Tag Archives: Chocolate

Chili Chocolate Buttercream Cupcakes

Posted on by February 12, 2015

I’m going to be honest, no matter how good Chili Chocolate Buttercream Cupcakes sound, the star of the dessert section of Caribbean Thanksgiving Menu was definitely the Pumpkin Butterscotch Pie with Cashew Crust. I knew it would be, so when it was time to pick the second dessert, I wanted a dessert that would be a very stark contrast to the pie, so it wouldn’t be drowned out and ignored by my guests. It was from that point of view that I tried out these Chili Chocolate Buttercream Cupcakes based closely on a food and wine recipe by Lisa Ritter. Again, honesty. I have to admit, even with all my planning, these Chili Chocolate Buttercream Cupcakes were stuck in the shadow of the pie. Even with all the cayenne and ancho chile powder in the chocolate buttercream. Even with the cinnamon cake. I have plans to make these again someday, when they’re the only thing around. Because Chili Chocolate Buttercream Cupcakes could never be bad. And they weren’t. They were really good. And the mini format was fun for guests. They appreciated the ability to try two desserts without a huge commitment. And the flavors of the Chili Chocolate Buttercream … Continue reading →

Chocolate Hazelnut Crêpes Cake

Posted on by March 29, 2016

Easter candy is all about chocolate: chocolate bunnies, chocolate eggs, and whatever else you can get your paws on- pun intended. Just because you’re a grown up doesn’t mean you don’t wish to get in on all the chocolate decadence. This Chocolate Hazelnut Crêpes Cake won’t disappoint in that department. It’s really rich and dense and perfect for Easter Brunch since the Chocolate Hazelnut Crêpes Cake is made of a large stack of crêpes. Then they’re layered with a fluffy hazelnut butter cream and piled high. Finally, they’re coated in a deep dark chocolate ganache. To answer your question, yes, it’s seriously rich. And just check out that picture… This Chocolate Hazelnut Crêpes Cake looks amazing once you cut into it because of it’s layered structure. I can’t take all the credit for this recipe; it’s based on a Martha Stewart recipe I found long ago, but I can take credit for simplifying it. The filling is now easy to make (and even more important, easy to find the ingredients), which was not the case in the original. I’ve also upped the impact by using really dark chocolate for my Chocolate Hazelnut Crêpes Cake. All you need is a little sliver … Continue reading →

Snowstorm Hot Chocolate

Posted on by February 12, 2015

Today it’s the first big snow in Philly (and lots of other places, I’m sure) and with that came Snowstorm Hot Chocolate. If you were watching the Eagles game, you saw that it was a near whiteout. Marc and I celebrated our afternoon walk with a little Snowstorm Hot Chocolate by the fire. The little dash of cayenne and hint of cinnamon along with the scent from the orange peel add a little zing to warm you up and balance the rich chocolate making Snowstorm Hot Chocolate delicious, decadent, and comforting enough to welcome you in from the snow on a Sunday afternoon and shake off even the chilliest of chills. And don’t worry friends in far away places, Snowstorm Hot Chocolate is just as delicious without the cold and the snow- lucky you. And the beautiful and rich chocolate is a lovely excuse to take out those tiny but beautiful tea and coffee cups you never use. Aren’t they gorgeous? You may recognize this shot from my Holiday Card from last year. Now if that isn’t motivation to put yourself on my mailing list, I don’t know what is. Who doesn’t love beautiful and tasty snail mail? If you don’t … Continue reading →