The 7 Best Chocolate Recipes of All Time

Name one person whose taste buds don't call out for the delectably indulgent, melt-in-the-mouth feeling of chocolate - we bet you won't be able to! Here at OnBuy, we're self-declared chocolate lovers too, and wanted to share our passion for this delicacy with you.

Whether you'll be baking with chocolate or whipping up a chilled dessert, you'll be in for a treat with our easy chocolate recipes! From much-loved classics to liquid concoctions and diet-tailored enjoyment, we have a chocolate recipe for every taste.

So, what better way to celebrate World Chocolate Day than with our round-up of the seven most delicious chocolate recipes? Dig in!

Recipes:

• Fudgy Brownies
• Easy Chocolate Mousse
• Vegan Chocolate Gateau
• Chocolate Mirror Glaze
• White Chocolate Torte
• Gluten-Free Mini Chocolate Desserts
• Chocolate Espresso Martini

Our round-up of the best recipes for chocolate treats

Fudgy Brownies

Serves... as many as you're willing to share with!

Is there anything better than a deliciously rich and fudgy chocolate brownie?

Two? Well, yes, that's a given, but with this recipe, you'll have an entire tray full of shiny, chocolatey goodness.

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Pop the butter in a microwavable bowl and melt gently.
3. Once the butter has melted, add the sugar, stir, and microwave in intervals to dissolve. This step is important for a batch with a perfectly shiny top, though if shiny-topped fudgy brownies aren't to your taste, you can simply mix the sugar into the melted butter.
4. Stir in the cocoa powder, baking powder and vanilla to the sugary butter mixture. Then, whisk in the eggs until they're smooth, before mixing in the flour. Once the mixture is a thick, chocolatey batter, you can add the chocolate.
5. Line the tin with greaseproof paper and pour the mixture in. Place the tin in the oven for around 30 minutes. To check if they're ready, stick a skewer or knife in the centre - if it comes out clean, or with a tiny bit of mixture on, the brownies are ready. If not, bake for a little longer. Then leave to cool, cut, and dust lightly with icing sugar and enjoy!*

*Best enjoyed with a glass of cold milk!

Easy Chocolate Mousse

Serves 6

As light as air and fancy enough to serve at a dinner party, this easy chocolate mousse recipe will impress your guests.

Method

1. Pop the chocolate in a heatproof bowl with the warm water and bring a saucepan with an inch of water to a slow simmer. Set the bowl over the saucepan, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water. Stir the chocolate until it melts to a smooth texture.
2. Remove from the heat and keep stirring until the chocolate appears nice and glossy. Leave to cool for 2-3 minutes and stir in the egg yolks, giving it a thorough mix with a wooden spoon.
3. Whisk the egg whites in a clean bowl until you can see soft peaks, then whisk in the sugar (around a third at a time), before whisking again until the whites appear glossy.
4. Use a metal spoon to fold a tablespoon of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to loosen it, then carefully fold in the rest. Use gentle folding and cutting movement to ensure the mixture retains the air needed to make your mousse light and fluffy.
5. Finally, divide the mixture between your serving dishes, and add your topping (for example, whipped cream or a couple of raspberries). Cover each dish and pop in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours.

Vegan Chocolate Gateau

Serves 8-10

Make way for guilt-free indulgence with this delicious, melt-in-the-mouth vegan chocolate gateau!

Method

1. Start by preheating the oven to 160°C/Gas Mark 3. Grease a round cake tin and line with greaseproof paper, before greasing again.
2. Sift the flour, cocoa and baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar and vanilla. Gradually beat in the sunflower oil, followed by the water to form a smooth, thick batter. Pour into the tin and gently smooth the surface.
3. Bake in the oven for around 45 minutes (you can check if the cake is done by sticking a skewer in the centre - if it comes out clean, your cake is good to go!). Remove from the oven and leave it in the tin for 5 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack. Peel off the greaseproof paper and leave the cake to cool. Cut in half to make two equal layers.
4. To make the chocolate fudge, pop the margarine and the water in a pan on a gentle heat until the margarine has melted. Remove from the heat and add the sifted cocoa powder and icing sugar. Beat until shiny, adding more hot water if needed. Pour into a bowl and leave to cool until the mixture is firm enough to spread and pipe.
5. Place the bottom layer of the cake on a serving plate and spread over two-thirds of the chocolate fudge mixture. Pop the second layer of the cake on top. Fill a piping bag with the remaining chocolate fudge and pipe decoratively over the cake. Sprinkle with cocoa powder and finish with your chosen topping.

Chocolate Mirror Glaze

Serves 6

Despite being a little tricky to master, the covetable chocolate mirror glaze brings a wow factor to cakes and chocolate treats.

Method

1. Begin by mixing the chocolate and cocoa powder in a heat-proof bowl, and set aside.
2. Sprinkle the powdered gelatin over 100ml of cold water and allow it to bloom by absorbing the liquid for 5 minutes.
3. Pour 120ml of water in a saucepan along with the sugar and sweetened condensed milk, bringing the mixture to a simmer over a medium heat.
4. Pop in the bloomed gelatin and stir until completely melted, before removing from the heat. Add the vanilla essence.
5. Add the mixture to the chocolate and cocoa powder blend, leave to stand for 5 minutes, then whisk together to combine.
6. Use a hand blender to work in any unmelted chocolate or remaining chunks. Then, pass the mixture through a mesh strainer to remove any pieces of chocolate or gelatin.
7. Allow the mixture to cool down to 32°C before pouring over your choice of treats. You'll need to ensure the top of your cake or baked goodie is frozen to allow the glaze to set.

White Chocolate Torte

Serves 8

Elegant and simple to whip up, this white chocolate torte is a cheesecake-style creation for refined taste buds!

Method

1. Use non-stick baking paper to line the base and sides of your cake tin.
2. Melt the butter on a gentle heat in a pan. Crush the biscuits to a fine texture in a food bag with a rolling pin or using a food processor. Tip the crumbs into a bowl and stir in the melted butter. Spread over the base of your cake tin and press down firmly, before placing in the fridge to chill for 15 minutes.
3. Take 700g of the chocolate, chop it up and pop in a heat-proof bowl with half the cream. Set the bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, ensuring the base doesn't touch the water. Leave the chocolate to melt without stirring for around 30 minutes. Remove from the heat once melted and stir until smooth. Cool for 15 minutes or until the chocolate begins to thicken, giving it an occasional stir.
4. Whip the remaining cream in a separate bowl until soft peaks are formed, before folding into the chocolate mixture. Pour over the biscuit base and leave to chill in the fridge for 3 hours.
5. Use a peeler to make chocolate curls out of the remaining white chocolate and scatter decoratively over the torte. Planning to serve on the day? Pop it in the freezer for 15 minutes to set and remove from the tin. Enjoy!

Gluten-Free Mini Chocolate Desserts

Serves 3

Smooth and creamy, these gluten-free mini chocolate desserts are the perfect after-dinner treat.

Method

1. To make the chocolate whipped cream, place the whipping cream, cocoa and icing sugar in a bowl, and whip together until you achieve firm peaks.
2. Crush your biscuits in a food bag with a rolling pin and divide equally between your three serving dishes.
3. Top with a generous spoonful of chocolate whipped cream, drizzle with chocolate sauce and sprinkle with a few chocolate drops on top. Easy as that!

Chocolate Espresso Martini

Serves 1

A tempting digestif that's like a liquid dessert - only with a boozy kick!

Method

1. Start by preparing your martini glass. Pour the chocolate syrup onto a plate and dip the martini glass upside down in the chocolate to cover the rim of the glass.
2. Bring 30ml of water to a boil, pour into a heat-proof cup, such as a glass, and add the instant espresso. Stir and set aside.
3. Mix all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker (skip the ice for now), adding the espresso last. Then fill the cocktail shaker with a cup's worth of ice.
4. Give it a good shake for 10 seconds and serve straight up in your martini glasses. To garnish, sprinkle a couple of coffee beans on top.

Between delicious gooeyness to enjoy on a rainy day huddled under a blanket and fancy creations to show off at dinner parties, we've covered chocolate recipes to suit every taste and occasion!

To achieve the best results, aim for the highest quality chocolate you can lay your hands on; a high percentage of cocoa will usually indicate this. Many ingredients can also be substituted to suit specific diets, such as gelatine with agar-agar and boozy splashes with non-alcoholic alternatives.

So, make the most of this World Chocolate Day with our round-up of the best chocolate recipes that'll help you give in to your cravings!