Chocolate

10 sweet raspberry recipes

Summer raspberries are at their juicy best from June, with autumn varieties ripening into September. These bite-sized berries are the perfect combination of sweet and tart, and there are so many ways to celebrate them.

6 tasty ways to use veg in your cake recipes

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How to make chocolate brownies

These Jamie Oliver brownies can be whipped up in under an hour, and they are great on their own or with toppings – vanilla ice cream, toffee popcorn and toasted nuts are all great, but go mad and try any combo you can think of! The trick is to trust your oven and leave to cool completely before before slicing for that amazing crisp outside and gooey middle. Heaven!

Chocolate and beer: a sweet surprise

It’s fair to say that as we stood in Rococo’s latest chocolate shop in Marylebone there was some scepticism in the air. No one had ever matched beer and chocolate before. When you're hankering for something sweet, reaching for a beer to go with it feels counter intuitive.

Ultimate Easter feast: flourless chocolate cake

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No-bake vegan chocolate fudge bars

Being restricted in what you can eat can leave you in an unimaginative and unhealthy rut. If you suffer from coeliac disease or avoid a food for ethical reasons, it’s easy to build up a list of safe foods and never try anything new. Unfamiliar foods can fill people on special diets with fear – all those ingredients on the back of pack that you can’t pronounce tend to put you off. So what’s the solution? Make them yourself!

Getting creative with chocolate truffles

A little bit of planning ahead is required (by way of shopping for a few ingredients and a little preparation time) but I promise that making your own chocolate truffles, and adding some bespoke flavourings to step them up, will go down a treat.

A magnificent mocha with salted caramel

The basic mocha derived its name from the eponymous port in modern-day Yemen. The coffee beans that originated from there - famous for their deep, natural cocoa flavour - were so sought-after by the rest of the world that Europeans began putting chocolate in their own inferior brews, trying to replicate the taste and aroma of the original Mocha bean; and so the caffè mocha as we know it was born.

Beautiful homemade chocolate bark

You don’t need a recipe, or even to measure any ingredients, to make gorgeous chocolate bark – it's about getting creative and using your favourite flavours and textures. The only thing to remember is that roughly 600g of chocolate will cover a large baking sheet.

Three delicious dairy-free ways with chocolate

How to make a chocolate Easter egg

Forget forking out for a mass-produced branded egg, all you need is some quality chocolate and a mould, which you can pick up online or at some larger supermarkets. Use the best quality chocolate you can afford (at least 80% cocoa solids) to really make all the difference. The amount you’ll need will depend on the size of your mould, which should come with instructions to guide you.

Recipes to use up leftover chocolate

Rather than consign them to the back of the cupboard, why not turn your chocolatey treats into delicious cakes and bakes instead? Here are six of our favourite chocolate-inspired recipes.

Homemade vegan Easter eggs

These vegan Easter eggs are great fun to make with the kids, and while you’re at it, you could make some Easter baskets, which you can then fill with your homemade treats! You’ll need an egg mould, which you can buy online or at some large supermarkets. Depending on the size of your mould, this recipe will make 6 to 8 small eggs or one bigger one.

How to make homemade chocolate spread

It’s a delicious treat that can be shop-bought, but tastes miles better if made from scratch. It’s super-easy – just spend 15 minutes knocking it up, then store it in sterilised jars for an indulgent sweet fix that’ll last for weeks. Cute jars of chocolate spread make great gifts, too!

How to make a classic chocolate cake recipe with buttercream icing

Growing up, chocolate cakes were saved for birthdays and treats, and I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I still get excited if there is a slice on offer.

9 ways to use chocolate

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How to make the perfect chocolate cake

TOP TIPS FOR THE PERFECT CHOCOLATE CAKE

How to make chocolate fondants

Firstly, check that your oven temperature is spot-on before these little puds go in. Timing is also crucial, and will be affected by the thickness and depth of your ramekins – use your instincts if yours are bigger or smaller than suggested. If you’re making them for a special occasion, it’s a good idea to make an extra one for back-up. Then, if all goes well, you’ll have a spare (guard it well). Once you’ve mastered the basics, try experimenting with orange, liqueur, berries or caramel.