I found a lot of delicious, warm, chocolaty links this week, from baked goodies to warm syrupy treats and even a savory rub. There’s something for everyone!

~ Cinnamon Churros with Real Hot Chocolate at Almost Bourdain
~ Cocoa Brownies from Lemonpi
~ Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons at Piece of Cake
~ Dove’s Peppermint Bark Review from Candy Blog
~ Chocolate and Cookies Loaf Cake at Food & Cook
~ Chocolate Shortbread Cookies from Savoring Time in the Kitchen
~ Peanut Butter and Chocolate Bundt Cake at The Food Librarian
~ Pear and Dark Chocolate Jam from Flagrante Delicia
~ How to Make English Toffee at Eddy Van Damme
~ Oreo …read more

Chocolate mousse always reminds me of the holiday season. Though I didn’t get it as a child, my first experience with it as an adult was just before Christmas and it’s an association that’s stuck!

This recipe comes from Edhat.com, and is the perfect adult treat for a get-together or an evening at home. Top with a little whipped cream and some chocolate shavings for a fancier presentation.
Bourbon Chocolate Mousse
Half-cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 tablespoons Bourbon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (3/4 cup)
4 large egg whites at room temperature
Pinch of table salt
~ Chill 4 ramekins.
~ Boil …read more

One of my favorite newer chocolate shops, Sucré, have unveiled their Holiday collection for 2009!

The New Orleans-based confectioner Sucré is known for their delectable, hand-crafted chocolates as well as their delicious pastries and macarons (which are even Oprah-approved!). Located in the heart of the Garden District on Magazine Street, their home-made and hand-crafted chocolates and pastries are sold alongside a variety of gelatos, gourmet coffees and even champagne for in-store guests.
What makes this holiday season extra sweet, though, is that Sucré has teamed up with the Louisiana SPCA, and a portion of every dollar spent online will go directly to …read more

I have got to try this for Thanksgiving (or even before, because I don’t think I can wait two more weeks!). It comes from Pican Restaurant in Oakland, California, and was created by executive chef Dean Dupuis.

I don’t think that I would have ever thought to try white chocolate and sweet potatoes together before, but I’m definitely intrigued now:
White Chocolate & Sweet Potato Cheesecake
Filling
1½ pounds cream cheese
8 ounces granulated sugar
5 eggs
1 cup sweet potato puree (roast potatoes, then peel and pass through food mill)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
8 ounces white chocolate, melted over double boiler
Pinch salt
Crust
1 cup pecan halves or pieces, …read more

We’ve warmed up again this week (boo!) and while I’m still in a baking mood I’ve kept my eye out for some non-typical autumn treats for this week’s chocolaty blog link round-up.

~ S’Mores Cookies from Framed
~ The Twilight Saga: New Moon Heart’s Desire Sky Bar Review at Candy Blog
~ Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bars from Elizabeth’s Edible Experience
~ Old Fashioned Chestnut Cake at Menu Turistico
~ Chocolate Custard Tarts from Almost Bourdain
~ Earl Gray Truffles at Shortbread
~ Chocolate Cream Caramel from Blog Resipi
~ Chocolate Pumpkin and Pecan Brownies at The Good Mood Food Blog
~ ‘Throw it all in’ Chocolate Fudge from …read more

This is a fun little afternoon project that I remember doing as a kid but totally forgot about until I came across it again recently in a back issue of Family Fun magazine.

These would be a great project to do a day or so before Thanksgiving and then use them to prop up some cute, handmade place cards for your guests. See the final product here.
Chocolate Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats
from Family Fun magazine
24 chocolate-striped shortbread cookies
12-ounce package of chocolate chips
24 marshmallows
tube of yellow decorators’ frosting
~ Set the chocolate-striped cookies stripes down on a wax-paper-covered tray, spacing them apart.
~ Melt the chocolate …read more

I’m all for eating chocolate, of course, but it can also be fun to decorate with it (temporarily!) for the upcoming holidays!

This gigantic chocolate turkey from Bissinger’s is touted as a “centerpiece” decoration for your Thanksgiving table. The semi-solid piece is made from milk chocolate with some nice darker chocolate accents, and stands at nine inches tall by 8.5 inches wide. It’s also gluten-free!
Though the real turkey and sides are the stars of the meal, I have to admit I’d be eyeballing the chocolate version if it were on my table!
Bissinger’s also has a lot of other Thanksgiving-related chocolate and …read more

This recipe for Chocolate Chip Cheesecake recently showed up in my inbox and I nearly dismissed it because it was so short. Both the ingredient list and the instructions, especially for a non-plain cheesecake — seemed too simple!

This would be very easy to make with your own homemade chocolate chip cookie dough — in fact, that’s what I’d do instead of using store bought. Simply make the dough, roll it into a log and wrap in plastic wrap and then cut as directed in the instructions.
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
from Mr. Food
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon …read more

Even though the kids are practically swimming in Halloween candy this weekend, I can’t help but feel the urge to pull out my cookbooks or browse through my bookmarks to make a sweet chocolaty treat. It’s not like I have a bag full of candybars and sugar, right?

~ Mexican Hot Chocolate from Zested
~ Double Chocolate Toffee Ice Cream at Mangio da Sola
~ Homemade Chocolate Chip Cannoli from My Kitchen Addiction
~ Filipino Hot Chocolate at Burnt Lumpia
~ Soft Pretzel Samoas from Big Red Kitchen
~ Chocolate Chip Date Cake at C’est La Vegan
~ Chocolate Covered Roasted Garlic from Cupcake Project
~ Pear Chocolate …read more

El Día de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead, is an ancient holiday celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans that honors those who have died.

The holiday is usually celebrated over two days, November 1st and 2nd, and it’s believed that over these two days it’s easier for the souls of the dead to communicate with those still living. A common symbol of the holiday is the skull, and celebrants use sugar and chocolate skulls to give as gifts to both the living and the dead, usually inscribed with the name of a deceased loved one on the …read more