ThereisaNationalChocolateDaycelebratedonOctober28,butWorldChocolateDayistoday,July7.Itwasapparentlyonthisdatein1550thatchocolatewasfirstbroughttoEurope,butonlysince2009hasitbeenhonoredgloballyonthisdate.
Mostofuswillagreethatanydayisagreatdaytocelebratechocolate.
Statisticsonchocolateconsumptiontellusthat50%oftheworld’schocolateretailsalesoccurinEuropewiththeUnitedStatesaccountingfor20%oftheworld’schocolateconsumption.
Whetheryoupurchasesomethingalreadypreparedordecidetostirsomethingupinyourownkitchen,todayisagreatdaytocelebrateoneofourfavoritefooditems.
FrozenSnickersPie
1(8-in.)grahamcrackercrust
8fullsizeSnickerscandybars
½cupcreamypeanutbutter
¼cupheavycream
12oz.CoolWhip,divided
Inasaucepan,melt6Snickersbarswithpeanutbutterandheavycreamonlowheat.Removefromheatandcool,about20minutes.Foldin1cupofCoolWhiptocooledmixture.
Pourintoagrahamcrackercrust.Coverandfreezefor3-4hours.Chopremaining2Snickersbars.
Whenreadytoserve,topwithremainingCoolWhipandaddchoppedSnickers.
EasyChocolateChipPoundCake
1(18.25ounce)packageyellowcakemix
1(3.9ounce)packageinstantchocolatepuddingmix
½cupwhitesugar
¾cupwater
¾cupvegetableoil
4eggs,beaten
1cupsourcream
½cupmilkchocolatechips
Confectioners’sugarfordusting
Preheatovento325degrees;greaseandfloura10-inchBundtpan.
Inamediumbowl,stirtogethercakemix,puddingandsugar.Addwater,oil,eggsandsourcream;mixwelluntilblended.Foldinchocolatechips.Pourintopreparedpan.
Bakefor50to60minutes.Cakeisdonewhenatoothpickinsertedcomesoutclean.
Coolinpanfor10minutesbeforeinvertingontoawireracktocoolcompletely.Dustwithconfectioners’sugarbeforeserving.
Note:Veryeasy,richandgood.Youmaysubstitutevanillapuddingforalesschocolatycake,orsubstitutesemi-sweetchocolatechipsforamoreintensechocolateflavor.
DingDongCake
1boxdevil’sfoodcakemix
8oz.creamcheesesoftened
3cupspowderedsugar
1stickbutter,softened
8oz.whippedtopping
1tubmilkchocolateicing
Prepareandbakecakeasdirectedonboxin2roundcakepans.
Filling:Mixandcreamthebutterandcreamcheese.Addpowderedsugarandfoldinwhippedtopping.
Aftercakeiscompletelycooled,splitlayers(seehelpfultipbelow)andspreadthicklayeroffillingoneachlayerandstack;donotspreadfillingallthewaytotheedgeofthecake—theweightofthecakewillpressitouttotheedgeonceyouarefinished.(Thiskeepsthefillingfrommixingwiththeicing.)
However,ifyouhaveanyfillingleftover,youcanmixitwiththeicing.Theniceentirecakewiththechocolateicing.
*Foragreatevencutofthecakelayers,placetheuncutcakesonplatesinfreezerforabout30minutes,thenuseunwaxeddentalflosstopullthroughthelayer.
Sugar-FreeChocolateMousse
1envelopeunflavoredgelatin
¼cupcoldwater
1¼cupskimmilk
Artificialsweetenerequivalentto1/3-cupsugar
¼cupbakingcocoa
1tsp.vanillaextract
1¾cupslightwhippedtopping,divided
Inasmallsaucepan,sprinklegelatinoverwater;letstandfor5minutes.Cookoverlowheatuntilgelatinisdissolved.Inablenderorfoodprocessor,combinemilk,sweetener,cocoaandvanilla.Slowlyaddgelatinmixture.Foldin1½cupswhippedtopping.Garnishwithremainingtopping.Coverandchillforatleastonehour.
ChocolateLush
1cupall-purposeflour
½cupmargarine
¾cupchoppednuts
8-oz.pkg.creamcheese,softened
1cupconfectioner’ssugar
Largecontainerwhippedtopping,thawed
2smallpkg.instantchocolatepuddingandpiefilling
3cupsmilk
Preheatovento350.Insmallbowl,combineflour,margarineorbutterandnuts;blendwell.Patmixtureintolargebakingdishorpan.Bakefor15minutes.Letcool.
Inmediumbowl,combinecreamcheese,sugar,and1cupwhippedtopping;blendwell.Spreadcreamcheesemixtureevenlyovercooledcrustinpan.
Inlargebowl,combineinstantpuddingandpiefillingandmilk,stirringuntilmixtureissmooth.Spreadevenlyovercreamcheeselayer.Spreadwithremainingwhippedtopping.Chillthoroughlybeforeserving.
ChocolatePecanPie
19-inchpreparedpieshell
1cupsemi-sweetchocolatechips
1cuppecanpieces
3Tbsp.butter,melted
¾cupsugar
¾cuplightcornsyrup
3eggs
Inmixingbowl,combinebutter,sugar,cornsyrupandeggs.Mixatmediumspeed.Stirinpecanpiecesandchocolatechips.Pourmixtureintopieshell.Bakeat350for45minutes.
