In honor of American Chocolate Week, two great recipes chock filled with cocoa

 We’re celebrating Day #2 of American Chocolate Week with two recipes that’re not only delicious but beautiful too.  Today we present Chocolate Bourbon Bread Pudding from the Cheterfield Inn and Red Velvet Whoopie Pies from the Deerfield Inn.  Wow!  What a line up of fabulously decadent desserts to celebrate the week.  Just to make you feel better, we’ll remind you that chocolate helps you lower blood pressure and live longer too.  So bake to your heart’s content and celebrate American Chocolate Week with recipes from DINE member inns.  

 

Chocolate Bourbon Bread Pudding is a favorite during Chocolate Week at Chesterfield Inn.

Chesterfield Inn Chocolate Bourbon Bread Pudding 

 Ingredients: 

1 c       dried cherries, coarse chopped

2 c       heavy cream

1 ½ c   milk

1c        brown sugar

8 oz.    bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1 T       vanilla extract

½ c      bourbon whiskey

8 ea      large eggs

2 t        unsalted butter

 1ea       13″X9″X2″ baking pan

 Method:

Combine milk, cream and sugar in a heavy saucepot and cook over med-high heat until sugar dissolves and mixture nears a boil. Remove from heat; add chocolate, stir until smooth. Beat eggs, vanilla and bourbon together to combine. SLOWLY whisk in chocolate into mixture in increments (to temper).  Toss the bread and cherries in this mixture and let stand for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease the baking pan generously with butter. Add bread pudding mixture and cover with foil.  Bake 35 minutes in a hot water bath.

Remove foil. Continue baking another 10-20 minutes until set in center and a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool thoroughly on a rack. 

Introducing the Red Velvet Whoopie Pie from Deerfield Inn, Penny Leveritt Photo.

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies from Deerfield Inn

 Ingredients:

2 tsp cocoa

2 ounces red food color

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vinegar

¾ cup Crisco

1 ½ cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp salt

3 cups flour

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup buttermilk

 Method:

Mix cocoa and food color and set aside.  Mix baking soda and vinegar: set aside. 

Combine Crisco, sugar, eggs,  salt, and vanilla. Mix in cocoa and food coloring.

Blend in flour and buttermilk.

Add baking soda and vinegar.

Drop on cookie sheet and make them the size of small cookies.

Bake 325 degrees for 8 to 10 mins.

Filling:

1 16 oz tub of vanilla frosting.

1 16 oz of marshmellow fluff

3 cups powdered sugar

Mix together the filling ingredients and sandwich in between the Whoopie pies.

Recipe from Kim & Tim Steffens, Chefs
Champney’s Restaurant & Tavern at the Deerfield Inn

1 lb.     cinnamon raisin bread cut into 1″ cubes