Author: Chocolate Covered Weekly

Is there such thing as too much chocolate? We think not — so we created a sheet cake that’s so dark and chocolatey that it’s actually black. The flavor is every chocolate-lover’s dream: slightly bitter, rich, and intensely chocolatey. It has just the tiniest hint of sweetness and the same bittersweet flavor you get from a fancy chocolate bar. It’s all thanks to black cocoa powder.
Makes 1 (9×13-inch) cake; serves 12
• For the frosting:
• 1 pound milk chocolate chips
• 3 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 cup black cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• For the cake:
• Butter, for greasing
• 2 cups cake flour, sifted
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup black cocoa powder, sifted
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup hot brewed coffee
• 1/4 cup sprinkles (optional)

Prep the frosting:
Place the chocolate chips in the bowl of a stand mixer and set aside.
Place the cream, cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat and heat, whisking constantly, until the cocoa powder is fully dissolved and the mixture begins to simmer, about 4 minutes. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate chips and stir until smooth. Refrigerate until very thick, about 2 hours. Meanwhile, make the cake.
Make the cake and assemble:
Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350°F. Generously coat a 9×13-inch metal baking dish with butter, then line it with parchment paper.
Place the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Place the cream, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl and whisk to combine. Add the cream mixture to flour mixture, then stir with a rubber spatula until smooth. (The mixture will be very thick at this point.) Add the hot coffee and stir until completely smooth. Transfer the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth into an even layer.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
Once cooled, remove the cake from the pan and discard the parchment paper. Trim the top so it’s flat. Flip the cake over and gently transfer it back into the pan. (So the top is now the bottom.)
Fit the bowl of chilled frosting onto the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Frost the cake and decorate with sprinkles, if using.
Recipe Notes
Cocoa powder: Depending on the intensity of the black cocoa you use, this cake can range in color from dark chocolate brown to jet black. Dutch-processed cocoa powder can be used in place of black cocoa, but the color will be much lighter.
Storage: Leftover cake can be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days.
From The Kitchen by Charli Nowak

These sweet pies became popular during the depression because they didn’t require refrigeration and because of their simple ingredients — butter, eggs, sugar, and flour. However, adding chocolate just elevated this dessert into something that is so good, you almost feel guilty about eating it!

Ingredients:

• 8 tablespoons butter
• 4 ounces semisweet baking chocolate chopped
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 1 unbaked pie shell

Melt the butter with the chocolate in a bowl in the microwave, heating on high in 30 second increments, stirring between each, until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Whisk in the flour, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, until the mixture is smooth.
Pour mixture into pie shell and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until the top is puffed and filling is set in the center. Let it cool before serving.
Recipe from Brenda Stanley, cookbook author and novelist. Visit her website www.brendastanleybooks.com.

Don’t tell Little Debbie, but brownies don’t have to be processed or wrapped in plastic to be crowd-pleasers. This recipe from Well+Good Wellness Council member and Nutrition Stripped founder McKel Hill, RDN only uses nutrient-dense, all-natural ingredients—and no refined sugar. It’s all the antioxidants, fiber, protein, and healthy fats without any weird fillers. (But yes, it still tastes like a brownie.)
SERVES 20
Ingredients:
• 2 cups (about 200g) dates, pitted
• 1 1/4 cup walnuts, ground finely
• 1 cup almonds, ground finely
• 1/4 cup pistachios, shelled and ground finely
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup cacao nibs
• 1 tablespoon organic coconut oil, melted
• 2 teaspoons espresso powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon maca powder, optional
• dash of cinnamon
Directions:
1. In a food processor or blender, ground the walnuts, almonds, and pistachios until fine (I prefer to leave a couple chunks).
2. Next add in the pitted dates, a few at a time helps, using your tamper from the blender or gently using a spatula to scrape the sides. Repeat pulsing and blending until the mixture has come together. Add in cocoa powder. Pulse to combine again.
3. In a large mixing bowl, pour this mixture, add in melted coconut oil, cacao nibs, and remaining ingredients.
4. Using a spatula or your hands, stir.
5. In a lined (with parchment paper) 7×7 square pan, pour the brownie mixture in and start to evenly press down until you form a brownie layer.
6. Chill for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
7. Cut into squares.
8. Store in the freezer for a later snack or serve immediately!

Half Baked Harvest blogger Tieghan Gerard wrote that she came up with this recipe while looking for a healthier spin on the granola bars she loved as a kid. And her recipe really delivers—it’s made with toasted buckwheat, coconut oil, almond butter, honey, and a small handful of those glorious cacao nibs.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours 5 minutes
Total Time 7 hours 15 minutes
Servings 12 Bars
INGREDIENTS
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 2/3 cups toasted buckwheat* OR brown rice krispies
• 3/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup ground flax meal optional
• 1/2 cup cacao nibs or mini chocolate chips
• 1/2-1 cup dried cherries my recipe for homemade dried cherries is below
• 3/4 cup honey may use brown rice syrup if vegan
• 1 cup creamy almond butter
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
DRIED CHERRIES
• 4 cups fresh cherries pitted
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the oatmeal, buckwheat OR puffed brown rice cereal, sliced almonds, flax meal, cocoa nibs (or mini chocolate chips) and dried cherries.
3. In a small sauce pan, add the almond butter, coconut oil and honey. Set the pot over medium heat, stirring often until melted and smooth. Once the mixture starts to bubble, remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla + salt. Pour the almond butter mixture over the oats and stir until combined. Press into the prepared the pan. I like to use the back of a 1/2 cup measuring cup, spray the flat bottom with a little cooking spray and then really press the mixture into the bottom of the pan using the bottom of the measuring cup. Cover the bars and place in the fridge for at least one hour or until set.
4. Cut into the bars and store in a cool, dark place or in the fridge. The bars will last at least 2 weeks.
DRIED CHERRIES
1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Spread the cherries in an even layer over the parchment paper. Place in the oven and cook for 4-6 hours or until the cherries are dried. This may take more or less time depending on where you live. Start checking on them around 3-4 hours. Store in a sealed container.
RECIPE NOTES
*I used toasted buckwheat, which gives the bars a little crunch. When I can find them, I like to use puffed brown rice cereal, which gives the bars a bit of a lighter, chewier texture. **to toast the buckwheat, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the buckwheat in an even layer and toast for 10-15 minutes or until the buckwheat is lightly golden.

Unlike processed chocolate, cacao (and cacao nibs, which are basically chopped up cacao beans) in its raw form is full of antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, and brain-boosting flavonols. So you’re basically getting the rich flavor of extra dark chocolate without a ton of added sugar or other junk. Naturally Ella blogger Erin Alderson’s recipe also calls for honey and a teeny bit of vanilla extract to add an extra layer of sweetness.
Naturally Ella blogger Erin Alderson’s recipe
• Prep Time: 10 mins. Cook Time: 20 mins. Total Time: 30 mins. Yield: 6.

Ingredients
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour or whole wheat pastry flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 8 tablespoons butter, cold and cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup cacao nibs
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup plain yogurt
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream
1. Preheat oven to 425˚.
2. In a food processor, pulse oats until broken into a coarse flour. Add in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt. Pulse until combined then pulse in butter until butter is in small pea-size pieces. Stir in Cacao nibs.
3. Remove flour mixture into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together egg, yogurt, honey, and vanilla extract. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Scoop out dough onto a well-floured surface (the dough will be sticky.)
4. Pat dough into a log or circle that is roughly 1/2″ thick. Cut into 6 squares or triangles.
5. Place scones on a baking tray covered with parchment paper. Brush with heavy cream. Bake scones until firm and golden, 16-20 minutes.
*Chocolate chunks can be substituted for cacao nibs.

This microwave mug cake is so simple to make and, topped with mini chocolate chips and strawberries, makes it the perfect treat. From beginning to end, this chocolate mug cake takes just about 5 minutes to make.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Total Time 7 minutes
Servings 2
Author Kristyn Merkley of Lilluna.com

Ingredients
1/4 cup self-rising flour
1/4 cup SPLENDA® Naturals Stevia
2 tbsp cocoa
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
4.5 tbsp milk
1 tbsp coconut oil
3 tbsp water
1/4 tsp vanilla
2 tsp mini chocolate chips
2 strawberries
Instructions
Begin by combining all your dry ingredients and pouring into a microwave-safe mug.
Add wet ingredients and mix until well combined. Pour in 1 teaspoon of mini chocolate chips.
Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute and 45 seconds. Top with remaining mini chips and strawberries. ENJOY!