Chocolate

91 Chocolate Desserts for Days When a Plain Chocolate Bar Just Isn't Enough

What do we want? Chocolate. When do we want it? All the time.
91 Chocolate Desserts for Days When a Plain Chocolate Bar Just Isn't Enough
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell

The best chocolate desserts can make any day better. Sometimes, sure, a chocolate bar will do. But sometimes you need a slice of chocolate cake, or a bite of a deep, dark cocoa brownie. (Seriously, we've been baking these at least once a week lately.) Sometimes the answer is a batch of chewy chocolate cookies, while other times you're ready to whip up a chocolate mousse. Whether you're looking for easy desserts or big baking projects to pass a rainy afternoon, you'll find something to satisfy your chocolate craving below. Preheat that oven and check out all of our best chocolate dessert recipes.

  • A chocolate cream pie with whipped cream being served.
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
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    Chocolate Cream Pie

    We have a lot of great recipes for chocolate desserts. But this easy chocolate pie with its cookie crust and creamy topping is the ultimate crowd-pleaser.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
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    Double Chocolate Rye Cookies

    This is no ho-hum chocolate cookie. It includes both bittersweet and unsweetened chocolate in the mix to amp up the chocolate flavor. Nutty rye flour showcases the chocolate even more.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
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    Chocolate Budino With Candied Walnuts

    This deliciously wobbly, very special pudding from Che Fico in San Francisco isn’t thickened with cornstarch or gelatin. Instead, it’s made with chocolate, milk, cream, and eggs and spiked with olive oil and salt, which complement the bittersweet and fruity flavors of the chocolate.

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  • 7/90

    Chocolate-Almond Fridge Fudge

    The dairy-free secret to this fudge's creaminess? Avocado.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks
    8/90

    Frozen Mini S'mores Pies

    These campfire-inspired treats combine rich chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows in a whole new way. Torch them just before serving to mimic toasted marshmallows.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
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    Black-Bottom Hazelnut Pie

    This pie features a coating of bittersweet chocolate underneath the gooey, espresso-infused filling, and a delectable topping of crunchy sugar-coated hazelnuts.

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    Chocolate-Hazelnut Cookies

    Coarse raw sugar gives these nutty, chocolate-laced cookies a subtle crunch in every bite.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce
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    Halva 5 Ways

    The best thing about this classic sesame-based confection (aside from the fact that it’s so delicious) is how easy it is to make at home. We especially love the version pairing tahini, chocolate, and cardamom.

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  • Photo by Kate Sears
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    Killer Chocolate Cake

    A touch of soy sauce in this chocolate dessert recipe adds just a little salty note that really pulls the cake together.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
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    Salted Caramel–Chocolate Tart

    This Claire Saffitz classic has a generous sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top, to bring out the flavor of the chocolate and temper the sweetness of the caramel.

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  • Tom Scherlitz
    23/90

    Cocoa Brownies

    Our senior editor thinks this is one of the best chocolate dessert recipes she's ever made. These brownies are also so, so easy, since there's no melting chocolate involved. 

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens
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    Chocolatey Chocolate Cake

    Not too rich but ridiculously moist, this cake is decadent without being overly sweet. It’s almost impossible to mess up and so easy to make.

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  • Photo by Ted Cavanaugh, Chelsea Cavanaugh, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton
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    Black-and-White-and-Green Cookies

    We used a lot of fresh mint in this cookie for both the real color and flavor. The flavor will intensify as the cookies sit; make ahead if that’s your thing.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
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    Black Bottom Brownie Cookies

    An overnight freeze solidifies classic brownie batter into something entirely different—a scoopable cookie dough that holds its shape when rolled and then transforms into soft, fudgy, cream cheese-filled cookies in the oven.

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  • Photo by Ben Dearnley
    27/90

    Bourbon Sugar and Pretzel Truffles

    We can think of lots of uses for the bourbon sugar that coats these pretzel-studded bites: use it to top crème brûlée, stir it into your afternoon tea, or sprinkle it over berries and serve with whipped cream for an easy dessert.

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  • Photo by Erica Feldmann
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    Full Moon Chocolate Zucchini Cake

    If you're looking to use up some zucchini, can we recommend a chocolate cake? The zucchini makes the cake super moist but doesn’t affect the overall flavor profile of this chocolate dessert.

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  • Photo by Evi Abeler
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    Chocolate-Almond Butter Cups

    If you have almond butter around for putting on toast, you can make a perfect little bite-size dessert.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Susan Spungen
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    Zebra-Striped Shortbread Cookies

    Stacking the dough in alternating colors and then smushing them into a roll is as easy as making shapes with Play-Doh. The method makes for a fancy-looking swirl that novices can succeed at, too.

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  • Yunhee Kim
    31/90

    Frozen Chocolate Bananas

    Chocolate-dipped bananas are so much more fun than regular bananas. Decorate with whatever you've got: granola, chopped pecans and walnuts, or sprinkles all work.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Simon Andrews
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    Chocolate Mousse

    This rich and silky chocolate mousse recipe is really just two easy recipes—chocolate custard and whipped cream—combined to make one elegant dessert.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
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    Hot Cocoa Cake

    This lovely bundt cake is brimming with rich flavor from a combo of cocoa and chocolate-enhancing coffee powder. The melty chunks from a chopped up bar of chocolate are just an added bonus.

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  • Photo by William Meppem
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    Molten Chocolate Chunk Brownies

    As chocolate desserts go, this one's a star. Shards of rich, dark chocolate melt into the brownie batter it bakes, leaving behind gooey, molten pockets in every chewy bite.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
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    Chocolate Bombe With Spiced Cake and Chocolate-Brandy Glaze

    This epic showstopper works as a Christmas dessert, but there's no need to wait. Behold, a spiced chocolate cake topped with a cream cheese mousse that's studded with dried fruit and nuts and glazed with brandy-spiked melted chocolate. Yowza.

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  • Photo by Kelsey McClellan
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    Frosted Malt-Chocolate Cookies

    Malted milk powder gives these frosted cookies a nostalgic flavor. The dough can be made a day before you want to bake. 

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  • Photo by Deb Perelman
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    Marble Bundt Cake

    Using melted white chocolate in the vanilla portion of this marble cake adds a complex toastiness, and makes a luxurious textural match for the chocolate swirls—even if you don't like white chocolate, give it a try.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
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    Double Chocolate Cake With Peppermint-Chocolate Frosting

    Some chocolate desserts are homey, but this one is pure elegance. No need to tell everyone that this cake relies on applesauce and—believe it or not—mayonnaise for moisture without any dairy.

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  • Photo by Waterbury Publications, Inc.
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    Chocolate Cream Pie Squares

    Made in a sheet pan, this is simply chocolate cream pie squared.

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  • Photo by Tara Fisher
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    Brownie Ice-Cream Sandwich

    You don't need an ice cream maker to make these ice cream sandwiches. There's an easy no-churn ice-cream recipe included. Or you could use your favorite storebought ice cream; just defrost it slightly so you can spread it between the brownie layers easily.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
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    Rose Cocoa

    This dairy-free cocoa uses fragrant coconut milk as its base. Dried rose petals bring an extra dose of floral aroma and flavor—not to mention romance.

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  • Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
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    Free-Form Chocolate Candies

    Known as mendiants in France, these adorned chocolate bites are an art project and a cooking activity in one.

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  • Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
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    Chocolate-Covered Marshmallow Cookies

    This ambitious Mallomars-inspired recipe is a project: Make the (wheat-free!) cookie base and top with marshmallow on day one; enrobe in chocolate on day two.

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  • Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
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    Chocolate Blackout Cookies

    We love the look of the homemade extra-long sprinkles on these whoopie-pie-type cookies, but they take a steady hand and a wealth of patience to shape. Use any store-bought sprinkle in their place.

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  • donna hay magazine, photography by Benjamin Dearnley
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    Chocolate Swirl Tiramisu

    This simpler take on tiramisu layers storebought ladyfingers and mascarpone-laced whipped cream with melted dark chocolate that's been mixed with espresso and coffee liqueur.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Anna Hampton
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    Chocolate-Pecan Sheet Pie With Molasses

    Creamy chocolate ganache, sweetened with earthy molasses, and crunchy candied pecans add texture and richness to this sheet-pan sized dessert.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Diana Yen
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    Giant Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup

    If you love peanut butter cups, it's time to blitz up peanuts, sugar, and salt and stuff it into a huge tart pan lined with chocolate.

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  • Photo by Leigh Besich
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    Black-and-White Pancake Cake

    Maple-sweetened chocolate cake batter is cooked up like pancakes into thin layers and then sand-wiched with lots of maple cream that beckons for a covert finger swipe. A few hidden slicks of bittersweet chocolate ganache add a major swoon factor to this over-the-top sweet stack.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Diana Yen
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    Giant Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars

    Buttery pat-in-pan shortbread takes the place of mass-produced cookies and gets smothered in from-scratch caramel and silken chocolate in this jumbo version of a classic Halloween candy.

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  • Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling: Susan Spungen
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    Chocolate Fudge With Bourbon Sugar

    The exceptional texture and glossy sheen of this fudge result from the way you mix it. Make sure the chocolate and condensed milk are barely hot.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Susan Spungen
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    Chocolate-Tahini Linzer Cookies

    Melt tahini with chocolate in whatever shade you please for a glossy bittersweet filling that will sandwich together rich cocoa shortbreads.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks
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    Chocolate-Raspberry Soufflé

    Some of the best chocolate desserts are the classics, like this chocolate soufflé, made with a little raspberry jam stirred in.

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  • Photo by Eva Kolenko, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski
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    Dark Chocolate Semifreddo

    The texture of this airy semifreddo is somewhere between frozen chocolate mousse and gelato. In other words: You’re going to love it.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog
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    Chocolate-Pistachio Sablés

    These slice-and-bake shortbreads can be prepped and kept wrapped in the freezer for up to a month before baking. And guess what? No need to defrost before slicing and zipping them into the oven.

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  • Photo by Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott
    88/90

    Fallen Chocolate Cake

    We love flourless chocolate dessert recipes, like this moist and rich cake topped with a puff of cream whipped with mascarpone.

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  • Ditte Isager
    89/90

    Mile-High Chocolate Pie

    To get a super-light mousse, you'll need to properly fold together the whipped cream, egg whites, and melted chocolate.

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