Easy chocolate dessert for the baking inept?

[blkery]

I was at a friend's birthday a week ago and accidentally traded paint with his mother's car in the driveway. Not only did she forgive me, she gave me some apples from her trees. I'd like to do something to thank her, and I know she's into chocolate (I made her Mark Bittman's mexican chocolate tofu pudding about a year ago). I'm not very good at baking and desserts, though. Is there something chocolatey and easy I can make her? I'm steering away from mousse/pudding/ice cream.

[boyzoma]

I just posted this Wacky Cake. It's really easy. You'll have to scroll down for it though.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7361...

[ipsedixit]

Start with good, quality chocolate.

Then make a basic brownie. It's simple and delicious and only requires mixing and baking. No need to worry about kneading dough, making sure your cake batter rises, etc. Hardest part is probably melting your chocolate, and you can easily do it in the microwave without the hassle of a double boiler.

[buttertart]

Or melt it in the melted butter - melt the butter over low heat, turn off the stove, take the pot off the stove, put the chopped-up chocolate in, let it melt, stirring occasionally. As long as the butter's not scalding hot it works perfectly.

[Hank Hanover]

Make her some chocolate truffles. Here is a recipe for about 24 truffles.
8 oz dark chocolate (semisweet or bitter sweet keep it under 70% cocoa solids)
7 tbls cream
2 tbls butter
2 tbls of orange, raspberry or ameretto liqueur (if you don't use liqueur add 2 more tbls cream
2 tbls corn syrup

1. Melt chocolate in microwave with 30 second bursts on level 8.
2. Heat cream in pot to about 180.
3. Combine cream, corn syrup, and chocolate and stir together until blended.
4. Add liqueur and flavor drops. Stir.
5. Let set until about 80 degrees.
6. Add butter 1 pat at a time
7. Whip
8. allow to set up in refrigerator at least 2 hours.
9. Roll in balls
10. dip balls in cocoa, coconut or nuts

[greygarious]

I don't use chocolate very often, so I don't keep cocoa powder or baking chocolate on hand. But I think the Trader Joe's Truffle Brownie and Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownie mixes are very good. I use melted butter instead of oil, and add chopped walnuts. Ghirardelli sells at least 3 types of brownie mix in the supermarkets. The double chocolate is the one most people know, and it is also sold in 3-bag boxes in Costco and BJ's. But I think the Dark Chocolate one is more chocolatey. Be sure not to overbake. Take the pan out of the oven when the center is still semi-wet and fudgy. By the time they cool in the pan, they will be done. If you make a point of paying attention to the smell, you will find that brownies tell you when to take them out of the oven - when the kitchen is filled with their aroma, it's time.

[greygarious]

I should also have mentioned that for people who like the edges of brownies, there are a couple of styles of pan that create edges on every piece. But they are pricey. I bake mine in two baking-sprayed mini-muffin pans (about 15 minutes). A standard batch makes 24.

[hotoynoodle]

nigella has an insanely easy chocolate/pistachio fudge recipe on her website.

[Muskrat]

I can't imagine anything easier to bake than brownies -- pretty much any recipe. Much less work than cake or pie, and you don't have to worry about presentation -- working with layers, frosting, whatever. And who doesn't like brownies?

[souschef]

"And who doesn't like brownies?"

I don't like brownies. I prefer cake.

[buttertart]

My husband prefers almost anything to brownies. And I make a damn fine brownie, if I do say so myself (Nick Malgieri's Supernaturals are the be-all and end-all).

[Emme]

La Bete Noire cake. so easy. http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/foo... i basically use this recipe but skip the ganache and sub with a raspberry sauce instead.

[katecm]

I second the flourless chocolate cake. David Lebovitz has one on his Web site that looks foolproof: Chocolate Idiot Cake.

http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2007/01/...

[gwendolynmarie]

Similarly, and even more simple, no simple syrups involved, David Liebovitz's chocolate idiot cake: http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2007/01/shf-27-chocolat-1/

Or, this type of messy, gooey, pudding cake/hot fudge cake:
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1867524

Considering the chocolate tofu pudding was a hit, try this tofu-based chocolate pie with 'peanut butter caramel' and a graham cracker crust:
http://isachandra.livejournal.com/615...

[Hank Hanover]

I like brownies but truffles require no baking and are considered special and luxurious because most people don't realize how easy they are to make.

You do want to use very good chocolate though. I use Callebaut but Dove and some others make dark chocolate that is 54 to 70 % cocoa solids.

[funniduck]

I'm totally gonna try these this week.

[Hank Hanover]

Well in that case let me give you a few more recipes.

White Chocolate peanut butter genache
8oz white chocolate
9 Tbls cream
8 Tbls peanut butter

Almond Joy Genache
8 oz white chocolate
8 Tbls cream
1.5 Tbls butter
1/4 cup coconut
1/4 cup chopped almonds
If you have access to Loran's flavored oils, you can make almost any flavor you can imagine.

[kookiefool]

Here are two. The first has a triple chocolate version and, although it uses a mix, is a bit different, quite good, quite rich, and about as easy as it gets. The topping is even baked on.

The second, if you'd like to use some of the apples as well, is a simple chocolate topped apple cake, and is one of my favorite recipes.

http://www.food.com/recipe/hornets-nest-cake-with-triple-chocolate-cake-variation-89787

http://www.food.com/recipe/chocolate-...

[chowser]

Really simple, no baking--oreo truffles. Use better quality chocolate than the Bakers, and I like darker chocolate.

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/easy-or...

[Muskrat]

"And who doesn't like brownies?"

I don't like brownies. I prefer cake.
By souschef on Sep 26, 2010 07:43AM

Note to self: don't invite souschef to dinner. Or at least throw him/her out before dessert1

[souschef]

Note to self: Don't offer to take Chocolate Oblivion Truffle Torte for dessert if invited to dinner by Muskrat, as self will get thrown out on the seat of my Fruit-of-the-Looms before dessert.

What's for dinner ? Can I bring Madame Souschef along? She likes brownies :)

[mcel215]

Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Cloud Cake is so easy, but very decadent. She has a video and even I (she uses whipped egg whites), found this to be one of the easiest, yet most delicious cakes ever.
And right before you serve it, you top the whole thing with whipped cream by the spoonful.
Just a cinch!

[CaitlinAaron17]

Why not just go with a classic? Chocolate chip cookies are not only easy to make, but they're a universal dessert that anyone who's "into chocolate" would love to get. Add a little vanilla and cinnamon (not too much just a splash of vanilla and a pinch of cinnamon) and you get a great taste with little skill required! Good luck and have fun!

[souschef]

Why mess up a perfectly good chocolate chip cookie with cinnamon ? It's done enough with apple desserts.