Chocolate Chocolate Chip Pancakes #Choctoberfest

The last two weeks have been quite busy around here. Yesterday, I was celebrating being done and having some room to breathe. I got up and made these pancakes as a hooray-we-made-it-to-Friday celebration.

And then realized as I was setting the table it was Thursday. Only Thursday.

On the up side, these pancakes were a delicious consolation – and you guys get one more #Choctoberfest recipe than I was planning on blogging!

ChocolatePancakes

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Pancakes
(adapted from Give Recipe)
Serves 3

1 egg
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/3 cups flour
4 Tbsp. cocoa powder
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tsp. butter
Whipped cream, optional
Fresh raspberries, optional

In a bowl, whisk together the egg and sugar until creamy. Whisk in milk and vegetable oil until well combined and set aside.

In another bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet until well combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.

In a frying pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Cook the pancakes in batches. Serve with whipped cream and fresh raspberries.

Coconut Oil Brownies #Choctoberfest

For Choctoberfest, I also received some products to try from Barlean’s. These were complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

CoconutOilBrownies

One of the products they sent was Butter Flavored Coconut Oil. Coconut oil is a great substitute for butter in baking, and butter flavored coconut oil is especially fantastic. Using it is a fantastic way to whip up dairy-free baked goods, like these brownies.

They’re chewy and fudgy and exactly what you want out of a brownie.

CoconutOilBrownies2

Coconut Oil Brownies
(from Pinch of Yum)
Makes 1 9×9″ pan

3/4 cup butter flavored coconut oil
4 oz. unsweetened chocolate
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cup flour

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a double boiler, melt the coconut oil and chocolate together. Once totally melted and combined, remove from heat and whisk in the brown sugar. Whisk in the eggs, until the batter thickens. Stir in the salt and flour until just combined.

Pour into a 9×9″ baking pan and bake for 25 minutes. There may be some oil remaining on the top or sides – it will be absorbed as the brownies cool. Let cool overnight before slicing.

Chocolate-Chili Rubbed Brisket Sliders with Chocolate BBQ Sauce #Choctoberfest

The other product I received from Caveman Coffee Co to try out was their Sabertooth Roast Coffee. (You can check out what I made with their Cacao Butter in yesterday’s post.) Again, the product was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

ChocolateBrisketSliders

Today, I wanted to go savory. Because if you can swing having chocolate for dinner, you totally should. I started with a chocolate bbq sauce. It’s is spicy with a touch of sweetness and the chocolate gives it a nice smooth, thick texture.

ChocolateBBQSauce

Then, I made a chocolate-chili spice rub and used it to crust a brisket. After slow cooking the brisket, I shredded it and served it on sliders, topped with the bbq sauce. They were delicious.

Chocolate Chili Rubbed Brisket Sliders with Chocolate BBQ Sauce
(adapted from this and this, both from Saveur)
Makes 18 sliders

For the bbq sauce:

2 Tbsp. butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small yellow onion, minced
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups ketchup
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup brewed Sabertooth Roast Coffee
2 Tbsp. honey
2 Tbsp. cider vinegar
2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. dry mustard
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. black pepper
Pinch of cayenne

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the garlic and onions and cook for about 5 minutes, until soft. Stir in remaining ingredients and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.

For the chocolate-chili rub:

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 Tbsp. chili powder
2 Tbsp. kosher salt
2 Tbsp. onion powder
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. oregano
1 Tbsp. dried mustard
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. allspice

Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl.

To make the brisket:

Chocolate BBQ Sauce
Chocolate-Chili Rub
2-3 lb. beef brisket
18 slider rolls

In a slow cooker, add 1 cup of bbq sauce to coat the bottom of the crock. Rub the brisket generously with several tablespoons of chocolate-chili rub. Place the brisket in the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours. Remove and shred. Serve on rolls, topped with additional bbq sauce.

 

Dark Chocolate Halloween Bark #Choctoberfest

One of the things I love about these blogging events is that they tend to push me out of my comfort zone. When I signed up for a Choctoberfest, I was imaging lots of chocolate goodies. Making my own chocolate, though? It never crossed my mind. But when Caveman Coffee Co sent a package of Cacao Butter that was exactly what I found myself doing. I did receive the product free to try, but all opinions are my own.

HalloweenBark

The process of making chocolate was actually surprisingly easy. I opted for a dark chocolate version – my favorite! – and dressed it up a bit for Halloween. ‘Tis the season and all.

I loved everything about this – especially that I could control the sweetness. I see a lot of DIY chocolate bark in my future!

HalloweenBark2

Dark Chocolate Halloween Bark
(adapted from Minimalist Baker)
Makes 1 pan

1 cup cacao butter, divided
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. vanilla extract, divided
Candy corn, optional
Sprinkles, optional

Line a baking pan with parchment an set aside.

In a double boiler over medium heat, melt 1 cup cacao butter. Once melted, remove from heat and whisk in maple syrup until thoroughly combined. Once completely combined, whisk in cocoa powder and vanilla. Taste and add more syrup if needed. Pour onto prepared baking pan.

Add candy corn and sprinkles between ghosts. Refrigerate until set – at least an hour and a half. Once completely cooled and set, break into pieces.

Welcome to #Choctoberfest 2016! + Enter to win an awesome prize pack

Choctoberfest-2015-1

Here we go – it’s #Choctoberfest 2016!

#Choctoberfest is a virtual event put together by The PinterTest Kitchen. Bloggers from around the world will be posting their favorite chocolate recipes, and you’ll get a chance to win some awesome prizes. What’s not to love? I’m so excited to be jumping in on the fun this year!

Thank you to the sponsors who make #Choctoberfest possible! This year, Imperial Sugar is back as our Gold Sponsor. They have been a trusted name in kitchens since 1843, and their website is home to thousands of sweet recipes tested in the Imperial Sugar Kitchen. You can find Imperial Sugar on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube, or join their Sweet Community so you can share your own recipes, save recipes to a virtual inbox, print Imperial Sugar coupons, and connect with other sugar lovers.

Imperial Sugar and our silver sponsors have banded together to offer a huge #Choctoberfest prize pack, which you can enter to win below! One lucky winner will be chosen at random to receive the following:

  • From our Gold Sponsor Imperial Sugar: 1 case of granulated sugar (40 pounds), 1 case of brown sugar (24 pounds), 1 case of dark brown sugar (24 pounds), 1 case of powdered sugar (24 pounds bags), and an Imperial Sugar red ruffle apron
  • From our Silver Sponsor Nature Nate’s: 32 oz. Raw & Unfiltered Honey bottle, Honey Syrup, Honey Packets, a Nature Nate’s T-shirt, various kitchen supplies, and $50 Amazon gift card
  • From our Silver Sponsor Barlean’s: 16 oz Barlean’s Butter-Flavored Coconut Oil, 9.52 oz canister of Chocolate Silk Greens, and 8oz bottle of Essential Women Omega-Swirl Chocolate Mint
  • From our Silver Sponsor Caveman Coffee: 1 Bag of Coffee (you choice of blacklisted or sabertooth), 1 coconut MCT oil, and 1 Cacao Butter
  • From #Choctoberfest blog hosts The PinterTest Kitchen: 1 specialty chocolate gift pack (your choice of dark or milk chocolate), 1 tin (14 ounces) drinking chocolate, and Divine’s Fair Trade Gift Set

Enter now to win our #Choctoberfest 2016 prize pack! We’ll be picking a winner at random winner on Saturday, Oct. 22, so enter by next Friday to make sure your name is in the drawing:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Here’s a list of all of the bloggers participating in #Choctoberfest 2016. Visit any of their blogs to get delicious chocolate recipes throughout the week:

The PinterTest Kitchen2 Cookin’ MamasA Kitchen Hoor’s Adventuresaddicted 2 recipesAmy’s Cooking AdventuresAn Affair From The HeartBalancing MotherhoodBody RebootedBottom Left of the MittenBy the PoundsCanning and Cooking at HomeCoconut & LimeCook with 5 KidsCook’s HideoutCookaholic WifeCooking with CarleeCopyKat RecipesCricket’s ConfectionsCrumbs in my MustachioElisabeth JeanFairyburgerFaith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered AccompliceFamily Around the TableFantastical Sharing of RecipesFeed Your Soul TooFeeding BigFrankly EntertainingFull Belly SistersGet the Good StuffGrumpy’s HoneybunchHezzi-D’s Books and CooksHostess At HeartInk and SugarJane’s Adventures in DinnerJoin Us, Pull Up a ChairKaren’s Kitchen AdventuresKate’s Recipe BoxKudos Kitchen by ReneeKylee CooksLetz EatLife CurrentsLife on Food Making MiraclesMonica’s TableMoore or Less Cooking Food BlogMy Catholic KitchenMy Gluten Free MiamiOur Good LifePalatable PastimeRestless ChipotleSeduction in The KitchenSew You Think You Can CookSimple Food 365Southern With A TwistSumptuous SpoonfulsTake Two TapasTampa Cake GirlTeaspoon of GoodnessThat RecipeThe Crumby CupcakeThe FlavouristaThe Food Hunter’s Guide To CuisineThe Freshman CookThe Pajama ChefThe Redhead BakerThe Spiffy CookieTramplingroseWildflour’s Cottage KitchenZesty South Indian Kitchen

I hope you’ll check back here for some great chocolate goodies this week – and don’t forget to follow our sponsors and bloggers using the Rafflecopter giveaway widget above for your chance to win our sweet prize pack!

Are you a fellow food blogger who wants to get involved with events like #Choctoberfest? Sign up here to get notifications when they happen from The PinterTest Kitchen.