17 Ways to Have Your Chocolate Dark (And Eat It Too)
With its lower sugar content and high dose of antioxidants, decadent dark chocolate has long been known as the healthier cousin to sweeter milk chocolate. Plus, it's high in fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, and manganese, making dark chocolate an absolutely delicious way to increase your intake of those essential nutrients. Dark chocolate simply shines in recipes like Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes, Dark Chocolate Brownies, Chocolate-Dipped Clementines, and Superfood Chocolate Bark. Browse our collection of favorite dark chocolate recipes and whip up one or two today. All in the name of healthy eating, right?
Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies
You've probably heard of olive oil cake, and if you've ever tasted one, you know how much rich character olive oil can bring to a dessert. And that's certainly the case for these anything-but-average chocolate chip cookies. With their crispy edges and perfectly gooey center, they're downright dreamy.
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Ginger Bourbon Balls
We guarantee you'll earn compliments throughout the holiday season with this dessert, no matter how your bourbon balls roll. We suggest using melting chocolate, such as Ghirardelli Dark Melting Wafers, which are available at many supermarkets in the baking aisle. They need no tempering and will not become streaky as they dry.
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Spicy Dark Chocolate and Tahini Bark
This treat will keep you from raiding your kids' stash of Halloween candy.
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Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes
Looking for a dessert that's guaranteed to impress and also happens to be gluten-free? Try these soufflé-like flourless chocolate cupcakes. Deliciously crisp edges and tender centers make these cupcakes anything but ordinary. And when topped with a scoop of your favorite ice cream (we are partial to fudge ripple) and a drizzle of caramel sauce, they are absolutely swoon-worthy.
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Mini Peanut Butter-Dark Chocolate Pretzel Cups
Peanut butter, pretzels, and chocolate is an unrivaled trio. The perfect balance of sweet and salty, as well as creamy and crunchy, these adorable, bite-sized desserts are sure to be a crowd pleaser. Easy to make and assemble, these indulgent dessert cups are great for cocktail parties and potlucks. This recipe can also be adapted to be served in a 9x9-inch baking pan.
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Double-Chocolate Pecan Pie
Want a rich and powerful flavor combination? Enjoy this dark chocolate piecrust (made with cocoa powder) with the decadent, sweet, and sticky chocolate-pecan filling.
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Dark Chocolate Brownies
These classic chocolate brownies can be stored airtight for up to 2 days.
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Microwave Orange Chocolate Mug Cake
When you're home alone and craving a home-baked dessert, the mug cake is your friend. Dense, moist, and warm, like a steamed pudding, the single-serving dessert cooks in just a couple of minutes in the microwave. This one is loaded with citrus and a touch of dark chocolate. For best results, use a small orange; otherwise, the cake gets soggy.
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Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake with Whiskey Caramel Sauce
Moist, dense, and foolproof, this cake by Naomi Robinson, the blogger behind Bakers Royale, includes a mix of cocoa and chocolate chips for fudgy flavor. You can vary the intensity by adjusting the amount of chocolate chips, but don't pass up the silky caramel sauce.
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Dark Chocolate Frozen Banana Bites
Did you know that bananas are packed with resistant starch, a type of carb that boosts metabolism? All the more reason to indulge in this bite of delight.
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Dark Chocolate Avocado Cake with Chocolate Avocado Frosting
This vegan cake (no eggs or butter!) is so delicious that our kids begged for more. The frosting is silky smooth, and the cake is light and loaded with chocolate flavor, and healthy fats.
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Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
A gooey skillet brownie topped with scoops of vanilla ice cream and drizzled with melted peanut butter and rich chocolate syrup– what could be better?
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Chocolate-Caramel Bark with Quinoa
Using a dark (72% cacao) chocolate brings an intense, not-too-sweet, almost fruity flavor to this bark. If you prefer a sweeter chocolate, substitute bittersweet (60% cacao) chocolate.
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Chocolate-Dipped Clementines
Say hello to 3-ingredient, clean-eating chocolate-dipped clementines. The slight bitterness of the dark chocolate counters the sweet clementines, and pistachios add a delightfully nutty crunch. This 20-minute dessert also makes a pretty presentation at a luncheon or shower.
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Superfood Chocolate Bark
This 3-ingredient sweet treat packs a perfect nutritional punch. Raw whole almonds, high-quality dark chocolate, and goji berries are all you need for a super simple dessert bark that's big on essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
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Peppermint Cookies
Peppermint chocolate lovers will rave about these festive sugar cookies dipped in melted dark chocolate and garnished with crushed peppermint candies.
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Dark Chocolate Tart
Chopped dark chocolate and a splash of bourbon are the key ingredients in this luscious dessert. Plus, the homemade chocolate crust takes this tart from delicious to decadent.