Chocolate is like a soul mate. Always there for you, whether the times are good or bad and are always within arms reach. It's the gift that keeps on giving and something you'll never be disappointed in seeing. However, sometimes things don't go right for our beloved chocolate, and these are the tragedies (if you can bare to see). 

The Donut Disaster 

(Image credit: Pinterest)

First of all, why haven't bakeries made a solution to this disaster? Secondly, whoever placed the donut in the bag was rather inconsiderate of the topping and are making people lick bags of chocolate in public. There's no shame in it, you bought that chocolate donut, not plain.  

Uncomfortable Biting 

(Image credit: Imgur)

So, if you eat a KitKat like this then you're obviously a monster and need to watch that video where Kourtney Kardashian teaches you the skill. I don't care how hungry you are or how short your break is, you eat it stick by stick. This is making us all extremely anxious so we're going to comfort eat some Gookie Dough.

Chocolate 'Sponge' Cake 

(Image credit: Buzzfeed via Reddit) 

Okay, so who's cruel idea was this. It's making our hearts bleed and is definitely tragic. This cake would have looked delicious from the outside and the pain strikes when we realise this individual has wasted the best food in the world (apart from Gookie Dough, obvs) and the only option is to either lick a sponge or throw it all away. Spongebob would be disappointed or in his element. Poor Patrick star. 

Taken For A Mug 

(Image credit: Daily Mail via Maxine Feehely) 

This guy was certainly taken for a mug and had a rather loud 'bang' in the microwave. After sharing our recipes on mug cakes, we certainly haven't had a disaster as bad as this one. Would we waste this amount of chocolate? NO! Nice decorative touch with the mint leaf, but I'm guessing the flavour wasn't infused as it went everywhere other than the mug. Whoops! 

Have you had any chocolate disasters? Whether this be sitting on a chocolate bar and it melting in your pocket or dropping your favourite piece on the floor (that once happened to me over a Reese's Cup in Leeds and I made a scene in the shopping centre!). Let us know in the comments below!  

Today is National Chocolate Milk Day. Who doesn't love slurping on chocolate milk with a splash of ice cream and whipped cream (with a cherry on top)? So, this morning add some Nesquik in that glass with a dollop of Gookie Dough, or even better, enjoy a bowl of Coco- Pops because that is definitely a win-win situation!

(Image credit: Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts) 

The history of chocolate milk 

According to the Natural History Museum in the UK, the credit goes to Sir Hans Sloane who was an Irish botanist. Sloane spent some time in Jamaica in the early 1700's where local people gave him cocoa to drink. However, Sloane found that it made him feel sick but when mixing it with milk, it was a lot better. When Sloane returned to England, he bought the mixture with him and for many years, it was sold as a medicine (wow, how medicine tastes have changed). 

However, the accuracy of this is a little hit and miss. Apparently, Jamaicans were brewing hot beverages from shavings of freshly harvested cacao, boiled with milk and cinnamon as far back as 1494. Chocolate has been known to humans as far back as 350 B.C. It's hard to believe that Sloane was the first to think of this. 

Fast forward a little 

(Image credit: BBC Good Food) 

Until the 1820's, drinking chocolate was still fairly uncommon and no one knew how to produce a smooth texture that was a liquid. In 1828 the Van Houten company in Amsterdam invented the cocoa pressing method which produced a chocolate powder that can dissolve in liquid. 

The benefits 

Chocolate milk has some great properties along with being super delicious. In 2006, the dairy industry did a study and discovered that it helps athletes with muscle recovery and provides nine essential nutrients. Chocolate milk also contains fluid and electrolytes for hydration and the carbohydrates replenish energy stores for the next practice. chocolate in the milk boosts the carbohydrate supplied to the muscles and liver and guess what is an affordable treat which is beneficial to the body. Now you don't need to feel guilty!

Happy National Chocolate Milk Day, Gookie Monsters!!

Get classy and sassy by creating your own patisserie with these almond gookie dough macarons. Ooh, La La! Almond scented chocolate deliciousness and that crunchy cookie dough that we all desire. We're seriously in love. 

(Image credit: Diary of a Mad Hausfrau) 

You will need:

(For the macarons)

85g of almond flour or finely ground almonds

150g of powdered sugar

90g egg whites (from three large eggs) at room temperature

55g of superfine or granulated sugar

(For the cookie dough filling)

A monster tub of Gookie Dough in a flavour of your choice

Directions 

(Image credit: Floral Frosting) 

In a food processor, combine almond flour and powdered sugar. Pulse for 20 to 30 seconds until distributed. Sift at least once through a sieve which will remove any large clumps. 

Next, place your egg whites in a clean metal mixing bowl and mix on a medium speed until frothy. Slowly add the superfine sugar, a little bit at a time with the mixer still on medium speed, scraping down the sides periodically. When all of the sugar has been added, increase the rate to medium-high and whip until the meringue is firm and glossy. It should form medium-stiff peaks. 

Preheat your oven to 190 degrees Celcius. When the macarons are dry (you know by being able to barely touch the surface with a bare finger without them sticking), stack the baking sheet on top of another empty baking sheet. Reduce the oven temperature to 175 degrees Celcius and bake for 15 to 18 minutes. Make sure they don't brown. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack. 

(Image credit: A Beautiful Mess) 

Take your Gookie Dough out of the fridge and pop into a bowl so that it can soften slightly at room temperature. Once a gooey mixture has formed, pop the mixture into a piping bag which is fitted with a 1/2 inch round tip. Gently pipe about a teaspoon of Gookie Dough onto the underside of half of the macarons then top with the remaining ones. These will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days. 

We're loving this nutty twist on Gookie Dough! Leave your comments in the section below, we'd love to hear your thoughts and why not take a look at our Facebook for more baking inspo! 

*Recipe credit: Love & Oil* 

The best part of baking has to be the chocolate! Apart from licking the bowl and spoon clean and drooling over the consistency and sweet smell, there may be some terminology you're unsure about. Knowing the difference between types of chocolate can make a significant impact on your result so let's go. 

(Image credit: Reader's Digest) 

Unsweetened chocolate 

This chocolate is the easiest because it is pure chocolate without any added sugar, cocoa butter or milk products. This means that the chocolate is very bitter and isn't something you'd want to nibble on. It's usually used in recipes that use added sugar and other dairy products to enhance its sweetness. 

Dark and bittersweet chocolate 

Bittersweet chocolate contains at least 35% of pure chocolate and has a small amount of sugar added. Usually, it has a cacao percentage of more than 60%; this is typically listed on the bars of the chocolate. Dark chocolate is just a term that can mean anything from semisweet to bittersweet chocolate. Can be somewhat confusing, right? 

(Image credit: waferltd.co.uk) 

Semisweet chocolate

Semisweet chocolate is the piggy in the middle. This is because it is half sweet milk chocolate and a bitter dark chocolate. It contains at least 35% of pure chocolate with both sugar and cocoa butter added. This is a go-to for a lot of recipes and is usually the form of chocolate in chocolate chips. 

Milk chocolate 

Milk chocolate is the sweetest chocolate and is always on the shelves of supermarkets when it comes to Cadbury's and other well-known brands like Gookie Dough and our gorgeous chocolate chunks! It contains cocoa butter and sugar but also milk solids. Typically there is 10% chocolate liquor (sounds fancy) and at least 12% of milk products. 

White chocolate 

(Image credit: The Happy Foodie) 

White chocolate is the liar of the lot. It's technically not classed as a chocolate product because it doesn't include chocolate liquor and is a combination of cocoa butter, sugar, milk and flavouring such as vanilla. Products on the supermarket shelves can catch you out when it comes to white chocolate because if the ingredient label doesn't contain cocoa butter, then it isn't white chocolate and just a flavoured baking product. 

So, now you have more of an idea of how your favourite tasty treat is made up of and how true to cocoa it really is! If you need to melt chocolate of any form, it's important to do it on a low and slow level, so the chocolate doesn't harden (I'm talking to you white chocolate in particular!). The best method is in the microwave on 50% power in 30-second stages and stirring each time! Happy indulging! 

*Credit to browneyedbaker.com*

We're always feeling guilty about chocolate. Whether it's eating that extra piece or having the whole bar to yourself, you still think "I shouldn't have done that". Well, it's time to make that thought process stop because chocolate can be good for you and here is why. 

*Image credit: Rush University Medical Centre*

The science 

Dark chocolate is loaded with healthy minerals such as potassium, zinc and selenium. It can also provide your body with tonnes of iron which means that blood rich oxygen can be transported better and you'll feel less tired. How's that for a Monday morning breakfast? 

Cognitive function

When I was doing exams, I was always told to eat dark chocolate beforehand because it is supposed to boost smartness. Personally, I didn't understand, but I didn't argue either because it's more of an excuse to eat extra chocolate! In fact, it's scientifically proven that dark chocolate can improve overall cognitive function because it advances knowledge, memory, language, attention and reasoning. Move over, avocado. 

Beauty 

*Image credit: Rebel Circus* 

To have healthy skin, water is critical, and yes, you should wash your face. There's a myth which states that chocolate causes breakouts and acne but this is not true. Dark chocolate can be your skins best friend. There are plant antioxidants within our tasty treat which can fight skin damage and free toxins which can lead to sad skin so you can get glowing and tell everyone your new beauty secret! 

Heart 

You will have heard about red wine being good for the heart but bring chocolate into the equation, and you have yourself a perfect chick-flick night on the sofa with your two favourite things in the world! Dark chocolate helps restore artery flexibility and prevents white blood cells from sticking to blood vessels which means that blood can efficiently pump. Some scientists say that it can even promote the battle of atherosclerosis which is a form of heart disease. Wow! 

Endorphins

Chocolate of all kind contains endorphins which are happy chemicals in the brain which make you feel good. This proves that chocolate can lead to decreased levels of stress and overall contentedness. 

*Image credit: Bali Jiwa* 

Cholesterol 

Within the body, there are two types of cholesterol which are good and bad. Cocoa can help reduce levels of bad cholesterol and raise the levels of good cholesterol. However, the scientists who carried out this experiment did crack and grind their own cocoa beans so that Easter egg may not do the trick as such, sorry! 

Stroke 

Along with beating heart disease, dark chocolate can also reduce the chance of having a stroke. Even though eating clean and eating bad things as a treat, having one square of chocolate a day can prevent diabetes and insulin resistance. 

Now you know all of these facts, you won't feel as bad having a tub of original Gookie Dough with your glass of wine curled up on the sofa, and we can't blame you. Now you can go and brag to everyone about these facts and prove them all wrong for guilting you.