25 Delicious Recipes for Chocolate Desserts

Randy Mayor

Hot Chocolate Fudge Cakes

These hot-from-the-oven dark chocolate desserts are the perfect grand finale for any celebration. Between their decidedly rich flavor and sumptuous textures that combine a crusty top with a molten interior, these cakes earned our Test Kitchens' highest rating.

View Recipe: Hot Chocolate Fudge Cakes

Randy Mayor

Double-Chocolate Cupcakes

These cupcakes are easy to make, and because simple ingredients are used, it's best to purchase premium cocoa powder and dark chocolate. Since they're studded with dark chocolate chunks, just dusting them with powdered sugar is enough to decorate these treats.

View Recipe: Double-Chocolate Cupcakes

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Upside-Down Fudge-Almond Tart

Coarsely chopped almonds, two kinds of chocolate, and golden cane syrup help give Upside-Down Fudge-Almond Tart its rich flavor and our highest rating. "Easy and beautiful, this tart will satisfy every chocoholic's need for a chocolate fix," comments Test Kitchen Professional Deb Wise.

View Recipe: Upside-Down Fudge-Almond Tart

Randy Mayor

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Store these Test Kitchen favorite cookies up to one week in an airtight container--if they last that long. We suggest keeping a dozen in the freezer for emergencies.

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Becky Luigart-Stayner

Chocolate Decadence

No mixer? No problem. You won't need one for this surprisingly easy, aptly named dessert. Antioxidant-rich chocolate makes three appearances here―as cocoa powder, unsweetened chocolate, and semisweet morsels. If you don't have ramekins, use muffin pans. The best part about this dessert: utter indulgence for a perfectly reasonable 315 calories. (Before we lightened it, this recipe contained 546.)

View Recipe: Chocolate Decadence

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Cocoa Fudge Cookies

These "disappearing cookies" are so rich, soft, and chewy that they tend to vanish quickly. “They’re the perfect cross between cookie and brownie,” one reader says. “Moist and dense on the inside, like a brownie, but crusty on the outside, like a cookie, you'd never know they're light.” At only 78 calories each, feel free to make a few batches. Then watch them disappear!

View Recipe: Cocoa Fudge Cookies

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Chocolate Bundt Cake

Unsweetened natural cocoa and espresso granules give our Chocolate Bundt Cake a rich, dark flavor. Drizzle with Rich Chocolate Sauce just before serving.

View Recipe: Chocolate Bundt Cake

Randy Mayor

Chocolate-Hazelnut Thumbprints

With a double shot of chocolate and hazelnut flavors, kids and adults will rave over these filled cookies. The espresso powder is optional, but it intensifies the chocolate flavor.

View Recipe: Chocolate-Hazelnut Thumbprints

Randy Mayor

Creamiest Chocolate Pudding

This recipe earned our Test Kitchens' highest rating. A combination of cocoa powder and dark chocolate offers acidity and flowery notes. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator up to five days. For a pretty presentation, dip mint sprigs in water and gently dredge in sugar; let dry on a wire rack.

View Recipe: Creamiest Chocolate Pudding

Randy Mayor

Dark Chocolate and Cherry Brownies

This rich dessert uses less fat than traditional brownies by substituting water and cherry preserves in place of some of the oil. The combination of unsweetened cocoa and semisweet chips makes for a rich, dark flavor.

View Recipe: Dark Chocolate and Cherry Brownies

Double-Caramel Turtle Cake

This decadent cake, which plays off the popular Turtle candies, boasts chocolate layers and a nutty caramel glaze.

View Recipe: Double-Caramel Turtle Cake

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Chocolate Almond Cherry Crisps

These no-bake cookies taste like bite-sized candy bars and are terrific with a cup of coffee. Prepare them up to two days in advance, and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

View Recipe: Chocolate Almond Cherry Crisps

Randy Mayor

Chocolate Fudge Pie

This gooey, chocolaty treat is made from ingredients you may have in the pantry or refrigerator right now so you can get baking immediately.

View Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Pie

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Chocolate Shortbread

If you need a reason to feel better about indulging your chocolate craving, remember this: Short-term studies have suggested that consumption of cocoa may provide cardiovascular benefits due to compounds known as flavanols. Generally, the higher the concentration of cocoa, the more flavanols are in the product, so splurge on the best. Rich Chocolate Shortbread is easy to prepare and keeps for several days in an airtight container.

View Recipe: Chocolate Shortbread

Randy Mayor

Mudslide Cookies

We shaved over half the calories from these Mudslide Cookies for one of our delicious recipe makeovers. Tip: when the cookies are done, they'll be cracked on top and still moist in the center.

View Recipe: Mudslide Cookies

Randy Mayor

Chocolate-Walnut Meringue Pie

This is a pie that's dressed up for the prom. Inside, it's an old-fashioned, dense, sweet chocolate pie, but it's encased in a refined walnut crust and topped with elegant toasted meringue.

View Recipe: Chocolate-Walnut Meringue Pie

Individual Chocolate Souffle Cakes Recipes

Randy Mayor

Individual Chocolate Soufflé Cakes

Our simple directions make a properly risen soufflé a cinch. For easy variations in flavor, substitute almond, lemon, or orange extract for the vanilla.

View Recipe: Individual Chocolate Soufflé Cakes

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Deep Dark Chocolate Biscotti

Whole-wheat flour, flaxseed, and almonds add fiber and antioxidants to this biscotti recipe, a 2008 finalist in our Ultimate Reader Recipe Contest.

View Recipe: Deep Dark Chocolate Biscotti

Randy Mayor and Iain Bagwell

Fudgy Mocha-Toffee Brownies

Ooey-gooey and rich with chocolate and coffee flavors, these brownies have a dense and fudgy texture that's just right. A topping of toffee chips that melts into the brownies during baking sets them apart in a delicious way.

View Recipe: Fudgy Mocha-Toffee Brownies

Jan Smith

Chocolate-Berry Cream Pie

You can prepare this creamy pie a day in advance, just wait and spread the triple berry topping before serving.

View Recipe: Chocolate-Berry Cream Pie

Photo: Levi Brown

Triple-Chocolate Cake

For those who say it's not dessert if it's not chocolate: Creamy milk chocolate mousse is sandwiched between intensely chocolaty cake layers.

View Recipe: Triple-Chocolate Cake

Photo: Randy Mayor

Bourbon-Caramel Truffles

Truffles typically have lots of cream and butter. Our bite-sized treats forgo those riches while maintaining the soft, creamy texture.

View Recipe: Bourbon-Caramel Truffles

Photo: Jonny Valiant

Chocolate Walnut Tart

A riff on the classic pecan pie, this dessert is rich, chocolaty, and a little fancier with its freestanding fluted sides. Of course, you can use a 9-inch pie plate if you don't have a tart pan with a removable bottom.

View Recipe: Chocolate Walnut Tart

Photo: John Kernick

Black Forest Cherry Cake

The original cake has many layers; our streamlined version is easy to assemble and doesn't sacrifice any flavor or presentation panache. The heavy cherry filling may cause the cake to sink slightly in the center once assembled, but it won't detract from the stunning presentation.

View Recipe: Black Forest Cherry Cake

Photo: Ellen Silverman

Salted Chocolate Ganache Cake

Choose a premium chocolate bar for this simple one-layer cake. Make up to one day ahead, and store in an airtight container.

View Recipe: Salted Chocolate Ganache Cake

25 Lightened Chocolate Desserts

Hot Chocolate Fudge Cakes

Double-Chocolate Cupcakes

Upside-Down Fudge-Almond Tart

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Decadence

Cocoa Fudge Cookies

Chocolate Bundt Cake

Chocolate-Hazelnut Thumbprints

Creamiest Chocolate Pudding

Dark Chocolate and Cherry Brownies

Double-Caramel Turtle Cake

Chocolate Almond Cherry Crisps

Chocolate Fudge Pie

Chocolate Shortbread

Mudslide Cookies

Chocolate-Walnut Meringue Pie

Individual Chocolate Soufflé Cakes

Deep Dark Chocolate Biscotti

Fudgy Mocha-Toffee Brownies

Chocolate-Berry Cream Pie

Triple-Chocolate Cake

Bourbon-Caramel Truffles

Chocolate Walnut Tart

Black Forest Cherry Cake

Salted Chocolate Ganache Cake