5 Easy Chocolate Filled Desserts To Make This Valentine’s Day! 

Be different this time! 

Valentine’s Day. It’s this Sunday! Some of us are excited about it. The others not so much. For me it’s another excuse to eat more chocolate! 

Want to be different this Valentine’s day? Don’t just give a clichéd box of chocolates to your loved ones, and instead try out these easy to make desserts with lots of chocolate in them that will make them love you even more. May I also point out that it also means you put a lot of thought and effort into your gift. 

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Fudgy Brownies 

It’s a crime if anyone in this world doesn’t love fudgy and gooey brownies! If you know anyone who doesn’t, this recipe will convert them! 

Ingredients 

- 1 1/4 cups sugar 
- 3 large eggs 
- 1 cup all-purpose flour 
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder 
- 1/2 teaspoon salt 
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 
- 1/4 cup heavy cream 
- 250g chocolate, coarsely chopped 

Instructions 

· Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

· In a large bowl, whisk together sugar and eggs. In another bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, and salt. 

· In a nonstick pan, bring butter and cream to a simmer. Add chocolate and cook, stirring constantly, until chocolate has melted for about 1 minute. Remove from heat, and let it cool for 5 minutes. 

· Add chocolate mixture to sugar and egg mixture. Then fold in flour mixture. Pour batter into a tray. 

· Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (about 40 minutes). 

(Note: If you are daring and fun.. once you add the mixture into the baking tray, add marshmallows or cashew nuts or strawberries on top! It will upgrade your brownie to a whole new level! Or you can serve it with vanilla ice cream!) 

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Chocolate Covered Strawberries 

This recipe is for the romantics. I’m not one and I still love it. Well to be fair I will eat anything covered in chocolate. 

Ingredients 

- 250g chocolate, finely chopped (now this can be white, dark or milk or a few from all three!) 
- 400g strawberries, washed and dried well (how many you make will depend on the size) 
- 1/3 cup finely chopped cashew nuts (optional) 

Instructions 

· Place chocolate in a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir occasionally, until melted, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat. 

· One at a time, dip each strawberry in chocolate, twirling to coat; then sprinkle the chocolate-covered portion with cashews. 

· Chill the chocolate-dipped strawberries at least 15 minutes to set chocolate. 

(Note: you can even do this with banana’s… but I guess it’s not as romantic) 

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Chocolate Pudding with Whipped Cream 

This recipe is especially for those who don’t like to bake but want to impress your significant other nevertheless. And you most definitely will. 

Ingredients 

- 1/3 cup sugar 
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch 
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder 
- 1/4 teaspoon salt 
- 2 cups milk 
- 2 large egg yolks, lightly beaten 
- 125g chocolate, finely chopped 
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened 
- 1/3 cup whipped cream (optional) 

Instructions 

· Whisk sugar, cornstarch, cocoa, and salt in a medium pan. Add in milk and yolks. Cook over low heat till it thickens (8 to 10 minutes). Remove from heat. Add the chocolate and butter, whisk until melted. 

· Pour pudding through a sieve into a bowl and refrigerate till it sets. To prevent a skin from forming press a plastic wrap directly onto surface. Serve with whip cream. 

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Chocolate Chip Cookies 

I may have shared this recipe before. But if it doesn’t make it on this list I don’t know what will! 

Ingredients 

- 2 cups all-purpose flour 
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 
- 1 teaspoon salt 
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 
- 2 cups sugar 
- 2 large eggs 
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 
- 250g chocolate chips 

(Note: sometimes when I can’t find chocolate chips I chop up some regular chocolate and it works just fine too) 

Instructions 

· Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. 

· In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until combined; mix in the vanilla. 

· Fold in the flour mixture and add the chocolate chips. Refrigerate this mixture for at least half an hour before baking it. 

· Drop dough (in the size you like) onto a greased baking sheet. Keep enough room in between. Bake until golden, (15 to 18 minutes). 

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Grilled Chocolate Sandwiches 

I know this recipe is as unconventional as it gets. But trust me your better half will love it and love you for making it. (Especially if he/she is a foodie) It’s messy and gooey and it takes you right up to chocolate heaven! 

Ingredients 

- 2 large eggs 
- 2 tablespoons of milk 
- 4 large slices of white bread 
- 125g chocolate 
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 

Instructions 

· In a large, shallow dish, whisk together eggs and milk and set it aside. 

· Form two sandwiches with the bread and chocolate (break chocolate as necessary). I tend to put butter on my bread as well. To make it extra gooey, it’s optional. Dip both sides of sandwiches in egg mixture to coat. 

· Heat butter in a large pan over medium heat; transfer sandwiches on to it. Cook, pressing occasionally with a spatula, until golden, 1 to 2 minutes per side. 

(Note: I tend to add bananas in mine. I just love the combination) 

All of these recipes are simple to make. I hope you make one or all (the more the better right?) for your loved ones this Valentine’s Day. It will be so much better than just giving them a box of chocolates. 

By Jithendri Gomes