Whether you're making cake, brownies, or other chocolate desserts from scratch or from a box, here are some handy ingredients that can help you intensify that luscious chocolate flavor:
* Vanilla extract. Add 1 to 2 tsp. to a chocolate cake batter, 1/2 to 1 tsp to brownie batter, and a few drops in anything chocolate... even a cup of hot cocoa.
*Almond extract. If you're not a fan of vanilla, or just want something a little more exotic, almond extract is another great addition to chocolate recipes. Since it's more potent than vanilla, just 1/2 tsp or so will do the trick. Or, you can do as I often do, and simply use a combination of both vanilla and almond, in proportions to your liking.
*Cinnamon. A dash or two of cinnamon is a great accent to chocolate... just enough to bring out the chocolate flavor without actually tasting like cinnamon.
*Buttermilk. Use this in place of the water or milk in your recipe. If you don't have it, throw in a heaping tablespoon full of sour cream or yogurt along with the water or milk. No sour cream, either? Use a tsp. of white vinegar.
*Coffee. Use strong black coffee in place of the water in your chocolate recipe, or dissolve a tablespoon or so of instant coffee granules in the liquid you're using, before you add it to the batter. Coffee and chocolate flavors marry quite beautifully, and each brings out the better qualities of the other.
*Salt. Yep, salt. A little dash of salt goes a long way in accentuating the flavor of chocolate. Not enough to be salty... just a sprinkle will do for small amount of batter, beverage, etc.
*More chocolate. This one may seem obvious. ;) Based on a recipe to fill a 13x9 in. pan, try any or all the following chocolate additions--
~1 cup mini chocolate chips or grated chocolate of your choice
~a few squirts or drizzles of your favorite chocolate syrup or fudge sauce
~2 tbsp. cocoa powder (regular or dutch-process)
Experiment with these additions, using just one or combinations of your favorites... the chocolate lovers in your life will thank you! :)
A "secret" from Grandma: Right after Easter you can usually find good quality chocolate bunnies and other chocolate candy at substantially reduced prices. Keep in a cool place and you'll have them available well past the holiday. Break off a few big chunks (melt if appropriate) and add to any chocolate cake or brownie recipe. You can even bite off the ears first!
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