Delicious, Doable & Decadent Chocolate Recipes as seen on CHCH Morning Live

Who needs romance & roses when you can have decadent chocolate recipes? If you share my theory, no doubt you will LOVE these recipes! Delicious, doable, decadent and in true ‘Char Fashion’: use mostly pantry staple items. Valentine’s Day never tasted so sweet!

Chocolate Tahini Hummus

Plant protein based chocolate dip? Yes, please!! If you need an excuse to dip some fruit (or pretzels, my preference) – this chocolate tahini hummus will be your new chocolatey staple.

Ingredients

• 1 (540 mL/19 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed.
• ½ cup (125 mL) tahini
• ½ cup (125 mL) cocoa powder
• ½ cup (125 mL) dark chocolate chips (or finely chopped dark chocolate)
• ¼ cup (60 mL) Crosby’s Maple + Molasses (click here for product info)
• 2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla extract
• ½ tsp (2 mL) salt
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) milk (I use plant based (almond) milk – but cows milk if fine)

Garnish

• dark chocolate chips, toasted sesame seeds, drizzle of Crosby’s Maple + Molasses and coarse salt.

Directions

1. Place chickpeas in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse until finely chopped (scrape down sides of bowl when needed).
2. Add remaining ingredients (except for milk) and pulse until very well combined and mixture is smooth (will likely take about 6 good pulses) – be sure to scrape down slides of bowl when needed.
3. With the motor running, pour in milk and pulse until very well combined.
4. Cover and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Stir well before serving.
5. Place in serving dish. Garnish top with a sprinkle of dark chocolate chips, toasted sesame seeds, drizzle of Maple + Molasses and sprinkle of salt.
6. Serve with fresh fruit (strawberries, apple & pear slices), pretzels and/or Graham cookies.

Grilled Chocolate Sandwiches

Yep, you read that right: Grilled chocolate sandwiches – brunch never tasted so good!

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp (45 mL) softened butter
• 1 tsp (5 mL) Crosby’s Maple + Molasses (click here for product info)
• ½ vanilla bean scraped (paste only) OR 1 tsp (5 mL) pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) finely grated orange zest
• 4 slices of egg bread (*or cinnamon raisin bread)
• 1 (100 g/3.5 oz) quality dark chocolate bar (at least 70%), broken in half *you can use milk chocolate or white chocolate – I just prefer dark chocolate*

Garnish:

• whipped cream and fresh berries

Directions

1. Stir together butter, Crosby’s Maple + Molasses, vanilla and orange zest.
2. Divide butter evenly between, and on both sides of bread (as you would if making a grilled cheese sandwich).
3. Pre-heat a non-stick pan or flat griddle to medium high. Place two slices of bread on pre-heated griddle and divide chocolate evenly between bread. Top with remaining pieces of bread (to make a sandwich).
4. Grill for about 3 minutes (gently press each sandwich down with spatula). Flip sandwiches and grill for an additional few minutes until bread is grilled and chocolate is soft.
5. Remove sandwiches from griddle and let stand for a few minutes before cutting. Cut each sandwich in half (or quarters) and garnish with whipped cream and fresh berries.
6. Makes two sandwiches.

Double Chocolate Brownies with Chipotle Molasses Cream Cheese Frosting

Nothing says ‘Be Mine’ like a pan of homemade frosted brownies.

Double Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients

• 2 oz (60 g) bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• ⅓ cup (75 mL) 35% whipping cream (*or milk)
• ½ cup (125 mL) butter
• 1 tsp (5 mL) pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (125 mL) packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs, whisked
• ¾ cup (175 mL) all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup (175 mL) cocoa powder
• ½ tsp (2 mL) baking powder
• ½ tsp (2 mL) salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Line an 8 X 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper (see parchment paper trick at bottom of post).
2. In a large glass bowl, over a double boiler, melt: bittersweet chocolate, cream and butter. Remove bowl from heat and let stand for about 10 minutes.
3. Stir in vanilla, sugars and eggs until well combined. Using a rubber spatula stir in dry ingredients until just combined.
4. Place batter (it will be thick) into prepared pan. Bake in center of preheated oven for about 30 minutes until edges are set but centre is slightly jiggly.
5. Remove from the oven and cool completely while making frosting.

Chipotle Molasses Cream Cheese Frosting

• 3 oz (90 g) brick-style cream cheese, room temperature (about ⅓ of the brick)
• ¼ cup (60 mL) softened butter
• ¾ cup (175 mL) cocoa powder
• ½ cup (125 mL) Crosby’s Maple + Molasses (click here for product info)
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) milk
• ¼ tsp (1 mL) salt
• ¼ tsp (1 mL) chipotle powder

Directions

1. Beat cream cheese with butter (on high speed) until well combined.
2. Using a rubber spatula, fold in remaining ingredients until just combined (this will eliminate cocoa powder flying everywhere when you begin to beat it). Once combined, beat on high speed for about one minute, until all ingredients are well incorporated.
3. Spread frosting evenly on brownies (if frosting seems too soft to spread, chill for about 20 minutes).
4. Cut into 9 squares (or 16 smaller brownies). Store in an airtight container the refrigerator for up to 5 days (but they won’t last that long!). Enjoy!

Where to Find ‘Delicious & Doable’ Across Ontario

Find ‘Delicious & Doable ~ Recipes For Real and Everyday Life’ on Amazon (click here) or at one of the below retailers across Ontario:

Type Books ~ 883 Queen Street West, Toronto
Lemonberry ~ 2 Orchard Heights Blvd #10, Aurora
Fanfare Books ~ 92 Ontario St, Stratford
Casual Gourmet ~ 1027 King Street West, Hamilton
The Post Office – 18 Front St. N, Thorold
Chef’s Paradise ~ 1314 Bank Street, Ottawa
Gift It Grey ~ 19492 Opeongo Line, Barry’s Bay
Creative Cook ~ 35 Manitoba St, Bracebridge
Muskoka Brewery ~ 1964 Muskoka Beach Rd, Bracebridge
Stephen’s Butcher Shop ~ 8 Harris St, Port Carling
Hilltop Interiors ~ 1150 ON-141, Rosseau
Cedar Canoe Books ~ 72 Main St E, Huntsville
Clark’s On Main ~ 1090 Main Street, Dorset
Bigley’s Cottage Kitchen ~ 39 Bolton St, Bobcaygeon
Farmer’s Daughter – 72 Main St E, Huntsville
Kitchen Bits ~ 1390 Kingsway, Greater Sudbury

Charmaine Broughton is a Muskoka/Toronto-based cooking show host & guest expert and author of ‘Delicious & Doable ~ Recipes For Real and Everyday Life‘.

‘Delicious & Doable ~ Recipes For Real and Everyday Life’ is on Amazon! Get your copy today!