Sure, chocolate is the best on its own (especially with a glass of red or with an afternoon cup of tea), but sometimes you want a little more. A lot more.
Because it's the weekend and calories definitely don't count, why not use this as an opportunity to stuff chocolate into everything you possibly can?
If you're not yet as excited as we are, imagine melted chocolate swirled into ice cream, chocolate caramel slice, rich ganache to dip strawberries into, rich hot chocolate, homemade chocolate bars... okay, we'll stop.
Here are 13 incredible things you can make with a block of chocolate.
1. Make chocolate ganache
Chocolate ganache is basically the best chocolate dessert base ever. You can use it as a glaze, icing for cakes, sauce and even filling for delicious pastries (stay tuned, more on this below).
To make chocolate ganache, all you need is a packet of chocolate and double cream, as well as a double boiler -- don't worry, all that means is a mixing bowl placed on top of a saucepan with simmering water.
Here's a super easy chocolate ganache here.
2. Dip strawberries in chocolate ganache
Now that you've got your chocolate ganache, it's time to get creative. Try placing fresh strawberries on skewers and dipping them into the ganache.
To step up your game, dip whole nuts (macadamia nuts are perfect) or dried fruit into the ganache for a deluxe chocolate experience.
3. Add chocolate ganache to pastry
Why stop at fruit and nuts? Buy some puff pastry from the supermarket, fill with ganache and fillings of your choice (pro tip: go for hazelnuts and a pinch of salt), roll up and bake.
Or, buy ready-to-eat pastry or tart shells and fill with the chocolate ganache. Instant gratification.
4. Make chocolate and caramel slice
If you want to take the chocolate one step further, turn on that oven and make a gooey caramel slice topped with thick, rich chocolate.
For the best ever caramel slice recipe, try this one.
5. Make chocolate bark
One of the easiest chocolate desserts you can make is chocolate bark. If you haven't tried chocolate bark before, all it requires is melting a block of chocolate, pouring on a baking tray and adding on your favourite dry ingredients.
For ideas, try topping the bark with nuts and raisins, shredded coconut, crushed biscuits or lollies. You can also swirl two types of chocolate for a marbled effect.
Give these chocolate bark recipes a go.
6. Bake choc chip cookies
You don't need chocolate chips to make killer choc chip cookies. Instead, chop your block of chocolate into small pieces and add to your favourite cookie recipe.
Play around with different chocolates for an added twist -- try white chocolate and macadamia cookies, dark chocolate cookies with a pinch of salt, or caramel chocolate cookies.
Here's the ultimate chocolate chip cookie recipe to try.
7. Make hot chocolate
You guessed it, you can make the fanciest, richest, most decadent hot chocolate with that block in your cupboard. Simply break off some chocolate pieces, melt using a double boiler, and add it to your milky base.
Try this fancy hot chocolate recipe.
8. Melt chocolate and swirl through ice cream
If you've got a block of chocolate at home waiting to be eaten, as well as a tub of vanilla ice cream, you need to try chocolate swirl ice cream.
All you need to do is melt chocolate and swirl it through the ice cream. Or, serve the ice cream in a cone or bowl and drizzle the melted chocolate over the top. Yum.
9. Grate chocolate and add to yoghurt
For a super simple and health(ier) treat, grab some dark chocolate and finely grate (using a grater or microplane) or shave it (using a knife or peeler) on top of Greek yoghurt.
To step up your game, make a yoghurt parfait by layering yoghurt, granola, chocolate shavings and sliced banana and strawberries in a glass.
10. Make chocolate ice cream
For serious ice cream lovers and chocoholics, make your own rich, indulgent chocolate ice cream at home. To add texture and flavour, stir through nuts, biscuit pieces, caramel or more chocolate pieces.
Here's an easy recipe for very chocolate ice cream.
11. Make homemade chocolate bars
If you love Mars or Snickers bars, put your chocolate to good use and make your own. You can keep the filling healthy by using dates, nuts and coconut oil, or to keep it decadent, use homemade caramel, nougat and nuts.
Try these recipes for homemade Snickers and Mars bar.
12. Make chocolate coated pretzels
What's better than salty pretzels? Salt pretzels coated in dark chocolate. This sweet snack is super easy to make.
Simply dip pretzels in melted chocolate and place them in the fridge to set. These make a delicious gift for food lovers, as well as the perfect movie watching snack.
13. Bake double chocolate brownies
We can't talk about chocolate without mentioning brownies. Sweet, sweet brownies. The next time you feel like baking, add chopped chocolate to your brownie mixture. It's death by chocolate in the best way possible.
This incredible, easy double chocolate brownie recipe is fail-proof.
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