Taste of Home - Taste of Home Chocolate Delights: 201 brownies, truffles, cakes and more

A TASTE OF HOME/READERS DIGEST BOOK

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EDITORIAL

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Test Cooks: Nicholas Iverson (Lead), Matthew Hass, Lauren Knoelke

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Set Stylists: Melissa Franco, Stacey Genaw, Dee Dee Jacq

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Editor, Taste of Home : Jeanne Ambrose

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International Standard Book Number: 978-1-61765-496-1

Cover Photographer: Dan Roberts

Set Stylist: Dee Dee Jacq

Food Stylist: Shannon Roum

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When its time for dessert, one word comes to mindchocolate. Theres so much to love about this favorite treat, and Taste of Home Chocolate Delights offers 201 ways to enjoy it!

From cupcakes to brownies and from cake pops to truffles, the recipes found here offer chocolate in all its gloryincluding cheesecakes, cookies, trifles, sauces and more.

Chocolate comes from cocoa beans, which are processed to produce cocoa powder, cocoa butter and chocolate liquor. Chocolate liquor is simply the liquid thats created when the meat of the cocoa bean nibs are crushed. Heres the chocolaty difference in popular baking ingredients:

BAKING COCOA is a powdery residue that remains after the cocoa butter is removed from the chocolate liquor. Dutch-processed cocoa has been treated during processing with an alkalizing agent, which produces a smoother flavor and darker color than untreated baking cocoa.

CANDY COATING is not considered true chocolate because it uses other vegetable fats instead of cocoa butter. Candy coatings come in a variety of flavors, and are used mainly as a coating on cookies, fruits or nuts, or in candy-making.

CHOCOLATE CHIPS are available in standard, miniature and larger chunk sizes. Chocolate chips come in a variety of flavors, including semisweet, milk, and vanilla or white.

CHOCOLATE SYRUP is a liquid made from cocoa, corn syrup and flavorings.

GERMAN SWEET CHOCOLATE comes in a bar and is a sweeter chocolate than semisweet.

MILK CHOCOLATE contains cocoa butter, sugar, vanilla, chocolate liquor and 12% milk solids. Its sold as chips and candy bars.

SEMISWEET AND BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE are sometimes used interchangeably in cooking. However, bittersweet chocolate is less sweet than semisweet chocolate. Semisweet chocolate is made with chocolate liquor, additional cocoa butter, sugar and vanilla. Its sold as chips, in packages of 1-ounce squares, and as candy bars.

UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE may also be called baking chocolate. Its solidified chocolate liquor and does not contain sugar. Its available in 1-ounce squares.

WHITE CHOCOLATE is not a true chocolate because it does not contain chocolate liquor. White chocolate is made with cocoa butter, sugar, milk solids and vanilla. Its available in packages of chips and 1-ounce squares.

I like to use all sorts of different marshmallow shapes and flavors to mix this recipe up a bit. These fun sticks are quite popular at our local bake sales.

TERI RASEY CADILLAC, MI

2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

3 teaspoons shortening, divided

36 lollipop sticks

1 package (10 ounces) large marshmallows (about 36)

1/2 cup white baking chips

Optional toppings: assorted nonpareils, colored sugars, small or crushed candies and flaked coconut

In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and 2 teaspoons shortening; stir until smooth.

Insert one lollipop stick into each marshmallow. Dip marshmallows in melted chocolate, turning to coat; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper.

In a microwave, melt white baking chips with remaining shortening; drizzle over chocolate. Decorate with toppings if desired. Let stand until set.