Chocolate

Dark Chocolate Truffles

What do you do with a bit of leftover dark chocolate ganache? Make Dark Chocolate Truffles, of course! You can make these truffles in a snap and they make wonderful hostess gifts and they are also great additions to a cookie plate. Besides, they are fun to make and a great activity if you have children helping in the kitchen. There is no complicated tempered chocolate dipping with this recipe – the outside of the truffles are covered easily in Chocolate Vermicelli. Anyone can make these – give them a try!

: Truffles are easy to make

A ganache filling can be used for many things, including making truffles. Other uses include top brownies or squares; layer in between a crumb crust; sandwich in between cookies or macaroons. I have used ganache to coat a cake and spread on a cake as a frosting. In other words, ganache is extremely versatile, so making a little extra is a good thing. You can freeze ganache in an airtight container or an airtight sealed bag using a food sealer.

: Closeup of Chocolate Vermicelli Coating

…

An Irresistible Valentine

By Denise Pare-Watson

featuring a recipe for

Chocolate Walnut Financier – a Gluten Free, Grain Free tiny cake

It is Valentine time: With February comes Saint Valentine’s Day and with the 14th coming our way, we immediately think of family and friends who are near and dear to us. It gives us a reason to unabashedly buy a mushy card rather than a humorous one. It is a month of new beginnings with the promise of spring’s arrival. In some areas, we will notice the first tiny crocus popping its head from the sleeping gardens, with some even peeking from a snowy blanket. In keeping with Valentine’s Day and my objective to provide you with useful, simple and delicious things to make and eat, I have developed the following irresistible Valentine recipe so you can impress your family and friends.

This is my version of a classic French tea cake, the Financier. It is a winner. According to history, this tiny Parisian cake became popular in the financial district of Paris. In order to impress the high rolling bankers, the restaurants made the cakes in the shape of tiny gold bars.

Traditionally, financier cakes are made using almond meal (ground almonds), but other nuts can be substituted. The flour is replaced by cocoa in this gluten-free version to create beautiful, dark, and delicious miniature cakes. This treat with its chocolate-walnut combination is sure to delight your loved ones on Valentine’s Day and any other day, as well.

…

Urbnspice Chocolate Desserts Cookbook Series

By Denise Pare-Watson

Do you love Chocolate? Me, too! So much so that I decided to write a book (or two) all about chocolate. Did you know that UrbnSpice has a Cookbook Series of four cookbooks called, Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious, including one dedicated entirely to Gluten Free Chocolate Desserts?

UrbnSpice Chocolate Desserts Cookbook Series

The books are all about Chocolate Desserts and have just about every dessert imaginable. I have covered everything from cookies, to squares to elegant chocolate desserts. There are Learning Tips included in my recipes, as well as variations of the recipes to create additional desserts under the headings, “What Else Can I Do With This Recipe?” Here are the names of the Volumes:

Book One – Cakes

Book Two – Cookies, Brownies and Squares

Book Three – Pies and Tarts

Book Four – Gluten Free Chocolate Desserts

The series is called “Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious.” I am quite proud of these books – it was a bucket list goal to write a cookbook after slowing down a bit from an amazing career as a pastry chef and chef.

Click here to find out more information.

Yours, in all things chocolate!

Denise Paré-Watson

The Urbnspice Chef

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter and check out what’s happening on Pinterest

Here are the links:

Email: urbnspice@gmail.com

Website: Urbnspice

Author Page: Denise’s Author Page

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Urbnspice

Twitter: https://twitter.com/urbnspice

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/urbnspice/

About me: http://about.me/urbnspice/#

Facebook: I Love Chocolate page

Crumb Truffles! A Journey in Gluten Free Recipe Development

By Denise Pare-Watson

What are Crumb Truffles? I have a little story and words of encouragement for you if you have ever tried to develop or follow a recipe and it did not go exactly as planned. Follow me as I tell you about my journey in Gluten Free Recipe Development.

Truffles as part of a Mignardise plate

CRUMB TRUFFLES!

A Word of Encouragement

In every journey, there a few tumbles.

Recently, the Urb’n’Spice kitchen is a hive of activity testing for a new cookbook in the series,

“Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious”.

This book is a little different in that all of the recipes are gluten-free

– and all chocolate.

In gluten-free baking, we can expect

that there is the possibility of, shall we say, “interesting” results.

I have had more than my share of fiascos during the research,

testing and tasting for this book.

My words of advice:

Do not let disappointing results discourage you!

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!

In other words, if your gluten-free baking experiments

Inadvertently provide you with more crumbs

than you can think of ways to use them,

Make CRUMB TRUFFLES!

Crumb Truffles!

That is exactly what I did!

And, they were a hit!

The Formula:

Place the crumbs in a mixer with a paddle attachment

Add any chocolate ganache (roughly 4 to 1 ratio)

(this is why it is great to make a little extra ganache)

If it is a little too sticky, add more crumbs. A little dry? Add a bit more ganache.

Mix until it becomes friendly – a nice moldable dough of sorts.

Use a small cookie scoop. Roll into balls. Chill until firm.

Roll the chilled balls into Chocolate Dip

(or tempered chocolate for my pastry chef colleagues)

Decorate the truffles, if you want with a little chopped chocolate,

chocolate jimmies,

or, as in the photo, a little chocolate caviar!

A medley of Crumb Truffles

Crumb Truffles! Share! Enjoy!

“Nobody knows the truffles I’ve seen”

LEARNING TIPS:

Please CLICK the link above to access my UrbnSpice LEARNING TIPS, which are listed alphabetically on the Learning Tips blog post under the following subheadings:

Cream
Ganache
Perseverance
Vanilla Extract
__________

More like this:

Dark Chocolate Truffles by Urb’n’Spice

A Unique Cheesecake: Double Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake with Chocolate Pecan Crust

How to Make Decadent Dark Chocolate Tart

Chocolate Almond Torte

Want More Chocolate?

Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious – Gluten-Free Chocolate Desserts

A Sneak Peek at Volume Four – Gluten Free Chocolate Desserts

By Denise Pare-Watson

Here is a little more information about Volume Four in the UrbnSpice Chocolate Desserts Cookbook Series called, Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious – Volume 4 – Gluten Free Chocolate Desserts! This is a book chock full of gluten-free chocolate recipes.

Quadruple Chocolate Brownie – Gluten Free

This book was awesome to create a final addition to my cookbook series. I actually had not planned on writing a fourth book. This book was created because of the many requests that I received from readers who wondered if I could also write a gluten-free dessert book. I am so glad that I did! This is definitely a book all about Gluten-Free Desserts.

I have taken the most popular recipes from the first three volumes and recreated the recipes into gluten-free chocolate desserts. Here are just a few of the items that you can expect to see in this book:

There are:

Fourteen recipes for Chocolate Gluten Free Cookies, including the famous Ultimate Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie;

Chocolate Pecan Cookies and Gluten Free Chocolate Pecan Cookies from the cookbook series

Five recipes for Chocolate Gluten Free Brownies & Squares, including UrbnSpice’s Quadruple Chocolate Gluten Free Brownies;

From the Cookbook Series: Gluten and Gluten-Free Quadruple Chocolate Brownies

Twelve Recipes for Chocolate Gluten Free Cakes, including Milk Chocolate Torte with Almond Praline Layer; your search for gluten-free chocolate cakes is answered.
Milk Chocolate Almond Torte with Praline Layer Crust from Gluten Free Chocolate Desserts
Eleven Recipes for Chocolate Gluten Free Tarts & Tartlets, including White Chocolate and Lemon Curd Tart;
White Chocolate Lemon Curd Tart from Gluten Free Chocolate Desserts Cookbook | urbnspice.com
Fourteen Recipes for Bases and Crusts Recipes section that you will need to make my recipes. These include rolled crusts, pressed-in crusts for those of you who have the ‘fear of crusts’ dilemma, and crumb crusts – all gluten-free! Many readers have asked me for gluten-free pie crusts and tart crusts – I have got you covered. There are even recipes for Graham Wafer Gluten Free Crust and Vanilla Gluten Free Wafer Cookies. This was a gluten-free item that I knew was difficult to find in the grocery store so I created a recipe for you! They are delicious on their own as a cookie and ideal as a crust for the recipes in the book.
Graham Wafer Gluten Free Cookies

Vanilla Gluten Free Wafers

I have also provided an entire section on Fillings, Toppings & Sauces, to complete your chocolate desserts. These include How to Make a Raspberry Coulis, White and Dark Chocolate Sauces, Cookie and Cake Fillings, and even a custom Spice Blend.

Gluten Free Chocolate Desserts

Here are a few additional photos from UrbnSpice’s Gluten Free Chocolate Desserts Cookbook:

From the Cookbook Series: Gluten and Gluten-Free Quadruple Chocolate Brownies

Chocolate Macaroon Medley | urbnspice.com

Chocolate Macaroon Medley – gluten free

Gluten Free Chocolate Caramel Molten Cake

Gluten Free Chocolate Souffle

There are so many more photographs to show you in the book and just a little bit of space.

I am very excited to share the following recipes with you. If you have tried any of the recipes on my site, please let me know. The Urbnspice Chef wants to hear from you! Here are a few of the Gluten Free Chocolate Dessert recipes for you to try:

White Chocolate and Lemon Curd Tart – an elegant dessert

Milk Chocolate Torte with Almond Praline Crust

If you have a copy of my Gluten Free Chocolate Desserts book, please leave me a comment or a review on Amazon.

Chocolate Gnocchi, anyone?

By Denise Pare-Watson

Chocolate Gnocchi? Why?

I had to think of an Italian themed dessert bite for an event this week – isn’t this fun?

I thought I would share. It is like having a tootsie roll – only it’s a cookie!

I show you how to make these by using my recipe for Chocolate Caramel Cookie dough

Chocolate Gnocchi, Anyone? You can make it from Cookie Dough.

Chocolate Gnocchi, anyone?

“Make a list of important things to do today.

At the top of your list, put “eat chocolate.”

Now, you’ll get at least one thing done today.”
— Gina Hayes

METHOD:

Use my recipe for Caramel Cookies for this gnocchi. You will find the recipe for Chocolate Caramel Cookies here in the post called Chocolate and the Oscars.
Follow the recipe for the chocolate cookie dough, omitting the caramel centres.
Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes.
Take small amounts of the cookie dough and roll it into thin snakes or skinny logs.
Cut the snakes into pieces that resemble pillow-like shapes, just like gnocchi. Place the pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Chill the cookies again for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350^oF (175^oC) or 325^oF, if using a convection oven.
Bake them on a parchment lined sheet for 5 – 7 minutes. Cool.
Toss with a little chocolate sauce and sprinkled with chopped pecans. And Voila! Chocolate Gnocchi. Bet your guests never had anything like this before!

This recipe for Caramel Chocolate Cookies is from my second book, called Chocolate Cookies, Brownies and Squares from UrbnSpice’s Chocolate Desserts Cookbook Series

As always, if you give this recipe for Chocolate Caramel Cookies a try, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback.

You can find me on social media – just be sure to tag @urbnspice and #urbnspice so I am sure to see it. Enjoy!

Denise Paré-Watson

The Urbnspice Chef

Follow me on Social Media:

Urbnspice Facebook Page

Urbnspice is on Twitter

You will find lots of fun boards on Pinterest

I am also on Instagram

Chocolate Cookies, Brownies and Squares – A New E-Book!

By Denise Pare-Watson

Announcing the Newest Volume in the Series,

“Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious – Chocolate Cookies, Brownies and Squares is here!

Nothing says “home, family and friends” like Chocolate Cookies, Brownies and Squares.

I have been busy working with new and conventional recipes that we all remember as children and perfecting them to a point where they are simple and easy to utilize, whether at home or at work.

The feedback and comments that I have received from my first book, “Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious – Cakes”, has been extremely gratifying. It has been a significant motivating factor with respect to writing this new book, “Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious – Cookies, Brownies and Squares”.

From the Cookbook Series: Gluten and Gluten-Free Quadruple Chocolate Brownies

Your feedback has demonstrated to me that home bakers truly appreciate a quality recipe that is simple to follow, tried, true, tested and tasted. You also indicated from your feedback that you enjoyed the additional information (Learning Tips, Definitions & Explanations) that I provided in the book as to how to make your baking experience easier and more fulfilling. After all, this book is all about making you a hero!

Once again, I have taken my favourite, most delicious and easiest to produce chocolate cookie, brownie and square recipes and have provided them for your enjoyment. Take a look and tell me what you think!

From UrbnSpice’s Cookbook Series called, “Chocolate Desserts Made Easy & Delicious:

Chocolate Cookies, Brownies and Squares

CLICK THE BOOK COVER BELOW!

Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious – Cookies, Brownies & Squares

There are ten different Brownie recipes in this book, including:

Ultimate Quadruple Chocolate Brownies

From the Cookbook Series: Gluten and Gluten-Free Quadruple Chocolate Brownies

There are Thirty Cookie Recipes in the book.

Here is one of them:

Chocolate and Oat Cookies with a Creamy Filling

There are Ten Recipes for Squares and Bars in the book.

Here is one of them:

Buttertart Squares with Chocolate

There are also sections in this book covering recipes for:

Bases, Fillings and Glazes

Learning Tips

Definitions and Explanations

*****

“Never, ever refuse homemade brownies”

UrbnSpice

This book will be your go-to reference cookbook for Cookies, Brownies and Squares. I am excited about this book. I know you will be, too.

Happy Baking with Cookies, Brownies and Squares, everyone!

Denise Pare-Watson

The UrbnSpice Chef

Here is further information on UrbnSpice’s Other Books:

Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious Series of Cookbooks

Here is one of Amazon’s Top Reviewers Had to say about this book:

Top Customer Reviews

Chocolate! Need Any More Be Said?

ByGrandmaTOP 500 REVIEWERon March 16, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Those of you who follow my cookbook reviews know that it is a very hard thing to get a five-star review from me. Denise Paré-Watson hits every one of the marks with her latest, Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious – Cookies, Brownies & Squares. The book is very nicely formatted and features an interactive Table of Contents that interfaces with the Kindle Navigation menu correctly. It is patently obvious that Denise knows of what she writes as she shares her expertise with the reader in more than fifty recipes for various bites of chocolate heaven.

Denise presents recipes that range from Black & White Chocolate Chips to definitely drool-worthy Quadruple Chocolate Brownies (the picture alone of that one is enough to make me gain a pound!!) and not just one but two different recipes for Chocolate Wafers – the crisp thin kind you use for Chocolate Icebox Cake and the softer kind that you use for Ice Cream Sandwiches. Each and every recipe is accompanied by a thorough description, detailed directions and often suggestion for a number of variations, storage and so on. The book includes both standard and metric measurements as well as pictures of most items. This is, without a doubt, a chocolate cookie baking primer!

If you love chocolate, this book’s for you.

Highly recommended!

You can find me on social media (see links below) – just be sure to tag @urbnspice and #urbnspice so I am sure to see it. Enjoy!

Denise Paré-Watson

The Urbnspice Chef

Follow me on Social Media

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

Chocolate and The Oscars – A Winning Combination!

By Denise Pare-Watson

And the Winner Is:…………..CHOCOLATE CARAMEL COOKIES

I am lucky enough to have many friends who love chocolate and caramel as much as I do. We have been inundated with chocolate around the Urbnspice Kitchen for several weeks with the launch of two cookbooks. With the Oscars being the focus on the entertainment of the evening, making some very special cookies seem to go hand in hand with the celebrations.

I am reminded of a quote by Forrest Gump, where he stated, “Life is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get!”

We don’t know what the outcome of the Oscars will be, but we can anticipate that it will be exciting, confirming and surprising. To follow that theme, I want to share with you a very special surprise cookie from our latest book, “Chocolate Desserts Made Easy and Delicious – Cookies, Brownies and Squares”. As far as we are concerned, these cookies are already winners around here. What will you be surprised with while watching the Oscars?

Chocolate Caramel Cookies

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL COOKIES

CHEF TALK: This is a cookie with a surprise inside! The fudge-like exterior hides a decadent ooey-gooey melted caramel. This is a great cookie to make with children. Serve with slices of watermelon for a great summertime treat. The cookies freeze very well.

Makes: Approximately 80 tiny cookies or 40 larger cookies

INGREDIENTS:

4 oz. bittersweet (70%) chocolate, chopped (120 g)
3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (180 g)
1 cup granulated sugar (210 g)
2 eggs, large
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (15 ml)
2 cups all-purpose flour (300 g)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (45 g)
1 teaspoon baking powder (4 g)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda (4 g)
1/2 teaspoon salt (4 g)
3 chocolate covered caramel bars (each 52 g), chilled Or: 24 – 40 soft caramels

METHOD:

Preheat the oven to 350^oF (175^oC) or 325^oF, if using a convection oven.
In a bowl, over a saucepan of barely simmering water (bain-marie), melt the chopped chocolate, stirring until fully melted. Let cool.
For the filling: break the chocolate bar into equalized sections and chill until needed.
If you are using soft caramels, remove the wrappers and cut them in half. Set aside.
With a mixer, using a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Scrape the mixing bowl with a spatula, and add the eggs and pure vanilla extract. Blend until smooth.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix on low speed until well blended.
Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes or until it is firm enough to shape. When the dough has sufficiently chilled to handle, roll the dough into 1 inch balls (about 1 tablespoon).
Flatten and place one piece of the chocolate bar (or one caramel) into the centre and seal the dough around the chocolate. For tiny cookies (about 1 teaspoon), use one-half of a caramel. Re-roll the cookie in your hands, if necessary, into a nice, round ball.
Place seam side down, onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Do not flatten the cookie.
Bake for 7 – 9 minutes, depending on the size you make the cookie. Be careful not to over bake – it is better to bake until truffle-like.

Chocolate Caramel Cookies – A Truffle Cookie with a Caramel Interior

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL COOKIES

NOTES:

CHEF TIP: Removing the wrappers from soft caramels is much easier if you freeze them for 30 minutes. Unwrap the caramels while they are frozen.
Variation: Top the cookies with a chocolate ganache for presentation.

LEARNING TIPS:

Please CLICK the link above to access my UrbnSpice LEARNING TIPS, which are listed alphabetically on the Learning Tips blog post under the following subheadings:

Bain Marie
Cocoa Powder
Creaming
Extracts
Ganache
Oven Temperature Accuracy
Parchment Paper
Scoops
__________

You Might Also Like:

Mini Cheesecakes – White Chocolate with a Gluten Free Crust

UrbnSpice Cookbook Series

How to Make a Meringue Nest

If you try my recipe for Chocolate Caramel Cookies, please leave me a comment below with your feedback.

You can find me on social media (see links below) – just be sure to tag @urbnspice and #urbnspice so I am sure to see it. Enjoy!

Denise Paré-Watson

The Urbnspice Chef

Follow me on Social Media

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

Chocolate quotes

By Denise Pare-Watson

Chocolate Quotes

Everyone knows that the UrbnSpice Chef loves chocolate –

so, this post is dedicated entirely to just chocolate quotes.

I will revisit this page from time to time and add a few more chocolate quotes.

It is surprising how many quotes pertain to chocolate – one of my favourite subjects.

Let’s have some fun with this!

To start here is one of my own quotes:

*****

“Never, ever refuse homemade Brownies”

UrbnSpice

*****

“What is life without chocolate”

*****

“When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.”

Regina Brett, 90 years old

*****

Double Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake | urbnspice.com

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”

Charles M. Schulz

*****

“I’ve always got a sweet tooth. I have chocolate hidden in places that nobody knows about.”

Tony McCoy

*****

“Every meal should end with something sweet.

Maybe it’s jelly on toast at breakfast or a small piece of chocolate at dinner

– but it always helps my brain bring a close to the meal.”

Robert Irvine

*****

“Let’s face it, a nice creamy chocolate cake does a lot for a lot of people; it does for me.”

Audrey Hepburn

*****

“After about 20 years of marriage, I’m finally starting to scratch the surface of what women want.

And I think the answer lies somewhere between conversation and chocolate.”

Mel Gibson

*****

Chocolate Intelligence

“Your hand and your mouth agreed

many years ago that,

as far as chocolate is concerned,

there is no need to involve your brain.”

Dave Barry

Dave Barry is a humour columnist.

He also loves chocolate!

*****

“Did you hear that Chocoholics Anonymous has been disbanded?

No one wanted to quit!”

Anonymous Chocoholic

*****

Chocolate and First Dates

“Why is Chocolate like a first date?

The quality of the end result has everything to do with the product going in!”

Anonymous Chocoholic

*****

“The bank of friendship cannot exist for long without deposits of chocolate.”

Anonymous

*****

“I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process….

It may not be true, but do I dare take the chance?”

— Author Unknown

*****

“We are indeed much more than what we eat,

but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are.”

—-Adelle Davis

Author and nutritionist

******

Vince Lombardi said,

“Winning isn’t everything – it is the ONLY thing.”

Chocoholics say,

“Chocolate isn’t everything – it IS the only thing.”

******

Chocoholics and Stock Investors

“Why are Chocoholics like Stock Investors?

They keep coming back for more!”

Anonymous Chocoholic

******

Other Urb’n’Spice Posts that you might enjoy:

Chocolate Truffles

Rainy Days and Sunshine (And Chocolate Covered Strawberries)

More about UrbnSpice and Chocolate:

Urbnspice Chocolate Desserts Cookbook Series

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License Abstract:	You may read the original content in the context in which it is published (at this web address). You may make other uses of the content only with the written permission of the author on payment of a fee.

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