Death by Dark Chocolate: 5 Decadent Desserts

Admit it, when most of us splurge on dessert, we feel we have succumbed to the temptation of this guilty pleasure. As the title suggests, chocolate has become a leader in unhealthy dessert choices. Nothing could be further from the truth. Dark chocolate is now considered a superfood by many nutritionists. I'm speaking of dark chocolate not the sugary garbage with milk powder added to it. The healthiest dark chocolate is made of 75-100% cocoa solids, and you can find them at your local market or in bulk online. Dark chocolate dishes and beverages are my absolute favorite. If it's on the menu I'm ordering it. Here are my top 5 dark chocolate desserts:

Guinness Brownies - Geo Chef Treks Cookbook

5. Dark Hot Chocolate

Dark Hot chocolate is an especially luxurious elixir and has quite a history. This beverage dates back over 3,000 years. It was created by the Mayans and Aztecs. Originally, it was used for ceremonial and medicinal purposes. It was passed on to Spanish Conquistadors exploring the region and eventually made its way back to Europe. Dark chocolate is melted and steeped into a mixture of milk and cream. I love to add a pinch of salt and cayenne pepper to enrich the flavor experience.

4. Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Chocolate covered strawberries are a relative newcomer to the food scene. Obviously, chocolate and strawberries have been around for centuries. Enter Lorraine Lorusso who owned a small gourmet shop in Chicago during the 1960's. She was the first to marry these two unctuous ingredients. What I love about these soothing gems is they are simple to make and each ingredient's distinct flavors work perfectly together. The berries are tart yet sweet and blend harmoniously with chocolate's smooth and bitter coating. No need to add any sugar, thanks to the strawberries.

3. Guinness Stout Brownies

Guinness Stout brownies weren't invented in Ireland, however, the supporting ingredient to the dark chocolate was. This dark roasted brew has been described as coffee meets chocolate. Created in Dublin, Ireland in the late 1700's this creamy concoction makes a perfect substitute for the liquids in your favorite brownie recipe. When making brownies, we are not looking for a cake-like texture. Our goal is rich, dense, and chewy. You have to reduce the stout down to remove most of the water and enhance the intense flavors of the beer. There are several recipes for these dark brown slabs of deliciousness. When baking anything it is important that you are exact in your preparation so work carefully and be precise. Of course, walnuts are optional.

2. Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate mousse has very few ingredients and only a few steps, but it can still be a disaster if not prepared properly. This chocolate dessert megastar was created in France, originally being reserved for royalty. It has now grown to be one of the top desserts on menus worldwide. The ingredients are simple: eggs, cream, sugar, and chocolate. I prefer mine to be light and fluffy in texture and loaded with big chocolate flavor. This is achieved by adding air bubbles into the mixture. Whip your egg whites until light and fluffy. Do the same with the whipped cream and sugar. Combine egg yolks into your melted cooled dark chocolate. The final step is the most important. Carefully fold your ingredients together. It is important that you don't lose the volume from your whites and the cream. The result will be silky, smooth, and sensual.

1. Flourless Chocolate Cake

Flourless chocolate cake (or dense as I call it) is a perfect gluten-free dessert.  It is also known as a "collapsed cake." The texture is created by the starches present in the chocolate. This smooth chocolate monster was popularized by an Alsatian Chef Jean Georges Vongericthen. Alsace is a region of France known for great pastry and dessert chefs. His restaurant in New York City bears his name and this is the featured dessert. Cooking involves a lot of chemistry, and this dessert is the ultimate example of science and food. Whole eggs are whipped into a foam and then chocolate, melted at a low temperature, is added. The dish is baked in a low-temperature oven in a water bath. The moisture is essential to keep the dessert from drying out. The result is cuckoo for cocoa goodness.

Dark chocolate is loaded with so many things to improve your health. It is packed with antioxidants more than most fruits. It has been shown to lower blood pressure. Dark chocolate is loaded with minerals such as iron and magnesium. Memory and brain function have proven to increase. It also can lower your heart risk. Cholesterol levels have shown a reduction in patients taking a small sample of chocolate daily. Although it has a limited growing region, it is available year round, and extremely abundant. Chocolate, along with coffee, has become a major cash crop in Central and South America. It is definitely one "super" food. With all of its benefits and properties the most important to me … the taste. Willy Wonka had it made.  Enjoy!

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