Did you know that 58 million pounds of chocolate candy will be sold this week as lovebirds scramble to impress their sweethearts on Valentine’s Day? What’s more, the price of those chocolate treats is estimated to exceed $100 million.
You won’t have to spend anywhere near that amount to make the following Valentine’s Day chocolate recipes. These simple and affordable desserts can be shared with a house full of sweeties or prepared as the finishing touch to a romantic dinner for two.
TRIPLE CHOCOLATE SWEETIE CAKE
Ingredients:
1 (18.25 ounce) package devil’s food cake mix
1 (5.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Powdered sugar
Whipped cream
Fresh raspberries or strawberries
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mix, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs and water. Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into a well greased 12-cup Bundt pan.
Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool cake thoroughly in pan at least an hour before serving.
Dust cake with powdered sugar. Serve with fresh whipped cream and raspberries or strawberries.
EASY CHOCOLATE TARTS
Ingredients:
1 cup milk chocolate chips
8 ounces Mascarpone or cream cheese, room temperature
24 small chocolate shell cups or small frozen phyllo dough cups, thawed
Whipped cream and candy sprinkles for garnish
Directions:
Melt chocolate chips; cool slightly.
Use electric mixer on medium speed to mix chocolate with cheese.
Pipe mixture into chocolate cups.
Garnish and chill until ready to serve.
KICKED UP CHOCOLATE FONDUE
Ingredients:
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1 1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons freshly ground coffee beans
1/2 teaspoon ground Ceylon cinnamon
1 vanilla bean, split
7 ounces bittersweet chocolate
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Marshmallows
Directions:
In a bowl, mix together the sugar and cornstarch.
Slowly whisk in the cream, then milk, coffee, cinnamon and vanilla.
Pour the mixture into a stainless steel saucepan and gently bring to a boil.
Cool and stir with a whisk, until thickened, about 4 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the chocolate and butter until melted.
Using a fine meshed sieve over a large bowl, strain the chocolate mixture and discard the solids.
Pour into a warm fondue pot and serve with your favorite fruit and cookies.
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