Cocoa is native to the tropical latitudes of the Americas. Nowadays, cocoa is grown practically all over the world – everywhere there is a tropic.
On its own, the chocolate tree is not as interesting as its fruit, at least for culinary professionals. The cocoa bean, or cocoa butter, is used to make cocoa powder.
Cocoa is very good for the body. If you drink at least one cup of it every day you will feel a noticeable energy boost. Cocoa is also a natural antidepressant. Cold cocoa quickly and qualitatively restores muscles after heavy, powerful workouts. And that’s not all of its benefits.
Cocoa powder makes excellent warming, and not only drinks, it is added to pastries and desserts: brownies, cakes “potato”, chocolate cake, fondue.
If you still haven’t got into the habit of eating cocoa every day, get in the habit and enjoy the rich and delicious flavor right away!
Cocoa Breakfasts
Spice up your usual oatmeal by adding some cocoa powder, dried fruit, honey and a banana. So it becomes more sweet, rich and chocolatey. You can eat such porridge every morning for breakfast without worrying about gaining extra weight. In addition, it is unrealistically useful for health and beauty.
2. Plum jam with cocoa and butter
If you want to get something cosmic and unique, hurry up to the stove and start making jam with cacao! At the end you will get an original, incomparable jam, using the most standard and simple products. Cocoa plum jam makes a wonderful filling for pancakes, muffins, croissants, and all kinds of casseroles.
Cocoa Confectionery and Desserts
3. Cocoa powder brownies (no chocolate)
The beauty of this recipe is that the dessert is less sweet than the original version. As a result, you get a cake that is absolutely in no way inferior to the classic recipe, and the calories are many times less. Minimal ingredients – maximum flavor.
4. Jamie Oliver’s ginger brownie
I wonder if there are any chefs who don’t know that Jamie Oliver exists? Even if there aren’t, it’s time to get to know his original way of making brownies. The ginger combined with cocoa and dark chocolate is just something!
5. Chocolate pancakes with oat flakes (no eggs)
A slightly unusual recipe for the usual pancakes. And it is unusual in that it is prepared without eggs and with a little sugar. Despite all its originality, the pancakes are appetizing, and also very pretty.
This delightful chocolate dessert is a timeless American culinary classic. The cake batter itself is made much more appetizing by the addition of cocoa powder. Bake Brownies for the holidays, remembering to garnish with a sprig of mint, whole almonds or crushed walnuts.
Finally, you can try baking with Coke! The cake itself is not impregnated with the drink, it is made into a topping. Coke gives the cake an original and unique taste. Such a cake will become a child’s favorite dessert, guaranteed! Generously decorate the top with whipped cream or melted salted caramel.
You’ll need exceptionally high-fat cottage cheese, of course, unless you’re on a strict diet. The combination of fluffy cottage cheese and sweet cocoa powder is sure to please you and your family. The perfect pastry for warm, winter evenings with your closest loved ones.
9. Quick creamy chocolate pudding
Store-bought chocolate pudding doesn’t compare to its homemade counterpart! The most important thing about this uncomplicated affair is to stir the mixture constantly over medium heat. Once done, you can add whipped cream, nuts, fresh fruit, chocolate or coconut shavings.
10. Cookies with dark chocolate
For those who like dark chocolate more than milk chocolate. The cocoa is black and bitter, without all kinds of sugar additives. We mold small circles, the size of a child’s palm, and put them in the oven. It goes great with black tea and cappuccino.
11. Giant chocolate peanut buttercake cake
Can’t decide between cookies and cake? No problem. Double chocolate chip cookies, layered and generously drenched with peanut buttercream paste, look mind-blowing. It’s the perfect cake for a kid’s birthday party. On the other hand, adult sweet lovers will also love it.
The consistency resembles dark chocolate cookies, but they taste much softer and sweeter. An excellent option for a quick and hearty snack in the office or at school. It’s really easy to make and it doesn’t take a lot of time. Try it, you will definitely like it!
Divide the cake into small squares (slices) – a delicious and quick snack is ready. The coffee in this recipe enhances the flavor of the cocoa. It is best to use freshly brewed Colombian coffee with notes of dark chocolate and cream. Cappuccino or hot chocolate would also work well.
Rich, ultra-creamy and chocolatey are all synonymous with homemade cocoa ice cream. The dessert consists of just seven ingredients, including cocoa powder: cream, milk chocolate, farm milk, vanilla extract and sugar. Enjoying such a dessert is especially pleasant in the summer, somewhere by the sea, or lying in a hammock at the cottage.
15. Chocolate ice cream with coconut
There are several options for making this dessert. In one case, we add coconut milk, in the other – we beat a real coconut in a blender and put it in the total milk and creamy mass. The cocoa shouldn’t be too bitter, because otherwise all the coconut flavor might disappear. We sprinkle it out into bowls and put it in the fridge for 20 minutes. Done, enjoy!
16. Ice cream with dark chocolate and coconut
This ice cream has an interesting, bitter-creamy flavor and aftertaste. In addition to the usual components, it also includes: coconut milk, maple syrup, honey, and a pinch of sea salt. As a decoration, almond shavings, pistachios or cinnamon will look perfect.
17. Chocolate homemade whipped cream
This is truly a heavenly delight! You can use whipped cream anywhere: you can decorate a variety of cakes and pies, make a filling for muffins, add it to oatmeal and other milk porridge, spread it on bread, or eat it with croissants or cookies. Sounds great, and tastes even better! Cooking time is only 10 minutes.
Ganache is a thick French emulsion, in other words, a cream. It consists of heavy cream and chocolate (in the classic recipe, it is milk cream). Its main difference from regular cream is a denser, almost solid consistency. Ganache is widely used in cooking to decorate baked goods. Also, ganache is a great helper in organizing a romantic evening. Strawberries in chocolate, this is exactly “strawberries in ganache.” Very sweet, but not sugary at all!
19. Veggie chocolate
Made without any animal ingredients. You might get the impression that finding all the ingredients for this dessert would be difficult, but that’s not entirely true. You will need: coconut oil, cocoa powder and a couple of tablespoons of agave syrup, or natural honey. It tastes just as good as regular homemade chocolate.
20. Muffin in a cup
Very quick and easy to make. Mix flour, ground flavored coffee, cocoa powder, sugar and baking powder. Add milk, eggs, vanilla and butter. Pour the contents into a cup and place in the microwave for just 3 minutes! Instant and delicious dessert is ready.
21. Classic chocolate sausage made with cookies and cocoa
Its homeland is the USSR. The dish of those times was invented for the lack of a decent confectionery alternative in Soviet stores. But all the ingredients of chocolate sausage could be easily obtained. Nowadays, nothing has changed (except the unprecedented variety of products in the markets), this dessert is still relevant. You will need: cocoa powder, butter, milk chocolate, sugar, nuts (peanuts or walnuts). Treat yourself to a hearty and appetizing sausage, not only on holidays, but also on ordinary weekdays.
A very light, almost weightless dessert made of cocoa. To make it, you don’t have to stand at the stove all day. What’s also nice, all the components of the semolina are already waiting for you in the kitchen: kefir, butter, sugar, soda, cocoa.
23. New Year gingerbread with cocoa
Gingerbread dough without spices is an ordinary, custard dough. So for the dessert to get its unique taste, do not skimp on fragrant spices. It can be ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, crumbled walnuts, nutmeg, cloves, candied fruits. Bake gingerbread in the shape of Christmas trees, men, snowmen, snowflakes, whatever your imagination allows. You can take your little one as the main helper in the cooking process, he will be absolutely delighted with the process!
24. Rasjenka and cocoa souffle
The dessert is considered low-calorie, so feel free to eat for two. You won’t have any problems with the ingredients either, you can easily find them at home: ryazhenka, cocoa, gelatin and sugar. It tastes amazing! Very delicate, soft yet juicy texture. Everyone with a sweet tooth will want more.
In common parlance it is called “Shalash”. It’s a classic Russian recipe that your mother or grandmother probably used to make. It takes half an hour to make. The combination of fatty cottage cheese, shortbread cookies and cocoa powder is beautiful and irresistible. Better to try it once (or better yet, as many as possible) than to read it a hundred times.
Cocoa Drinks
26. Brandy Alexander
One of the most delicious creamy dessert cocktails. You can handle making it even without bartending skills. All you need is to get a good, matured cognac (at least 10 years of aging), cocoa cream and fresh, grated nutmeg.
The perfect drink in the lead-up to Halloween. Melt white marshmallows in the microwave, then lay them out in strips, in the shape of a spider web. This will be the main decoration for the hot drink. Children and even adults will come to indescribable delight from the beauty they see, as well as from the aftertaste of hot cocoa.
28. Twentieth century cocktail
“Twentieth Century” is a gem among classic alcoholic beverages. It’s hard to answer who will like it more, women or men. Most likely, everyone who loves cocoa will be delighted by the cocktail. So, you will need the following ingredients: gin, white cocoa cream, white vermouth and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Why naughty? Because the drink contains vodka. This original hot chocolate can only be poured into delicate and fragile containers. For example, in a martini or champagne glass. It tastes pleasant and sweet, if you do not overdo it with vodka, of course.
Inside the cocktail hides one little secret, or rather a couple of ingredients – vodka and Kahlua. This crazy mix of ingredients, namely Irish cream, chocolate syrup, cocoa cream and chocolate will just blow your taste buds away. For those who like a little more sweetness, here’s to it.
For a romantic date or a light, unobtrusive flirtation at the bar – it’s the best. The magic combination of amaretto, chocolate liqueur, white rum, light cream and cocoa powder will put you and your partner in a special, relaxed and unhurried mood. If you’re making the cocktail at home, be sure to decorate with a decorative mini flower and serve it in an elegant glass.
32. Cold cocoa
Change your habit for at least a short period of time. Instead of hot coffee and cream, make an extraordinarily fragrant and sweet cocoa. Of course, it is better to try the drink in the summer; it is during the warm season that cold cocoa will be more beautiful than ever.
33. Cocoa with marshmallows and waffles
As soon as it’s time for the new year, this cocoa recipe becomes very relevant. You can make a real celebration for your child, just offer to decorate the drink together with marshmallows and pour hot chocolate. A winter New Year’s Eve fairy tale in your family will not be long in coming.
34. Cocoa flip
An unusual variant of hot cocoa, made with the addition of egg yolk. It is the egg yolk that makes the drink pleasantly thick, and when whipped provides a lush and voluminous foam. You will be conquered forever by the taste of this cocoa!
Spicy, flavorful, hot, spiced with hot pepper flakes, vanilla and cinnamon – cocoa with Mexican character. This drink is best drunk in winter to warm up and lift your spirits.
36. Banana cacao
Just three simple ingredients, and how much joy and colors of flavor! Add a banana to your hot cocoa, blend with a blender, and voila – a warming drink on your table. This cocoa combines well with cinnamon rolls, chocolate croissants, and, in principle, with any dessert that does not contain a banana.
