Simple Essentials: Chocolate

These chocolate treats are sure to have everyone angling to lick the spoon. With over 170 recipes, we’ve got all your chocolate cravings covered. There are recipes to keep your cookie jar chock full, afternoon-tea delights, tasty lunchbox sweeties, special celebration cakes, elegant desserts to wow your guests and lots more.

Sample Recipes, Simple Essentials Chocolate. Copyright © by Donna Hay.

CHOCOLATE SORBET

Serves 4

Ingredients:

5 cups (1¼L/2 pints) water
1½ cups (260g/9 oz) brown sugar
1 cup (220g/7¾ oz) caster (superfine) sugar
11/3 cups (160g/5½ oz) cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon salt
220g (7¾ oz) dark chocolate, finely chopped
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions:

Place the water, brown sugar, sugar, cocoa and salt in a saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve sugars. Remove from heat, stir through chocolate until smooth. Pour through a fine strainer into a bowl, stir through vanilla and set aside to cool slightly. Transfer mixture into an ice-cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions.

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CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Makes 35

Ingredients:

400g (14 oz) dark chocolate, finely chopped
¾ cup (180ml/6 fl oz) (single or pouring) cream
cocoa powder, sifted for dusting

Instructions:

Place the chocolate and cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Pour the chocolate mixture into a 15 x 18cm (6 x 7 in) dish lined with non-stick baking paper. Place in the refrigerator for 2−3 hours or until set. Roll tablespoons of the mixture into balls and dust with the cocoa to serve.