Chocolate is such a versatile ingredient that it offers a world of opportunity when it comes to dreaming up new chocolate dessert ideas for your menu.
From a bitter drink enjoyed by the Mayans to the delicious, smooth and sweet solid form we all recognise, chocolate has changed a lot over the years.
Today, there are hundreds of chocolatiers perfecting the art around the globe, continuing to create new flavours and delicious tastes for us all.
There’s no end to the diverse wonder of chocolate, and it’s incredible to think what this one little bean has evolved into.
Using chocolate with patisserie and dessert recipes creates wonderfully delicious, beautiful and incredibly irresistible desserts that add a decadent finish to any menu.
To give you some inspiration, here’s our pick of the best chocolate dessert ideas…
A favourite dish of Yautacha visitors, this dessert is full of romance and flavour. Shaped like a rose, the delicate pink cocoa butter shell hides layers of raspberry mousse, chocolate sponge and a lychee pannacotta. Melting in the mouth, this rich and creamy dessert comprises the heavenly combination of chocolate and raspberries, a timeless pairing of ingredients that are meant to be together. It makes the perfect intimate centrepiece of a shared meal for two. Candlelight and soft music optional.
Click here for the recipe.
Chocolate & Salted Caramel Macarons – Photo courtesy of www.patisseriemakesperfect.co.uk
There’s just something about hearing the words chocolate and salted caramel together that makes your mouth water. Macarons were created in Italy, in 1533, by the chef of Catherine de Medicis. At the beginning of the 20th Century, French chef Pierre Desfontaines stuck the cookies together with a chocolate ganache, creating the macaroon we know and love. Since then, they have become nationally acclaimed in France and a real best-seller in pastry stores. Try using a ring of chocolate ganache with salted caramel in the middle to sandwich these macarons, for a show-stopping finish.
Click here for the recipe.
Chocolate and amaretto mont blanc – Photo courtesy of www.patisseriemakesperfect.co.uk
A Mont Blanc is made from puréed, sweetened chestnuts topped with whipped cream to look like the summit of the snowy mountain it is named after. The use of chocolate and amaretto gives a refreshing and delicious twist on the classic flavours and you can switch the amaretto with brandy, Baileys or your favourite chocolate liquer. The addition of seasonal spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon and clove can be incorporated to create a perfect final flourish to any festive menu. These can be piped into delicate bite-sized mouthfuls or served as a larger, more individual cake-sized dessert.
Click here for the recipe.
Salted chocolate delice with coffee mousse and rum crème fraiche – Photo courtesy of www.greatbritishchefs.com
A real showstopper, this multi-layered and textured dessert consists of many different elements, and putting it together is a true testament to your skill. The delice combines salted chocolate, the bitterness of the coffee and the sharpness of the rum, to create a gorgeously creamy, indulgent and decadent dessert that hits all the right notes. Served simply and elegantly in the centre of the plate, this dessert can bring a real wow factor to your menu by achieving that holy grail of exquisite flavour and visual appeal.
Click here for the recipe.
No desert list is complete without a tart, and this dish provides a delicious twist on a classic recipe. Honey mead is made through a process of mixing citrus blossom honey with water and yeast and letting it ferment, creating an intense honey flavour. Combining the honey mead with the chocolate, this tart makes a gorgeously smooth, sweet and delicious dish that’s bound to excite and delight in equal measure.
Click here for the recipe.
Our list of chocolate dessert ideas is limited only by your imagination.
All these dishes can be given a further fresh twist by adding a few final flourishes, such as a dusting of icing sugar or cocoa power, a grating of orange zest, or a spritz of rosewater or lemon oil.
Here are a few other serving tips to bring our chocolate dessert ideas to life:
We hope our chocolate dessert ideas have got your creative juices flowing and inspired you to go out there and create your own showstopping desserts, or put your own twist on the all-time classics. For more hints, tips and ideas, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram and subscribe to our email newsletter.
Marketing Coordinator EMEA
The rise in online grocery orders has led to more complex storage requirements. Customers are now opting for click-and-collect or delivery services over in-store purchases.
Seasonal menu changes are becoming a key trend in the restaurant industry, with Lightspeed reporting that incorporating “seasonal” items on your menu can boost orders by 26%.