Chocolate

Decadent and practical, this collection celebrates chocolate in every form — from fudgy brownies and crisp cookies to silky mousses, molten cakes and glossy ganaches for showstopping finishes. Expect clear techniques for melting, tempering and balancing bittersweet, milk and white chocolates, plus a few inventive savory and beverage ideas.

Torta Caprese (Chocolate and Almond Flourless Cake)

By null

The famous dessert of the Island of Capri I've found, over the years of making this cake, is extremely forgiving. The almond meal, butter, chocolate and sugar should be equal in weight. This is the time to get out the digital scale, as it makes not only preparing this but also remembering it later so easy. I've done this with 85 grams of each and 3 eggs. Or 250 grams of each and 5-6 eggs. Once I only had 125 grams of almond meal and I simply used that as the proportion for the rest of the ingredients, along with 3 eggs. They only change the cake a little in height and size, but each has come out smooth and moist, almost fudgy. And, in fact, the last measurement is my favorite because in an 8 inch round pan, it comes out just over an inch tall, which I think makes for a good-sized sliver. If you like, you can add a splash of rum, some lemon or orange zest or (reminiscent of Elizabeth David's chocolate and almond cake, which closely resembles torta caprese) and a dash of strong coffee. You can also double these ingredients and bake them in a 10 inch pan for a slightly larger cake. Helpful tools for this recipe: Maple Wooden Cake Stand KitchenAid Cordless Hand Mixer Mason Cash Cane Mixing Bowls

Molten Chocolate Mug Cake

By Leah Colins

This warm, rich chocolate cake with a molten center can be yours in a mere five minutes. It requires little more than a mug and a microwave to make.

5 min

Gluten-Free Fudge Brownies

By Jackie Ourman

Just what we want a gluten-free brownie to be: rich and super fudgy. Beating the eggs and sugar for a long time incorporates air into the batter, making for a crackly crust when baked.

Chocolate Mousse Cake

By Desserts

A rich, mousse-like chocolate cake baked in a 20 cm (8-inch) round pan. The edges set while the center stays soft and slightly trembling for a creamy, mousse texture once cooled. Simple one-bowl method yields an elegant dessert in under an hour.

45 min

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bars

By Laila Ibrahim

These no-bake chocolate–peanut butter cheesecake bars are creamy, easy to make, and perfect for potlucks.

5 hr 35 min

Ultimate Chocolate Cake

By null

I’ve been making cakes and pies in the Food52 offices since 2014, and couldn’t be happier that they asked me to develop a new cake to celebrate their 10th birthday. This cake is chocolate, plus chocolate, with a little chocolate (I don’t use the word ultimate lightly). It’s impressive to look at it - but more importantly, it’s so, so delicious, just like these last 10 years have been.

The Food Lab's Chocolate Chip Cookies

By J. Kenji López-Alt

Learn the secrets and science behind the best browned butter chocolate chip cookies in this classic recipe from The Food Lab.

1 hr 15 min

Mississippi Mud Pie

By Leah Colins

Each of this Mississippi mud pie's three mouthwatering layers—crunchy cookie crust, fudgy brownie, and creamy pudding— features a jaw-dropping amount of chocolate, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

5 hr 15 min

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

By Iram Mansoor

Decadent red velvet brownies layered with a smooth cream cheese swirl — fudgy, chocolatey, and visually striking. Baked in an 8x8-inch pan, these make a rich dessert perfect for sharing or special occasions.

1 hr 15 min

Red Velvet Chocolate Chunk Cookies

By Iram Mansoor

Chewy, tall red velvet cookies studded with semi-sweet and white chocolate chunks. The dough is chilled for shape and deep color, yielding soft-centered cookies with set edges.

2 hr 48 min

Brownie Cookies

By Desserts

Fudgy, crackly-topped brownie cookies with an intense chocolate flavor and a soft, gooey center. Chill the batter for thicker, fudgier cookies and bake briefly for a crisp, crackly top.

1 hr 12 min

Malted “Forever” Brownies

By Claire Saffitz

Claire Saffitz named these her “forever” brownies because it took so much work to get them right that she’s vowed to never develop another brownie recipe again.

Guinness-Chocolate Sheet Cake

By Genevieve Yam

The Guinness-chocolate sheet cake is incredibly moist and rich, with a deep chocolate flavor that’s complemented by the beer’s malty, tangy undertones. Topped with a malted vanilla frosting, it’s a delicious celebration-worthy dessert.

2 hr 55 min

Squidgy chocolate pear pudding

By Justine Pattison

This hot, gooey chocolate pud, with dark chocolate and canned pears, can be made ahead and frozen – a perfect no-fuss dinner party dessert

55 min

Classic Chocolate Cake

By Marcia Kiesel

You can make chocolate cake from scratch with this easy chocolate cake recipe. Moist, decadent, and deep in chocolate flavor, this cake's secret is the unsweetened chocolate added to the batter. The recipe has been passed down through generations.

2 hr 20 min

Millionaire’s Shortbread

By Jesse Szewczyk

Our version of the luxurious bars, featuring buttery shortbread (with a twist!), salty-sweet caramel, and rich chocolate.

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake

By Shilpa Uskokovic

This rich, creamy chocolate cheesecake recipe layers a dark chocolate filling with an Oreo cookie base and silky ganache for the ultimate decadent dessert.

Chocolate Banana Loaf

By Kasia Blin

A simple, naturally sweet banana loaf studded with dark chocolate chips and cocoa. Ripe bananas provide moisture and sweetness, making this an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert—great for a cozy Valentine’s treat.

50 min

Nigella Lawson's Dense Chocolate Loaf Cake

By null

On creating this cake, Nigella Lawson explains, "I remember very strongly wanting to create what we call a loaf cake—and what is generally called a pound cake Stateside—that had a richness and squidginess of texture that this form of cake normally doesn't major in." And she did. Recipe adapted very slightly from How to Be A Domestic Goddess (Hyperion, 2005)

Beet Chocolate Cake

By Anna Stockwell

Earthy-sweet beet purée gives this gluten-free chocolate cake a red velvet hue but also lends so much buttery moistness that you'd never guess the cake is dairy-free as well.

Glossy Fudge Brownies Recipe | BraveTart

By Stella Parks

This chocolate brownie recipe uses Dutch cocoa powder, dark chocolate, and brown butter to create a glossy, flaky top and fudgy, full flavor throughout.

1 hr 55 min

Quick and Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies | BraveTart

By Stella Parks

Chewy chocolate chip cookies with just-crisp edges, loaded with melted chopped bar chocolate for better flavor than commercial chips.

45 min

Double-Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe

By Stella Parks

A crisp, flaky crust filled with creamy chocolate custard and topped with an airy vanilla meringue.

5 hr 10 min

Rich and Gooey Chocolate Banana Pudding

By Laila Ibrahim

Creamy, chocolatey banana pudding made from scratch—perfect for potlucks, summer parties, or a no-bake treat at home.

11 hr 30 min

Chocolate Mousse

By Genevieve Ko

Each mouthful of this dessert is a marvel: as light as a meringue pie topping, but with the eggy silkiness of a creamy chocolate custard. This mousse has a particularly airy texture, but is still a little rich from the bittersweet chocolate, which makes it the ideal not-too-sweet dessert. Because the mousse develops an even deeper flavor over time, it’s perfect for parties. You can make it up to five days ahead of time and serve it straight from the refrigerator.

Levain Bakery-Style Super-Thick Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

By Stella Parks

Inspired by Levain Bakery, these giant chocolate chip cookies are a dessert of epic proportions.

12 hr 50 min

Creamy Chocolate Cream Pie

By Yvonne Ruperti

This silky, creamy pie tastes like a cross between chocolate pudding and banana cream pie. In other words: a dessert match made in heaven.

4 hr 55 min

Milk Chocolate Sauce

By Ludo Lefebvre

Rich, silky, and ready in minutes, this milk chocolate sauce upgrades sundaes, crepes, and more. Learn the foolproof technique and make a batch to keep on hand.

Gluten-Free Triple-Chocolate Chunk Cookie

By Miro Uskokovic, executive pastry chef, Gramercy Tavern and Untitled

After testing with lots of other brands, these chocolate chip cookies are best when made with Cup4Cup gluten-free flour.

Ginger Spice Brownies

By Arlyn Osborne

A complex blend of spices complements the rich chocolate and adds a warmth that’s perfect in the colder months.

1 hr 45 min

Devil's Food Cake Recipe | BraveTart

By Stella Parks

Dark chocolate, Dutch-process cocoa powder, and a homemade Oreo cookie coating make this one-bowl devil's food three times as chocolaty.

2 hr 20 min

Buckeye Brownies

By Leah Colins

In this dessert bar reimagining of Ohio’s beloved chocolate–peanut butter buckeye candies, a fudgy brownie base is smothered with a creamy, salty-sweet peanut butter layer and topped with a dark chocolate ganache.

3 hr 30 min

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies From The Pastry Box

By null

Recreate the iconic chocolate chip cookies from The Pastry Box in NYC’s East Village. They’re thin with crispy edges, soft centers, and loaded with caramelized bits and just the right amount of chocolate. Of course, you have to finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt. Bonus: to make them gluten-free (and just as good), simply swap the all-purpose flour for oat flour.

Chocolate Pot de Crèmes

By Yvonne Ruperti

Chocolate pot de crèmes—rich, velvety French custards—are easy enough to make on a weeknight, and luxurious enough for a special occasion like Valentine’s Day.

5 hr 5 min

Silky Chocolate Mousse

By Desserts

A rich, silky chocolate mousse that's light, airy, and perfect for dinner parties. Made with dark chocolate, whipped cream and gently cooked eggs, it’s a make-ahead dessert that serves a crowd (or halve the recipe for fewer guests).

8 hr 30 min

Fudgy Spicy Brownies

By Max Falkowitz

These fudgy brownies are anything but boring.

2 hr 45 min

No-Bake Fudgy Chocolate Squares

By Genevieve Yam

Topped with a shiny layer of chocolate ganache, these no-bake chocolate bars are luxuriously rich and fudgy—and the perfect excuse to not turn on the oven.

2 hr 10 min

Two-Chip Chocolate Chip Cookies

By Iram Mansoor

Large, chewy chocolate chip cookies made with two kinds of chocolate — semi-sweet and dark — for extra depth. These rustic, bakery-style cookies are quick to make and perfect for sharing or an indulgent snack.

35 min

Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

By Jesse Szewczyk

Fruity olive oil and a dramatic showering of sea salt elevate this one-bowl chocolate cake into something worth celebrating.

Salted Caramel Latte Brownies

By emijuju

Rich espresso-flavored brownies topped with a silky, coffee-spiked salted caramel. Dense chocolate brownies get a glossy espresso caramel layer and a finish of flaky sea salt for a decadent, slightly bitter-sweet treat.

1 hr 30 min

Chocolate Truffle Cakes

By The New York Times

Ethereally light with molten centers, these just-for-one chocolate truffle cakes from Wolfgang Puck feel fancy but are quite easy to make. They’re a streamlined version of the cakes his chefs make for the Governors Ball following the Academy Awards. Mr. Puck advises pulling the cakes from the oven while the centers are still soft, as “you want it to be a little underdone so the inside is creamy.” He serves them with berries and whipped cream that’s sometimes mixed with crème fraîche but never sugar, so the cream balances out the sweet chocolate cake. You can prepare the batter in advance and simply bake the cakes right before serving, as Mr. Puck does when catering. He notes that “everybody saves room for dessert.” You can watch Wolfgang Puck make a version of this recipe here.

30 min

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

By Desserts

Rich, chewy chocolate chip cookies made with nutty brown butter, pockets of melted semi-sweet chocolate, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Chill the dough for deeper flavor and bake until the edges are set for soft centers and gooey chocolate.

1 hr 2 min

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate Cake

By Kat Boytsova

This (gluten-free!) flourless chocolate cake is decadent, rich, and super-easy to make. Add a dollop of whipped cream and some crunchy hazelnuts and you're all set.

Richard Sax’s Chocolate Cloud Cake

By null

Here is where we learn that flourless chocolate cake can mean many different things, depending on ratios and technique. Both this recipe and Rose Levy Beranbaum's Chocolate Oblivion Truffle Torte are known and loved as flourless chocolate cakes and use the same basic three ingredients (eggs, chocolate, and butter), with wildly different appearances and textures. This one was a signature dessert of the late, beloved writer and cooking instructor Richard Sax. For the same amount of eggs as Beranbaum’s, he calls for half the chocolate and butter, and—instead of heating and whipping six whole eggs until billowy—he has you whip four of the whites with sugar to make a fluffy meringue, then gently fold them into the rest. Far from a dense and creamy torte, these three changes produce a poufy soufflé of a cake that intentionally caves in the center, leaving a craggy, wafer-like rim behind and a moussey hollow that you fill up with cold whipped cream. The effect is dramatic and bold, giving you, as Sax famously said, “intensity, then relief, in each bite.” Adapted very slightly from Genius Desserts (Ten Speed Press, 2018).

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies (aka Magic Middles)

By null

Ask the internet about magic middles and you’ll be told they are a Keebler product, all the rage in the ’90s, but since discontinued. In 2012, Serious Eats’ Stella Parks brought them back to life when she whipped up her own version—a sugar cookie with a chocolate belly—calling long-lost magic middles America's Most Wanted Cookie (you know, in a good way). For what it’s worth, this was the most-wanted cookie in my family when my brother and I were growing up. The only catch is that “magic middles,” to us, means a totally different thing. Instead of a vanilla-outside and chocolate-inside, our version has a chocolate-outside and peanut butter–inside. My mom says she scored the recipe from another mom at a school bake sale a few years pre-millenium, but…did she? When I started digging into this almost two years ago for an article, the closest lookalike I could find was in King Arthur’s The Cookie Companion, which was published not in the ’80s or ’90s, but in 2004 (hat tip to King Arthur’s Baker’s Hotline for the detective work). Which means that either my mom and I are confusing timing, or the recipe we got preceded the book—but then, where did it come from? When I wrote about my conundrum last year, our community hopped right in with clues: “I looked in Google Books and found a recipe from a 1991 Beta Sigma Chi cookbook for “Magic Peanut Butter Middles,’” Jenne wrote. “Looks like Keebler Magic Middles were introduced in 1989, so my guess is that it started as a copycat recipe—there was also a version called ‘Peanut Butter Filled’ that looks pretty much exactly like these.” “The recipe appeared in my newspaper coupons, with coupons for Pillsbury flour, Skippy peanut butter and Mazola margarine,” J.K. added. “There is no salt in the recipe. The earliest expiration on the coupons is January 19, 1991.” According to Steffany: “My mom came across the recipe and asked me to bake these one Christmas, it would have been right around 1989 or 1990. She loved them so much I've made them for her every Christmas since, almost 30 years now.” “I've been making these since about that time as well—the recipe was printed in a lot of community/church fundraising cookbooks,” Brenda replied. “I still have one or two! No attribution there other than the woman who shared it.” Add all this up and you’ve got this: an influx of not-Keebler magic middles sometime in the early ’90s, and a bunch of families who can’t stop craving them to this day. Of course, I couldn’t help but put my own spin on my mom’s index card–documented, cocoa powder–stained recipe. I swapped out the sweetened peanut butter with unsweetened (this means you can sub in any nutty/seedy cousin, from cashew to sesame); bumped up the salt; decreased the flour for a fudgier vibe; and increased the cookie-smush so they turn out extra-slim. You should know that these are a project, and a messy one at that. But messy in a satisfying way, a way that reminds you that you baked something good. You should also know they freeze perfectly—if there’s a better late-night snack, I need not know it.

Flourless Double-Chocolate Brownies

By Laura McClain

Almond butter and maple syrup are the secret to this gluten-free, grain-free flourless brownie recipe—but it’s flexible to work with whatever's in your kitchen.

Hot Chocolate Cookies

By Joe Sevier

A swirl of marshmallow fluff melts into the tops of these hot chocolate cookies while a pinch of cinnamon imparts the taste of a wintry mug of warm Nesquik.

Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie

By Chandra Ram

This skillet chocolate chip cookie recipe is tender with crispy edges from the skillet.

55 min

Ultimate Chocolate Mousse

By Craig Claiborne

This dark chocolate mousse recipe comes from legendary former New York Times restaurant critic Craig Claiborne. The simple dessert comes together in just half an hour before chilling and gets its fluffy texture from both whipped cream and egg whites.

4 hr 30 min

Dulce de Leche Skillet Cookie

By Felipe D. Koiffman

A crunchy-on-the-edge, soft-and-creamy skillet cookie filled with a generous layer of dulce de leche. Easy to make and perfect for sharing — slices come out warm with melted chocolate and a caramel center.

45 min

Chocolate

Torta Caprese (Chocolate and Almond Flourless Cake)

Molten Chocolate Mug Cake

Gluten-Free Fudge Brownies

Chocolate Mousse Cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bars

Ultimate Chocolate Cake

The Food Lab&#39;s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mississippi Mud Pie

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

Red Velvet Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Brownie Cookies

Malted “Forever” Brownies

Guinness-Chocolate Sheet Cake

Squidgy chocolate pear pudding

Classic Chocolate Cake

Millionaire’s Shortbread

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake

Chocolate Banana Loaf

Nigella Lawson's Dense Chocolate Loaf Cake

Beet Chocolate Cake

Glossy Fudge Brownies Recipe | BraveTart

Quick and Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies | BraveTart

Double-Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe

Rich and Gooey Chocolate Banana Pudding

Chocolate Mousse

Levain Bakery-Style Super-Thick Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Creamy Chocolate Cream Pie

Milk Chocolate Sauce

Gluten-Free Triple-Chocolate Chunk Cookie

Ginger Spice Brownies

Devil&#39;s Food Cake Recipe | BraveTart

Buckeye Brownies

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies From The Pastry Box

Chocolate Pot de Crèmes

Silky Chocolate Mousse

Fudgy Spicy Brownies

No-Bake Fudgy Chocolate Squares

Two-Chip Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

Salted Caramel Latte Brownies

Chocolate Truffle Cakes

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate Cake

Richard Sax’s Chocolate Cloud Cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies (aka Magic Middles)

Flourless Double-Chocolate Brownies

Hot Chocolate Cookies

Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie

Ultimate Chocolate Mousse

Dulce de Leche Skillet Cookie

Chocolate

Torta Caprese (Chocolate and Almond Flourless Cake)

Molten Chocolate Mug Cake

Gluten-Free Fudge Brownies

Chocolate Mousse Cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bars

Ultimate Chocolate Cake

The Food Lab&#39;s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mississippi Mud Pie

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

Red Velvet Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Brownie Cookies

Malted “Forever” Brownies

Guinness-Chocolate Sheet Cake

Squidgy chocolate pear pudding

Classic Chocolate Cake

Millionaire’s Shortbread

Triple Chocolate Cheesecake

Chocolate Banana Loaf

Nigella Lawson's Dense Chocolate Loaf Cake

Beet Chocolate Cake

Glossy Fudge Brownies Recipe | BraveTart

Quick and Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies | BraveTart

Double-Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe

Rich and Gooey Chocolate Banana Pudding

Chocolate Mousse

Levain Bakery-Style Super-Thick Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Creamy Chocolate Cream Pie

Milk Chocolate Sauce

The Food Lab's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Devil's Food Cake Recipe | BraveTart

The Food Lab's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Devil's Food Cake Recipe | BraveTart