Chocolate Is Summertime

Chocolate is summertime, and there is noting better than cool, chocolaty ice cream on a hot night, or a tangy sweet sauce at a summer barbecue. Check out these 4 summertime recipes that will get you in the mood to add chocolate to every meal.

A Decadent Chocolate Sauce

Warm, ooey gooey chocolate sauce is arguably one of the best ice cream sundae toppings, and while the following recipe calls for our Raw Honey Chocolate Bar, you could use any Vosges Chocolate Bar that you have in your pantry. 

Ingredients
7 oz chopped Raw Honey Cacao Chocolate Bar (approx 2 1/2 chocolate bars)
1/4 cup corn syrup
3/4 cup heavy cream

Directions
Prepare by chopping up Raw Honey Cacao Chocolate Bar into small pieces (2 1/2 chocolate bars) and place in a bowl. Mix together corn syrup and heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer.

Pour hot cream mixture over the chocolate and let stand for 1 minute. Stir chocolate/cream until smooth and glossy. Use immediately or refrigerate, rewarming before use.

Chocolate Chile BBQ Sauce

Barbecue sauce is best when its sweet, slightly spicy, and a little tangy. Did you know that like chili, the best BBQ sauces contain chocolate? Here's how we do it at Vosges.
Dry Ingredients
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons VHC Pantry 100% Cacao Powder 
1/8 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

Wet Ingredients
1/2 cup of water
3/4 cup of rice vinegar
1/2 cup tomato paste (plain is best, we will make up for lack of flavor in the rest of the recipe)
1/4 cup of fresh squeezed orange juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Start by mixing the water and sugar in a large saucepan until it dissolves, then add the rest of the ingredients, simmering on low for at least 30 minutes. At the same time, cook your choice of meat (or veg, barbecued carrots are YUM) so that it is fully prepared when the sauce is ready.
Sauce your meat/veg one layer at a time, however, one layer is really all you need. Cook the meat/veg over a high heat to lightly caramelize the sugars, but watch closely to avoid burning. Serve with a glass of red wine, ice cold beer, or summer cocktail. 

The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie

Start by preheating oven to 375 degrees. In a saucepan, heat the two sticks of butter until they have melted, then pour into a mixing bowl over the brown sugar and blend. Next, add the "wet ingredients" to the bowl and continue blending.

Add "flour mixture" to the bowl and stir until the dough appears thick and even. Add the chocolate chips to the bowl and mix thoroughly. Once dough is consistently mixed, scoop into a 1/2 cup (3 3/4oz) tall scoops and place on a baking sheet. Chill in the refrigerator for 60 minutes.

Campfire S'mores

Of course, a good marshmallow is important when it comes to creating the perfect s'more, but your choice of chocolate is what takes your standard campfire confection to an everyday craving. Believe it or not, this classic combination will taste even better when sandwiched with a Dark Chocolate Bacon Bar or a piece of our Black Salt Caramel Bar. Adding a bit of salt to the sweetness makes each facet of the flavor shine that much brighter.

And for those who are more into the chocolate than the graham, why not skip the crust entirely? Slap that melty marshie between two pieces of chocolate instead. There are no rules when it comes to creating the perfect s'more.

Love these summertime recipes? Let us know! Be sure to check out the Vosges Recipe Blog for inspiring cocktail ideas, party pairings, and more.