Dressing Up Dessert With Chocolate

One of my favorite ways to dress up desserts is to add chocolate. Who doesn't like chocolate? {Well actually my youngests child doesn't like chocolate but he's crazy. (:} Adding chocolate not only adds that extra special touch to make your treats look Fabulous, but it tastes great too!!

Here are a few of my go to teats that I like to use on my dessert tables.

Brownie Bites These are tastey on their own but when you add that little extra piece of chocolate it takes them to whole new level! Trust me when I say that your guests will LOVE them. The best part it that is so easy to do. Just melt some chocolate in a plastic bag, squeeze it into a chocolate mold, freeze the chocolate for 5 mins then attach them to the brownies with a little extra melted chocolate.

Chocolate Dipped Cookies Make a batch of cookies and dip half in chocolate. Such a quick and easy way to add some delicious color to your table.

Chocolate Covered Marshmallows  These are so simple but they add such a great pop of color to your table. I like to dip my marshmallows in colored chocolate then dip them in colored sprinkles. The sprinkles really make the color come alive.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries  These are not only delicious, but they are beautiful too. They add a touch of elegance to your table. The key to making your strawberries look like you spent a fortune on them is adding the drizzle. I dip my strawberries in the store bought container of dipping chocolate and let them firm up. Then I drizzle a second color over the top. To add the drizzle simply melt the chocolate in a plastic bag, cut a teeny, tiny hole in the corner and drizzle. {I like to practice drizzling on a paper towl first until I get my rhythem down.} Your guests will be AMAZED when you say you made them!

Four delicious ways to dress up your desserts. Which one will you try first?

Semi Homemade Chocolate Filled Cupcakes with Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting

Last week I shared my two favorite semi homemade lemon cupcakes. This week I am sharing my favorite semi homemade chocolate cupcake recipes inspired by a recipe I found in mixingbowl.com. They are sure to be more crowd pleasers!

Chocolate Vanilla Filled Cupcakes with

Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting

What you need: a box of milk chocolate cake mix, unsweetened baking cocoa, vanilla, large box of vanilla instant pudding, vanilla bean paste, 8oz heavy whipping cream, 8oz sour cream, small bag of chocolate chips {2 cups}, stick of butter, 4 cups powdered sugar

Mix your cake mix according to the directions on the box. Add 2T unsweetened cocoa and 1t vanilla. Bake according to the box. Remember the key to a tasty cupcake is that it is not over baked. So I like to check mine at 16 minutes.

While your cupcakes are baking it's time to make the pudding. You will substitute one cup of milk for one cup of heavy whipping cream and add 1T vanilla bean paste. {I highly recommend the vanilla bean paste, but if you don't have a baking supply near by you can substitute vanilla} After the pudding is set, scoop it into a Ziploc bag.

Once your cupcakes are cooled, you will need to make a hole in the middle and fill it with the pudding. If you want to make them look a little fancier, cut them in thirds, swirl a layer of pudding on each layer then place the top back on.

Last but not least, the FROSTING!!! Like I've said, this is my favorite frosting. :)

Melt the butter and chocolate chips in a sauce pan and let cool for 5 minutes. Then, stir in the sour cream. Poor into a mixing bowl and slowly mix in the powdered sugar. Spoon into a Ziploc bag, cut off the corner and swirl on to your cupcakes. This is a great frosting for parties because it doesn't melt! Pop them in the fridge for 20 mins before your party then you can set them out on your dessert table and they will stay beautiful!!

 

Chocolate Raspberry Filled Cupcakes with

Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting

Want a quick and easy alternative to the vanilla pudding? Use Raspberry Jam!

Follow all the same steps just substitute the pudding for seedless raspberry jam. Who doesn't love chocolate and raspberry?

That's it! Two more DELICIOUS semi homemade cupcakes that your guests will love!