Plump, intensely chocolate, with a fudgy texture and a delicate shiny crust, these cookies are a chocolate-lover’s dream. Although chocolate purists may shudder at the idea, added hits of cinnamon and cayenne add warm, spicy notes that round out the chocolate flavors (as well as keep tasters trying to guess what on earth makes these cookies so deliciously different!)
One the best and simplest ways to complete a Summer meal: red-ripe strawberries drizzled with a thick balsamic glaze. Easy, tart-sweet, and healthy! Here the strawberries are accented with crisp shortbreads, richly flavored with ground nuts and spices. To further gild the lily, the shortbreads are topped with crunchy whole hazelnuts and half-dipped in melted bittersweet chocolate.
This is a very delicious moist cake with a texture that is slightly crunchy from the hazelnuts. The jam and shaved chocolate on top give it a great extra punch and the fromage frais adds just a little tang.
Ginger and vanilla combine with bittersweet chocolate to create truffles with a spicy-hot kick. Serve the truffles at room temperature, to bring out the full flavor of the spices.
Serve this almost flourless torte with a dollop of orange-scented whipped cream to accent its deep chocolate flavor. Because chocolate is one of the primary ingredients of this simple torte, it’s crucial to use good chocolate with at least 60% cocoa solids.