling for other desserts! The possibilities are endless for this sweet, creamy chocolate dessert because the mousse can be used in other recipes!

You can also sandwich chocolate mousse in between layers of baked puff pastry or cakes. Fresh fruit (raspberries, strawberries or bananas) pairs especially well with this creamy treat.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Easy Chocolate Mousse Takes 10 Minutes To Make!

From start to finish, this easy chocolate mousse dessert will only take about 10 minutes to prepare. The ingredients will need to be beaten very well to do this.

Gelatin, whipping cream, sugar, vanilla and cocoa powder are about the only ingredients needed to make this dessert!

Four dessert cups full of easy chocolate mousse, ready to eat!

After being fully blended until light and fluffy, the dessert is chilled in the refrigerator. Once the chocolate mousse is nice and cold, it can be served as a wonderful dessert! Hope you enjoy it!

Easy chocolate mousse, with chocolate sprinkles on top.

Looking For More Creamy DESSERT Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have a nice variety of creamy Dessert Recipes to choose from, including:

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Recipe Adapted From: https://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipe-details.aspx?id=5146

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Easy Chocolate Mousse
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

Make light and creamy, easy chocolate mousse in about 10 minutes! This yummy treat can be eaten as is, or added to cakes or puff pastry!

Category: Desssert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate mousse
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 320 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
  • 1 Tablespoon cold water
  • 2 Tablespoons boiling water
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup Hershey's cocoa powder
  • 1 cup (1/2 pint) COLD whipping cream (I use heavy whipping cream)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Place the cold water in a small cup or bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin powder over the top of the water. Let the mixture stand for 1 minute (this softens the gelatin). Add the boiling water to the gelatin mixture; stir until the gelatin has completely dissolved in the hot water. Set aside and let mixture cool slightly.

  2. In a medium sized bowl, mix the granulated sugar and the cocoa powder together to combine. Add the whipping cream and the vanilla extract. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium speed until the mixture is stiff (you may need to scrape the bottom of the bowl occasionally). Add the gelatin mixture to the cream mixture. Beat until it is well blended.

  3. Place mousse into individual serving cups, cover and refrigerate until completely chilled. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Easy Chocolate Mousse
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 320 Calories from Fat 198
% Daily Value*
Fat 22g34%
Saturated Fat 14g88%
Cholesterol 81mg27%
Sodium 26mg1%
Potassium 126mg4%
Carbohydrates 29g10%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 25g28%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 875IU18%
Vitamin C 0.3mg0%
Calcium 46mg5%
Iron 0.7mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!  Make light and creamy, easy chocolate mousse in about 10 minutes! This yummy treat can be eaten as is, or added to cakes or puff pastry!

 

 

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