5 chocolate dishes to celebrate World Chocolate Day 2022

According to Wikipedia, "world chocolate day is sometimes referred to as International Chocolate Day, or just Chocolate Day. It's an annual celebration of chocolate occurring globally on July 7, which some suggest to be the anniversary of the introduction of chocolate to Europe in 1550. The observance of World Chocolate Day dates back to 2009".

Every year, this day permits chocolate lovers worldwide to satisfy their taste buds with their favorite treat without any obstruction.

Where does chocolate come from?

Chocolate is gotten from a small tropical tree called the Theobroma cacao tree. The cacao tree is native to Central and South America, but it is grown commercially throughout the tropics.

The cacao tree produces pods that serve as a shell for a sticky white pulp with about 30 to 40 seeds. The seeds in the pod are incredibly bitter, not even close to the chocolate you eat!

The beans are taken from the pods and placed in wooden bins, which are covered with banana leaves and left to ferment. This procedure changes the bitter flavors in the beans to a chocolatey flavor.

After fermentation, the seeds are dried in the sun for a week and when the seeds are dried, they are transferred to the factory for processing.

Delectable Chocolate dishes

Now that you're aware of where chocolate is gotten from, I have curated delicious dishes to help spice up your chocolate celebration.

I made this specially for my fellow chocolate lovers gang. Let's dive into the chocolatey dishes to make this day more chocolicious! (winks an eye).

1) Chocolate molten cakes

It's a chocolate pudding also known as lava cake. It's a beautiful dish that will make you drool when looking at it, and after eating, you will keep craving for more.

Ingredients

100g chopped dark chocolate
50g flour
150g light brown soft sugar
150g butter for baking & greasing
3 large eggs
Cream for serving
½ tsp vanilla extract

Procedure

1) Rub butter on 6 basins or dariole moulds and place them on a baking tray. Also, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.

2) Put butter and chopped dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl and place in the microwave, to melt for 30 seconds. Stir until smooth and set aside to cool slightly for 15 mins.

3) Mix light brown soft sugar, 3 large eggs, ½ tsp vanilla extract, and flour (all these ingredients should be added one at a time). Pour the mixture into the 6 basins or darioles moulds.

4) Bake for 10-12 mins until the tops are firm but the middles still feel squidgy.

5) Run a knife around the edge of each pudding carefully, then place it on serving plates and pour cream on the cake.

Then, dig in!

Chocolate molten cakes Pulse Nigeria

2) Chocolate cheesecake

This is another sweet dish that will not just sweeten your day but brighten your day.

Ingredients

For the cheesecake

200g full-fat cream cheese
150g dark chocolate
2 tsp cocoa powder
120ml double cream
115g caster sugar

For the biscuit base

150g digestive biscuits (about 10 packs)
50g melted butter
1 tbsp caster sugar

Procedure

1) For the biscuit base, crush the digestive biscuits with a rolling pin or food processor, then pour into a bowl the sugar and butter and stir to combine.

Butter and line an 18cm springform tin and pour in the biscuit mixture, pushing it down with the back of a spoon. After doing this, chill in the fridge for 30 mins.

2) For the cheesecake, melt the chocolate in the microwave, then leave to cool slightly. Whip the cream in a large bowl using an electric whisk until soft peaks form, then fold in the cocoa powder and allow it to cool.

Beat the cream cheese and sugar together, then fold in the cream mixture and the cooled chocolate.

3) Pour the cheesecake mixture over the biscuit base and push it down with the back of a spoon. Place into the freezer and freeze for 2 hours, until it's set.

Remove from the tin and leave at room temperature to soften for about 20 mins before serving.

Chocolate cheesecake Pulse Nigeria

3) Chocolate Tiffin

Treat yourself to this goodness of chocolate tiffin slices, embodied with milk, dark chocolate, raisins, and biscuit.

Warning: You will eat them all within 2mins!

Ingredients

225g crushed biscuits
110g milk chocolate
110g dark chocolate
150g butter, (keep extra for tin)
6 tsp cocoa powder
3 tbsp golden syrup
A handful of raisins
3 tbsp caster sugar

Procedures

1) Melt the butter, sugar, syrup, and cocoa in a large saucepan. Then, pour the biscuits and raisins. Also, butter and line a 15-20cm tin with baking parchment.

2) Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and then smooth the top with the back of a spoon. Microwave the white & dark chocolates for 20 seconds, then stir frequently, until melted.

Pour them over the mixture in the tin. Use a spoon to smooth it over, so it's completely covered in chocolate.

3) Put the tin into the fridge and leave for about 2 hours to set, or overnight, then cut into squares and serve.

chocolate-tiffin Pulse Nigeria

4) Chocolate Mousse

The chocolate mousse dish has a light silky and smooth feel in the mouth. Eating this dessert will drive you safely to heaven without 'gallops'(laughs).

Ingredients

1 cup of Heavy cream
1/4 Powdered sugar
1/4 Cocoa Powder
Almond or vanilla flavoring (optional)

Procedure

1) Place your mixing bowl in the freezer to chill for 30 minutes to help the cream whip faster and stiffer. Then, sift the cocoa powder before adding it to the cream to get a smooth, consistent, and pretty mousse.

2) After 30 minutes, pour the heavy whipping cream into the chilled bowl. Use an electric mixer to begin whipping. Whip the cream until it becomes slightly thickened.

3) When the cream is slightly thickened, add the powdered sugar, sifted cocoa powder, and flavoring (optional).

Then, whip them until you achieve the soft peaks form (Peak form is when the mixture falls onto itself, it doesn’t stand up but it does leave a track). Ready to serve.

chocolate-mousse Pulse Nigeria

5) Chocolate chocolate chip skillet cookies

These Chocolate dishes won't be complete if chocolate chocolate chip skillet cookies is not added. These cookies taste amazingly sweet but will leave you screaming for more.

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 & half cups of semisweet chocolate chips
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coasre salt

Procedures

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Get a large bowl, mix butter and sugar with a wooden spoon. Pour in egg and vanilla, then flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Add chocolate chips and stir thoroughly.

2) Transfer batter to a 10-inch ovenproof nonstick skillet and smoothen the top. Bake at 350°F for 30 to 40 minutes or until the edges are set but the center is still gooey. Allow it to cool off for 10 minutes before serving with vanilla ice cream as toppings.