Rich & Luscious Dark Chocolate Desserts

Updated May 06, 2020

Dark. Indulgent. Deeply satisfying. Chocolate is such a rich treat, it seems too good to be true that it could actually have health benefits. Indeed, studies suggest that eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate may help improve heart health, lower blood pressure, reduce diabetes risk and boost mental sharpness. You can feel good about indulging in these healthy dark chocolate recipes.

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Chocolate Soufflés

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Soufflés are easier to make than anyone thinks and you can do everything–except bake them–up to three days in advance. These chocolate soufflés are impossibly light but wildly flavorful. The batter contains a small amount of rice flour, which is more delicate than wheat flour and won't dull the chocolate flavor (that also means it's gluten-free). Friends and family should be ready so that you can serve the soufflés directly from the oven.

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Chocolate Polvorones (Mexican Wedding Cookies)

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These melt-in-your-mouth polvorones (Mexican wedding cookies) get a chocolate makeover by replacing all the nuts in the traditional version with ground chocolate. Addictive just as they are, along with the dusting of powdered sugar, you can also grate a little cinnamon stick over them before serving.

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Queen of Sheba Cake

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This Queen of Sheba cake, a French classic, gets a minor update with less sugar and butter and a whisper of flaky sea salt on top–all of which lets the flavor of a special chocolate shine. Whipping a greater portion of the sugar into the egg whites makes them harder to overbeat and creates a pleasing crust on top that contrasts with the moist and creamy interior. The whipped cream is optional but we highly recommend it.

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Gluten-Free Fudgy Teff Brownies

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Whole-grain teff flour (made from a tiny ancient grain) has a nuance of cocoa flavor to start with, making it a natural choice for brownies. These gluten-free brownies are moist and satisfying, intensely chocolaty and have a tender texture.

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Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles

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Looking for a fun cooking project to do with kids? Homemade dark chocolate truffles might end the hunt! In this easy vegan dessert recipe, we make a chocolate ganache filling with peanut butter and coconut milk instead of heavy cream. Make chocolate bark with the leftover chocolate and wrap it up together with a few truffles for a beautiful edible gift.

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Red Wine Chocolate Lava Cakes

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These perfectly portioned molten cupcakes combine two of your favorite things–red wine and chocolate. When cut open, this easy yet decadent dessert oozes with a gooey chocolate center that pairs perfectly with the wine-and-chocolate ganache drizzled on top.

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Chocolate-Covered Prosecco Strawberries

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Turn strawberries into a bite-size cocktail in this easy, festive recipe. Just soak the fruit in prosecco or your favorite wine overnight before dipping in chocolate for a classic treat with a boozy upgrade everyone will love.

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Chocolate Nut Bark

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This is a great recipe that's too easy not to try. With just two ingredients, go ahead and splurge on your favorite combination of nuts to make this quick and easy chocolate nut bark.

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Orange Chocolate Tart

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This healthy chocolate tart recipe is topped with homemade candied orange peel infused with cinnamon. For the crust, whole wheat flour and cocoa powder are combined and held together with eggs. To give the tart a kick, cinnamon simple syrup is added to the chocolate filling. You can use store-bought candied orange peel and plain simple syrup in the filling to streamline the recipe. Serve room temperature.

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Red Chile-Spiked Chocolate Mousse

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The idea of chile with chocolate still surprises most people, but the duo pairs beautifully in many chocolate desserts. In this silky, luxurious mousse the chile adds a light but bright accent.

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Chocolate Souffle

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Soufflés may look like a restaurant-only dessert, but they are actually easy to make. Whip them up right after dinner and enjoy while they're still warm from the oven.

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Chocolate Fondue

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The chocolate will stiffen if it gets cold, so enjoy it while it's still warm. Skewer and dip anything you like–pear slices, dried apricots, even marshmallows.

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Mini Molten Chocolate Cakes with Mocha Sauce

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Some molten cake recipes call for simply underbaking the batter so the middles stay lava-like, but mini cakes get done so quickly it's best to give them a filling that won't set up. These rich, mocha-flavored morsels are guaranteed to stay moist and gooey, owing to a simple mocha ganache in the middle. Serve the cakes with a scoop of low-fat coffee ice cream and garnish with a chocolate-covered espresso bean, or drizzle it with caramel sauce.

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Coconut-Dark Chocolate Truffles

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Coconut macaroons meet dark chocolate truffles in these little treats. Inside the snap of the dark chocolate shell lies the tender coconut-cocoa filling: a mix of naturally sweet dates, cocoa and coconut flour. Coconut flour instead of melted coconut oil is a healthy way to add a decadent coconut flavor to this coconut-dark chocolate truffle recipe. It packs a whopping 5 grams of fiber per 2 tablespoons (with only 2 grams of total and saturated fat). Look for coconut flour near other gluten-free flours.

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Bourbon Hot Cocoa

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Chocolate and bourbon? Say no more. Make this delicious hot chocolate recipe from scratch on a cold winter day.

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