Best Chocolate Decadence Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S CHOCOLATE DECADENCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Butter and flour a 9-inch cake pan.
• Melt semisweet chocolate and unsalted butter together in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula, until chocolate and butter are completely melted and combined. Remove from heat.
• Beat eggs and sugar together in a bowl with a whisk or an electric mixer until pale and very thick, 5 to 10 minutes. Sift in flour, cayenne, and salt; whisk to combine.
• Pour 1/4 of the egg mixture into chocolate mixture; stir to combine. Pour chocolate mixture into remaining egg mixture and stir until cake batter is combined. Pour batter into prepared cake pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until just barely set, with a jiggle below the surface, 14 to 15 minutes. Cool to room temperature, wrap in aluminum foil, and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.

CHOCOLATE DECADENCE CAKE I

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10 inch round pan and line bottom with parchment paper.
• Chop chocolate squares and place in a large bowl with chocolate chips. Add melted butter. Heat water and 1 1/2 cups sugar in a saucepan until boiling, then pour over chocolate. Stir until smooth.
• In a separate bowl, whip eggs with remaining 1/4 cup sugar until thick. Fold into chocolate mixture. Pour batter into 10 inch pan.
• Place 10 inch pan on a cookie sheet in the oven and fill the cookie sheet with water.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 40 to 50 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool and refrigerate for several hours. Be extremely careful not to burn yourself on the hot water when removing the sheet pan from the oven.
• Dip the pan in hot water to remove cooled cake. Garnish with whipped cream and serve.

CHOCOLATE DECADENCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9- by 2-inch round cake pan and line bottom with a round of wax paper. Butter paper and dust pan with flour, knocking out excess.
• Make batter:
• Melt chocolate and butter in a metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, whisking until smooth.
• Cool slightly.
• Beat together eggs and sugar with an electric mixer until pale yellow, thick, and a ribbon forms when beaters are lifted, about 4 minutes with a standing mixer or 8 minutes with a handheld. Fold one fourth of egg mixture into chocolate mixture to lighten, then gently fold in remaining egg mixture.
• Pour batter into cake pan and rap pan sharply on counter to eliminate air bubbles. Put cake pan in a hot water bath and place in middle of oven. Bake 45 minutes (top will be set, but a tester will not come out clean).
• Remove cake from water bath and cool completely in pan on a rack. Run a thin knife around edge of cake and chill, covered, at least 4 hours and up to 12.
• Make sauce:
• Purée raspberries with sugar in a food processor or blender, then force through a fine sieve into a bowl. Chill until ready to serve.
• Remove cake from pan:
• Put cake pan directly on a burner at very low heat. Move pan around on burner to warm bottom, about 30 seconds, then shake pan to loosen cake. Invert cake onto a rack. Remove wax paper and invert cake onto a serving plate.
• Bring cake to room temperature. Serve with sauce and whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE DECADENCE YULE LOG

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly spray a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan and line with parchment paper. Sift flour with baking powder and salt and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs on high for several minutes until they are very pale and fluffy. Gradually add in the sugar, beating 1 to 2 minutes more or until very thick. Gently, but thoroughly, fold in the flour mixture.
• Melt the chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat. In a small bowl, combine the 2 tablespoons of water with the 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur and the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and the baking soda, then gradually stir into the melted chocolate until smooth. Quickly, but thoroughly, fold chocolate mixture into batter.
• Pour batter into prepared 10x15 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Lightly sift an even layer of confectioners sugar over a cloth napkin or tea towel (do not use Terry-cloth). Flip the cake out of its pan onto the prepared cloth as soon as it comes from the oven. Carefully peel away parchment paper. Lightly dust top of cake with confectioners sugar, then trim away crisp edges. Starting with one of the short sides of the cake, immediately roll the cake up in the cloth, jellyroll style, and cool thoroughly on a rack.
• For the Filling and Frosting: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate. Remove from heat and let cool to lukewarm. In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese with the confectioners sugar until smooth, then blend in the vanilla extract and coffee liqueur. Blend in the melted chocolate. Unroll the cake and spread about 1/3 of the filling evenly over the surface. Roll the cake back up.
• Arrange cake roll on serving tray, then frost generously, swiping with an icing spatula to form the long 'bark line' design. Swipe ends of cake in a circular motion to simulate the tree-rings of a cut log. Decorate log as desired with holly leaves and berries, mushrooms and snow.

ALMOND, APRICOT AND WHITE CHOCOLATE DECADENCE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, stir cookie base ingredients until soft dough forms. Spread dough in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until set. Cool 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat almond paste and sugar with electric mixer on low speed until crumbly but blended. Add apricots; beat on low speed just until combined. Add cream cheese, 2 eggs and the lemon juice; beat on medium speed until well blended. Pour over warm cookie base.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until set. Cool 30 minutes.
• Place baking chips in small bowl. In 1-quart saucepan, heat whipping cream just to boiling over low heat, stirring occasionally; pour over baking chips. Let stand 1 minute. Stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Pour and spread over filling. Sprinkle with almonds. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until set. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE DECADENCE CAKE III

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8 inch round pan.
• In the top of a double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter. Stir until smooth and remove from heat.
• In a separate bowl over boiling water, whisk the eggs and sugar until light and lemon colored. Remove from heat and fold in the flour. Mix 1/4 of the egg mixture into the chocolate. Pour remaining egg mixture into chocolate and quickly fold until no streaks remain. Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 15 minutes. The cake will be soft and appear under-baked. Allow to cool before removing from pan.

CHOCOLATE DECADENCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Butter six ramekins or custard cups. Melt chocolate and butter slowly: You can do this in a double boiler, over, not in, simmering water, or in microwave, stirring to prevent scorching. Stir until completely smooth.
• In a medium bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer until frothy, about 5 to 6 minutes. Stir vanilla and salt gently into beaten eggs. Fold half of egg mixture into chocolate mixture, mix well. Then fold remainder of egg mixture into chocolate mixture. Pour chocolate and egg mixture into prepared ramekins.
• Line a roasting pan with a damp kitchen towel. Place ramekins on towel, inside roasting pan. Butter a piece of foil big enough to cover entire pan, and cover the ramekins, buttered side down. Place roasting pan on oven rack. Fill roasting pan with boiling water to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake 5 minutes, then remove foil and bake 10 minutes more. Remove ramekins from water carefully. Let cool on wire rack for at least 3 hours. Cakes will firm up as they cool. Unmold each room-temperature ramekin onto a dessert plate, garnish and serve. Refrigerate unused portions.

ALMOND, APRICOT AND WHITE CHOCOLATE DECADENCE BARS (COOKIE MIX)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F
• In large bowl, stir cookie base ingredients until soft dough forms.
• Spread dough in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan.
• Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until set.
• Cool 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat almond paste and sugar with electric mixer on low speed until crumbly but blended.
• Add apricots; beat on low speed just until combined.
• Add cream cheese, 2 eggs and the lemon juice; beat on medium speed until well blended.
• Pour over warm cookie base.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until set.
• Cool 30 minutes.
• Place baking chips in small bowl.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat whipping cream just to boiling over low heat, stirring occasionally; pour over baking chips.
• Let stand 1 minute.
• Stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth.
• Pour and spread over filling.
• Sprinkle with almonds.
• Refrigerate about 2 hours or until set.
• For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows.
• Store covered in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE DECADENCE ICE CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter metal pie pan or glass pie dish. Mix cookie crumbs and melted butter in bowl until crumbs are evenly moistened. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom and up sides of prepared pan. Bake until crust is set, about 10 minutes. Cool completely.
• Make bittersweet chocolate sauce:
• Combine cream, butter, and corn syrup in medium saucepan. Bring to simmer. Remove from heat. Add bittersweet chocolate; let stand 1 minute. Whisk until melted and smooth. Stir in vanilla. Let stand at room temperature until cool and slightly thickened, about 20 minutes.
• Place alternate scoops of chocolate-chocolate chip ice cream, chocolate fudge brownie ice cream, and cookies-and-cream ice cream in single layer in cooled crust. Drizzle 1/2 cup chocolate sauce over ice cream. Freeze pie until sauce sets, about 10 minutes. Top pie with scoops of remaining ice cream, alternating flavors and mounding in center. Drizzle 1/3 cup sauce over. Freeze pie until firm, at least 2 hours. (Can be prepared 5 days ahead. Cover tightly and keep frozen. Cover and refrigerate remaining chocolate sauce.)
• Stir white chocolate in top of double boiler set over barely simmering water just until melted and smooth. Using small spoon, drizzle white chocolate in thin lines over ice cream pie. Freeze until white chocolate is firm, about 10 minutes. Stir bittersweet chocolate sauce over low heat just until warm. Serve pie with warm chocolate sauce.

DOUBLE DECADENCE CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH SHINY CHOCOLATE ICING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300ºF.
• Spray two 9 x 2-inch round cake pans with Crisco No Stick Cooking Spray. Line bottoms with rounds of wax paper or parchment paper; spray again.
• Combine chocolate chips and hot coffee in a bowl. Let mixture stand, whisking occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
• Whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
• Beat, in the bowl of an electric mixer, eggs until thick and yellow, about 3-5 minutes. Slowly add Oil, milk, vanilla and melted chocolate mixture to eggs, beating until combined well. Add dry ingredients and beat on medium speed until just combined well.
• Divide batter between pans and bake in middle of oven until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 45 minutes.
• Cool layers in pans on racks for 30-45 minutes. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks. Carefully remove wax paper and cool layers completely.
• Whisk together, in a 1-1/2- to 2-quart saucepan, the cream, sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat and add chocolate chips, whisking until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
• Crisco into 3 pieces and add to frosting, whisking until smooth.
• Transfer icing to a bowl and chill until spreadable, about 30 minutes.
• Spread icing between cake layers and over top and sides.

CHOCOLATE DECADENCE SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Wrap outside bottom and side of 9-inch springform pan with foil to prevent leaking. Lightly spray inside bottom and side of pan with cooking spray. In medium microwavable bowl, melt 16 oz of the chocolate and the butter uncovered on High 1 minute, then in 30-second increments, stirring until smooth. Stir in ground cinnamon and allspice. Cool slightly.
• In large bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer on high speed until foamy. Beat in granulated sugar and flour on low speed until blended. Gradually add chocolate mixture, beating on medium speed just until blended. Pour into pan.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until cake is set 2 inches from edge. Immediately run knife around edge of pan to loosen cake. Cool in pan on cooling rack 20 minutes. Remove side of pan; cool completely, about 2 hours.
• Place remaining 12 oz chocolate in heatproof bowl. In small microwavable bowl, heat 3/4 cup of the whipping cream uncovered on High 45 seconds or until simmering. Pour over chocolate. Let stand 2 minutes; stir until smooth. Pour over cooled cake. Refrigerate until serving time.
• Just before serving, in chilled small bowl, beat remaining 1 cup whipping cream and the powdered sugar on high speed until soft peaks form. Serve whipped cream with cake. Garnish with cinnamon stick pieces.

NORMA'S CHOCOLATE DECADENCE FRENCH TOAST WITH VALRHONA SAUCE

Steps:

• For the Home made Brioche:.
• For Brioche: Sprinkle yeast over milk in large mixing bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Combine flour, sugar and salt, beat in alternately with eggs and blend until dough is very smooth and elastic. (For best results, use standard mixer with a paddle attachment, mixing for approximately 10-15 minutes total.) Beat in butter, a tablespoon at a time, until well incorporated (dough will be very soft and sticky); continue to mix for 3 minutes more. Remove dough from bowl and shape into a ball.
• Transfer to a large buttered bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, approximately 2 hours. Punch down, reshape into a ball, cover and refrigerate overnight.
• After refrigeration, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Turn dough out onto lightly floured board; quickly form into loaf shape. Place dough in buttered 8x4-inch loaf pan; let stand at room temperature 20 to 30 minutes, or until dough just begins to soften (dough will rise slightly).
• Transfer dough to oven, lower the temperature to 350 degrees and bake until golden brown and loaf sounds hollow when tapped, about 50 minutes. Let cool for several minutes, unmold while still warm and transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature.
• Prepare the chocolate sauce:.
• Break up the chocolate and place the pieces along with 1/4 cup of the water in a saucepan. Place over low heat and slowly melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally.
• When the chocolate is melted and smooth, stir in the butter piece by piece.
• Stir in the rest of the water and bring the sauce to a boil, stirring constantly. Keep over very low heat while you finish the French toast. (The sauce may be made ahead. Reheat gently in a double boiler.).
• For the French Toast:.
• Place a cake rack over your sink.
• In a small bowl, stir the cinnamon and sugar together.
• Place the brioche in one layer in a baking dish or other shallow dish and pour warm milk over them.
• After about 1 minute turn them over and soak for another minute. Remove them to the cake rack to drain.
• Preheat the oven to warm and place 6 plates or soup plates in the oven to warm.
• Beat the eggs together in a shallow dish.
• Place a frying pan over moderate heat and melt some butter in it. Quickly dip the brioche, first one side then the other.
• Place in the frying pan and brown on both sides. Remove, place on a cutting board and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar and Cocoa Powder. Repeat with remaining french toast/Brioche.
• Cut the brioche into 6 pieces.
• To serve:.
• Place 5 pieces of brioche on each plate and drizzle with the chocolate sauce.
• Cover with sliced large, ripe juicy strawberries and Pistachios (optional) and sprinkle lightly with confectioners sugar.
• INHALE!

CHOCOLATE-ORANGE DECADENCE

Steps:

• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line pan bottoms with waxed paper. Using vegetable peeler, remove peel from oranges in strips. Coarsely chop peel in processor, stopping occasionally to scrap down sides of bowl. Add 1/3 cup sugar and blend until peel is minced. Add marmalade and puree. Using electric mixer, cream butter with pureed mixture and vanilla in large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in remaining 1 cup sugar. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift dry ingredients into small bowl. Mix dry ingredients into batter alternately with orange juice.
• Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake cakes until tops are golden brown and tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 38 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes. Run sharp knife around pan sides to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out onto racks; cool. Peel off paper.
• For the chocolate ganache:
• Bring cream and butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan. Reduce heat to low. Add chopped chocolate and stir until melted. Mix in remaining ingredients. Pour ganache into large bowl. Freeze until very thick but still spreadable, stirring frequently, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
• For glaze:
• Melt marmalade in heavy small saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat. Mix in Grand Marnier.
• Cut each cake into 2 layers. Place 1 layer on plate. Brush with 1/4 of glaze. Spread 1 cup ganache over. Top with second cake layer. Brush with 1/4 of glaze. Spread 3/4 cup ganache over. Top with 1 1/2 baskets berries (about 2 1/2 cups). Spread 1/2 cup ganache over third cake layer. Invert, chocolate side down, over berries. Brush with 1/4 of glaze. Spread 1 cup ganache over. Top with fourth cake layer. Brush with remaining glaze. Spread 3/4 cup ganache over top of cake. Spoon 1 cup ganache into pastry bag fitted with medium star top. Spread remaining ganache over sides of cake, drawing icing spatula up to create vertical lines. Pipe decorative border of ganache around top and bottom edges of cake. Freeze cake 20 minutes. Arrange remaining berries atop cake, covering completely. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover cake loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate.)
• Garnish cake with mint sprigs. Serve cake at room temperature.

FROZEN CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER DECADENCE

Steps:

• For peanut butter mousse:
• Whisk sugar, 1/2 cup cream, and yolks in medium saucepan to blend. Place over medium heat and stir until sugar dissolves and sauce thickens and reaches temperature of 180°F, scraping down sides of pan occasionally, about 6 minutes (do not boil). Transfer to medium bowl. Refrigerate brown sugar mixture until cold and very thick, stirring occasionally, at least 3 hours and up to 1 day.
• Line 7 1/2x3 1/2x2 1/4-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving overhang. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add peanut butter; beat until smooth. Beat in brown sugar mixture in 3 additions. Beat remaining 1/2 cup cream in medium bowl until peaks form. Fold whipped cream into peanut butter mixture in 2 additions. Transfer mousse to prepared pan. Refrigerate while preparing glaze.
• For glaze and sauce:
• Bring cream, butter, and corn syrup to simmer in heavy medium saucepan, stirring often. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Transfer 1/3 cup glaze to small bowl and cool to room temperature; spread over mousse in pan. Cover loaf pan and freeze mousse overnight. Cover and chill remaining glaze.
• Place rack on rimmed baking sheet. Turn mousse out onto rack, chocolate side down. Peel off plastic wrap. Transfer 1 1/3 cups glaze to small saucepan. Stir over low heat just until warm and pourable but not hot. Gradually pour glaze over mousse, spreading to cover evenly and using any glaze that drips onto baking sheet if needed. Press chopped peanuts onto top of mousse. Transfer to platter and freeze until glaze is frozen, about 30 minutes.
• (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover loosely when frozen solid and return to freezer.)
• Rewarm remaining glaze to use as sauce. Dip large knife into hot water to warm blade. Cut mousse crosswise into thin slices, rewarming and wiping blade dry before cutting each slice. Place mousse on plates. Spoon some sauce alongside and serve.

CHOCOLATE DECADENCE WITH WARM RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Line a springform pan with parchment or wax paper and brush with melted butter.
• Wrap bottom and sides of pan in aluminum foil to prevent leaks.
• Place springform pan in a larger pan.
• In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring water and 2/3 cup sugar to a boil; remove from heat.
• Add chocolate and butter; stir to melt (consistency should be smooth; add a little melted butter if necessary).
• Set aside and allow to cool.
• With electric mixer, whip eggs and remaining 1/3 cup sugar at high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Gently fold chocolate mixture into eggs.
• Spoon batter into prepared pan.
• Pour very hot water into larger pan to come halfway up side of springform pan.
• Bake for 40 minutes or until the top feels firm; set aside and cool 4 to 6 hours.
• To unmold cake, gently heat bottom of springform pan over a small flame or stove top.
• Cut around the edges; remove sides of pan.
• Invert onto a serving plate.
• Gently remove pan bottom and parchment.
• With electric mixer, whip cream and 2 tablespoons sugar to a thick, frosting-like consistency; spread or pipe on cake.
• For the warm raspberry sauce, combine the berries, 1/2 cup sugar and water to a boil.
• Turn down temperature; cook 20 minutes over very low heat.
• Purée in blender and strain mixture through a fine sieve to remove seeds, if desired.
• To serve, cut cake into slices and place a slice on a dessert plate.
• Drizzle top and plates with the warm sauce.

CHOCOLATE DECADENCE WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the raspberry sauce, place the raspberries, sugar and framboise, if using, in a blender or in a food processor fitted with the metal blade.
• Puree until smooth.
• If you prefer a seedless sauce, pass the puree through a sieve.
• To make the cake, position a rack in the middle of an oven and preheat to 425°F.
• Butter a 8 or 9-inch springform pan or layer cake pan.
• Line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper or waxed paper cut to fit precisely.
• Butter the paper and dust with flour;tap out any excess.
• Place the chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl or the top pan of a double boiler.
• Set over a pan of gently simmering water but not touching the water.
• Stir often until melted and combined completely.
• Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
• Place the eggs and sugar in a bowl.
• Using an electric mixer set on high speed, beat until light, fluffy and tripled in volume, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Reduce the speed to low and beat in the flour.
• Using a rubber spatula, fold one-third of the egg mixture into the chocolate to lighten it, then fold in the remaining egg mixture, taking care not to deflate the matter.
• Pour and scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
• Bake exactly 15 minutes.
• Let cool completely to room temperature.
• Do not refrigerate or the cake will stick to the pan.
• Invert the cake onto a flat serving plate and peel off the paper.
• Cut into wedges and top with sauce and whipped cream.
• YUM!

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT DECADENCE CAKE POP

Steps:

• For the flourless chocolate cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a food processor, mix together the melted chocolate, granulated sugar and cocoa powder. Pour in the hot espresso while mixing and process until the mixture turns creamy. Add the cubed butter piece by piece and process until fully incorporated. Add the eggs 1 at a time and mix until fully emulsified. Mix in the vanilla.
• Fill the cavities of a small-cavity silicon mold with the batter, place in a water bath and bake for 12 minutes. Let cool completely, then refrigerate to set. Once set, remove from the molds.
• For the milk chocolate hazelnut crunch: Put the milk chocolate in a mixing bowl and melt over a double boiler. Add the praline paste and mix until fully emulsified. Take the chocolate mixture off the double boiler and add the feuilletine flakes. Fold gently until fully combined (making sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl). Spread evenly on a silicone mat and let set. Cut out pieces the same size as the bottom of the cakes and refrigerate until hardened.
• For the raspberry vanilla bean cream: Put the butter, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer and cream together until light, fluffy and lighter in color. Add the raspberry puree and mix slowly until completely combined.
• To assemble: Microwave the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 15-second intervals until melted, about 1 minute total, stirring between each interval. Make a small cavity in the bottom of each cake and fill the hole and smear the bottom with the raspberry vanilla bean cream. Place a disc of the milk chocolate hazelnut crunch on the bottom of each cake. Poke a hole in each disc and insert a lollipop stick. Dip in the melted chocolate and garnish as desired.

BERRY-CHOCOLATE FRUIT DECADENCE

Steps:

• In large bowl, mix yogurt, chocolate syrup and coconut. Fold in whipped topping.
• In each of 8 dessert or parfait dishes, arrange layer of 1 cup of the strawberries. Top with half of the yogurt mixture. Repeat layers. Serve immediately.

POACHED PEARS IN RED CURRANT SAUCE WITH CHOCOLATE DECADENCE CAKE

Steps:

• Sift together flour, baking soda, sugar, and cocoa powder. Place into mixing bowl.
• Put butter, oil, and water into a pot and melt over medium heat.
• When butter has melted, pour into dry ingredients and mix on low speed until incorporated.
• Then mix on medium speed while adding eggs, 1 at a time, and then sour cream. Continue to mix only until incorporated. Pour batter into greased and papered sheet pan (8 inch by 12 inch). Bake in a preheated 375-degree F oven until firm to touch and releases from sides of the pan. Cool. Then invert onto back of another pan or onto a pastry or cutting board.
• Take a round cutter, 1/2-inch-in-diameter larger than the base of the pear. Cut out cake circles. (Save rest of cake as snacks, cut into squares and dust with powdered sugar.)
• Place cream in pan, place over medium high heat. Bring just to a boil. Remove immediately from stove. Pour in chopped chocolate. Stir until all chocolate pieces are melted. Cool slightly. Place cake circles on cooling rack placed on top of a pan (to catch drippings). Pour glaze over cakes, being careful to fully cover top and sides.
• Place in refrigerator to harden. Once set, take spatula and carefully remove circles. Place on papered sheet pan. Roll out marzipan and cut it into a 3/4-inch wide strip. Cut a decorative design on 1 side (like waves or triangles). Wrap the strip, straight side on the bottom around the base of each glazed cake circle.
• Place cake circle in center of dessert plate. Pour reduced cool sauce around cake enough to coat plate nicely. Place Dipped Poached Pear in center on top of cake. If desired, take edible gold leaf and place in increments around cake on sauce.
• Mix together puree, liqueur, and sugar. Pour into saucepan. Set aside.
• Peel pears, core out from bottom of pear using melon baller. Careful not to break or split the sides of the pear. Slice bottom of pear, to enable pear to stand straight up. Place pears standing up in puree mixture. Bring to boil, reduce heat to a simmer. Cover with aluminum foil, poach until tender, approximately 8 to 10 minutes, depending on ripeness of pears.
• Remove pears from liquid and place on cooling rack. Remove poaching liquid from stove and cool.
• Once liquid is cold, place pears back into liquid and store, covered in refrigerator over night.
• Remove pears from liquid (reserve liquid for later use). Place on cooling rack to drain.
• Melt chocolate in bowl over a pan of simmering water. Once pears have drained, pat dry, and dip into the melted chocolate, approximately 1-inch up base of pear. Place on waxed paper to set chocolate.
• Place cooking liquid back into a saucepan, and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Continue to simmer, reducing liquid to sauce consistency. Remove from stove and cool.

CHOCOLATE DECADENCE BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to temperature indicated on cake mix box for a bundt pan. (approx 350-375 degrees F)
• 2. Make cake according to box directions, although I substitute 1 cup chocolate milk (I make my own with whole milk and chocolate syrup to taste!) for the 1 cup water the cake mix calls for. Add pudding mix powder (do not make pudding) to cake mix. Stir with a wooden spoon until smooth, and repeat with sour cream. Fold in chocolate chips.
• 3. Pour into a greased bundt pan. Bake for 45 mins. Cake may rise higher than pan while baking, but will fall slightly when taken out of the hot pan.
• 4. ****Cake is delicious served warm with a dusting of powdered sugar (my ex-MIL's favorite), a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. If refrigerated overnight, you will have a dense, sinfully rich, well-chilled cake with a consistency similar to a cheesecake the next day! Trust me.. It's well worth the wait!