How to Make Chocolate Desserts

Creating a delicious chocolate dessert doesn't have to be an all-day event, but your delighted guests or family might think you spent hours in the kitchen. From creative sweets for kids' parties to impressive chocolate desserts for adult dinner parties, here are some ideas to get you started.

Things You'll Need

• Fondue pot Milk, dark or white chocolate chips Ingredients for fondue-dipping Instant chocolate pudding Ramekins Raspberries or bananas Confectioner's sugar Double boiler Prepackaged rolled fondant Strawberries Chocolate brownies Chocolate whipped topping Chocolate ice cream Raspberry syrup Vanilla waffle cookies Chocolate chip cookies Chocolate brownies Peanut butter ice cream Chocolate jimmies Chocolate cupcakes

Instructions

Dinner Party Desserts

1. Create a chocolate fondue. Melt fine quality milk, dark or white chocolate in your fondue pot. Surround it with bowls of fresh and dried fruit, pound cake, pretzels, nuts, small popcorn balls or anything else that you think might taste good dipped in chocolate.

2. 

   Whip up a batch of instant chocolate pudding. Spoon the pudding into individual ramekins, top each one with raspberries or sliced bananas, and place them in the refrigerator to set. When you are ready to serve, sprinkle each pudding ramekin with confectioner's sugar.

3. Make chocolate truffles. Melt dark, milk or white chocolate chips in a double boiler. Roll prepackaged rolled fondant into balls (approximately 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter). Using a fork, dip each ball into the melted chocolate. Place the dipped balls on a cookie sheet and place them in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes to set. Arrange your truffles on a platter garnished with fresh strawberries.

4. 

   Build a chocolate trifle. In a deep glass bowl (clear is best so the layers show), layer the following: Crumbled chocolate brownies, instant chocolate pudding, sliced bananas and prepackaged chocolate whipped topping. Repeat the layers. Cover the top of your trifle with the chocolate whipped topping and sprinkle with chocolate chips.

5. 

   Create fancy ice cream desserts. Use individual clear glass bowls or deep cups. In the bottom of each bowl, pour a 1/8 inch layer of a mixture of white, milk and dark chocolate chips. Drizzle the chips with raspberry syrup. Place 1 or 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream on top of the chips. Drizzle the ice cream with raspberry syrup and wedge a vanilla waffle cookie into the ice cream.

Kids' Parties

1. 

   Make chocolate sandwiches. Sandwich a small scoop of chocolate ice cream between two chocolate-chip cookies. Melt milk chocolate chips in your microwave. Working quickly, dip each sandwich half-way into the melted chocolate. Place the sandwiches on a cookie sheet, cover, and place in the freezer until ready to serve.

2. Serve peanut butter chocolate delights. On individual plates, place a single warm, chocolate brownie. Add one scoop of peanut butter ice cream and sprinkle with with chocolate jimmies.

3. 

   Make chocolate cupcake treats. Carefully hollow out the centers of a batch of chocolate cupcakes. Fill each cupcake with a mixture of sliced bananas and strawberries, and top with a dollop of chocolate whipped topping.

Tips & Warnings

• Use high quality ingredients. The better the quality, the more decadent your desserts will taste.

References

• Recipes With Chocolate
• Food Network Chocolate Recipes
• Nestle Chocolate Dessert Ideas

Resources

• Disney Family.com: 25 Chocolate Delights
• Ultimate Dessert Guide: 50 Best Chocolate Desserts