Chocolate bunnies, chocolate bars, and chocolate eggs—oh my. Have too much chocolate to use as is? Feeling poorly about tossing it all? Or you can't say "no" to the 50 percent off chocolate at the store? Try a couple of these fun recipes to use that extra Easter chocolate in tasty treats and desserts.
We all have a little left over chocolate that we can use. With a little creativity and of course an oven, anything is possible. Follow these simple steps for extra Easter chocolate recipes you’ll use every year, all year long.
Ice Cream: If you have Easter candy flavored with caramel or nuts, slice and dice away. Sprinkle over your favorite ice cream or go simple with vanilla. Drizzle with chocolate sauce, add a banana or fresh berries and you have an amazing chocolate sundae.
Milk Shake: Add chopped chocolate of any flavor to two scoops of ice cream and a splash of milk. Blend away and top with whipped cream. You’ve just created a one-of-a-kind milk shake to serve for movie night or a neighbor get together.
Bonus Tip: Lactose intolerant? Head to your local specialty grocery store for soy or coconut ice cream. The taste is outstanding for both and with a splash of soy, almond, or coconut milk you’d never know the difference.
S’mores: Slice chocolate thinly and pair it with a roasted marshmallow and two graham crackers. Whether you’re camping and cooking over an open fire or just roasting marshmallows over your kitchen stove, this is a fun treat everyone enjoys, including the little ones.
Trail Mix: For the healthy go-getter, trail mix is a great snack. Chop extra chocolate and mix with your favorite dried fruit, nuts, or crunchy goodness. Add dried coconut or granola for an extra flavorful bang. Pour into individualized baggies so that your mix is ready to go when you are. Bring along for a hike or a days work. Snack away.
Chocolate-Covered strawberries: Drizzle melted milk, dark, or white chocolate over fresh strawberries. Let cool, refrigerate for 30 minutes, then serve. Remember, wax paper works well under the chocolate covered strawberries for a quick and easy clean up.
Chocolate Fondue: Melted chocolate can be poured into a fondue set with a small flame or candle underneath. Dip sliced breads, fruits, pound-cake, even cookies in the fondue and let the endless chocolate possibilities flow.
See more here for an amazing chocolate fondue recipe from Rachael Ray.
Hot Chocolate: Use your melted chocolate just like chocolate sauce or syrup. Pour it into a pan with several cups of milk. Stir constantly until ingredients are combined. Sprinkle with cinnamon and top with whipped cream in your favorite mug. This is a great recipe to wake up to.
Bonus Tip: Melting chocolate is easier than is seems. Chop at least one cup’s worth and place in a small, heat-safe bowl. The bowl is then placed over a small pan filled with water and over a steady flame. Stir the chocolate as it begins to melt. The heat from the boiling water will hit the bottom of the bowl and melt the chocolate to the perfect temperature. This technique is used around the world and successfully so the chocolate does not scald. From there you can use the melted chocolate as you wish! Here are some more ideas and recipes.
Brownies: Add chopped chocolate to your favorite pre-packaged brownie recipe. Instead of chocolate chips, chopped Easter chocolate will do the trick. Follow boxed recipe directions and bake as usual. When you bite into the brownies they’ll have an extra melty chocolate element. Yum.
Ever the baker? Try the iconic Hershey’s Brownie recipe here.
Pancakes: Chop and drop chocolate into your morning pancake ritual. Keep an extra eye on the pancakes this morning as the chocolate will melt faster than plain pancakes. Top with butter, serve and enjoy.
Cookies: Chop and drop extra Easter chocolate into your favorite pre-packaged cookie recipe or see Ina Garten’s recipe here to start from scratch. Bake as directed and enjoy chocolaty chunks that are bigger than average!
Using extra Easter treats is easier than it seems. Who knows? The bunny rabbit might stop by again to nibble on these amazing, fun, and easy snacks.
