28 Nov 2017

Easy Chocolate Treats For Busy People

As much as we love chocolate, it is nice to have a change. We don't always want to dive straight into the bar; we want to make a combination of goodness and treat ourselves. The more calorific, the better, yeah? Maybe you're not a pro baker and have guests coming over, or you're just a workaholic-chocoholic. Here are a few delicious desserts that take no time at all!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

It's as simple as it sounds. Cookie dough pressed down into a cake tin and baked to golden perfection, then topped with a dash of buttercream and sprinkles. Better yet, take some Gookie Dough, push it down into a tin and refrigerate until it is set, decorate with whatever takes your fancy and viola, a Gookie Dough pie! 

Chocolate M&M Peanut Butter Cookies

Chocolate and peanut butter will always be those best friends that should never be separated. Time to be daring and get out of that classic cookie recipe. 10 minutes prep and ten minutes to bake? YES! All you need to do is combine flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in a more substantial dish until creamy and then add the egg and beat. Then add some peanut butter and honey. Add your flour, a generous dash of chocolate chunks and of course, REESES PIECES. 

Roll the dough, pop them on the baking sheet and away they go. Perfect when they're warm, rich and gooey.  

Salted Chocolate Fudge

Nothing tastes better than homemade so stop buying fudge from your local sweet shop and get to that kitchen. All you need is evaporated milk, sugar, kosher salt, vanilla extract, marshmallows (mini), chocolate chips and flaky sea salt.

Firstly, bring the evaporated milk, sugar and salt to a simmer and stir occasionally. Reduce the heat gradually and add the vanilla extract, marshmallows and chocolate. Let this sit for 30 seconds so the chocolate can melt, then fold in the marshmallows. Pour your fudge mixture into a square pan and spread out evenly. Sprinkle sea salt, cool at room temperature and then put in the fridge to set. No baking, no fuss and hardly any washing up. Perfect.  

Crinkle Cookies 

Not the most appealing name for a dessert as it kinda reminds you of a bit of scrunched up paper but don't knock it until you try it. Fudgy and scattered with snowy icing sugar, these cookies are a perfect festive treat. 

Nutella Pizza

Bring out your inner child with this treat. All you need is store-bought pizza dough, Nutella, Amaretti cookies and icing or squirty cream of some kind! Make your base however thick you'd like and pop it into the oven until it turns golden brown, lather on your Nutella, sprinkle with cookies and top with your cream. Makes a change to the savoury treat, right?  

Chocolate Bark 

The most effortless of the lot. Take your favourite chocolate, for example, mix melted white and milk chocolate and make a marble effect with a cocktail stick once poured onto your baking paper. Add any topping you'd please, sea salt, dark chocolate, chilli, anything! Nuts add a great crunch and fruit adds that colourful kick. Once your creative side has satisfied you, pop in the fridge to set and then smash it up. Great if you need to let off some steam! And guess what, you don't even have to measure ingredients. The world is your oyster. 

Chocolate Pudding Cookies 

Best till last?! Add a twist to your regular cookie and pop instant vanilla pudding mix into the bowl. Your result will be super soft cookies that have that kick of sweetness and almost remind you of cake. The joys of baking are always down to the combinations! 

Which divine delight will you be trying?