57 Chocolate Recipes for a Decadent Dessert
Updated: Apr. 13, 2024
Calling all chocoholics! From cakes and brownies to pie and cookies, these top-rated chocolate desserts are sure to satisfy.
People adore chocolate desserts. The rich, decadent flavor is impossible to resist, whether it comes from chocolate chips or cocoa powder. In the form of a silky cheesecake, a chewy brownie or a luscious cake, chocolate desserts offer the best kind of indulgence.
In other words, move over, vanilla recipes! Here are the chocolate desserts that our readers have chosen as the best of the best.
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Sandy’s Chocolate Cake
Years ago, I drove 4-1/2 hours to a cake contest, holding my entry on my lap the whole way. But it paid off. One bite and you’ll see why this velvety beauty was named the best chocolate cake recipe and won first prize. —Sandra Johnson, Tioga, Pennsylvania
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Ultimate Double Chocolate Brownies
As someone who grew up in the country, I love getting out into nature whenever I can. I also love home-style recipes, including these yummy brownies. —Carol Prewett, Cheyenne, Wyoming
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Warm Chocolate Melting Cups
These little cakes have become a favorite of our guests. They are always surprised that such a chocolaty dessert is so light—less than 200 calories apiece! —Kissa Vaughn, Troy, Texas
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Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Indulge in these double chocolate chip cookies the next time you need to curb your chocolate hankering.
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No-Bake Peanut Butter Cheesecake
This no-bake peanut butter cheesecake features rich layers of peanut butter and chocolate in an Oreo cookie crust. It is rich and decadent, making it a real winner for potlucks and special events.
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German Chocolate Cake
This German chocolate cake is my husband’s favorite! Each bite has crunch from the pecans, and sweetness from coconut and chocolate. —Joyce Platfoot, Wapakoneta, Ohio
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Perfect Peppermint Patties
I make lots of different candy at Christmas to give as gifts. It can be time-consuming, but it’s worth it to see the delight it brings people. Calling for just a few ingredients, this chocolate recipe is quite simple to prepare. —Joanne Adams, Bath, Maine
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Flourless Chocolate Cake
Flourless chocolate cake rich is an elegant and decadent dessert that's actually quite easy to make at home.
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Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
Mexican hot chocolate has some unique ingredients including cinnamon and cayenne pepper. I created these delicious cupcakes with a similar flavor profile and my secret ingredient: mayonnaise. I like to use mayonnaise in my chocolate cupcakes because I think that keeps them extra moist. To make them quick and easy, I started with a boxed cake mix and used prepared frosting and filling. —Michele Kusma, Columbus, OH
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Chocolate Macadamia Macaroons
This perfect macaroon has dark chocolate, chewy coconut and macadamia nuts, and is dipped in chocolate—sinful and delicious! —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
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Chocolate Mousse Pie
Making mousse for a crowd is so easy when you transform it into a decadent chocolate mousse pie. Do not forget the chocolate curls on top!
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Chocolate Caramel Bars
Taking dessert or another treat to a church or school potluck is never a problem for me. I jump at the chance to offer these rich, chocolaty bars. —Steve Mirro, Cape Coral, Florida
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Millionaire Candy
Of the 35 kinds of candy I make each Christmas, millionaire candy is by far the favorite of family and friends. These treats taste like a million bucks!—Theda Andres, Appleton, Wisconsin
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Coffee Cheesecake
Coffee lovers will line up for this rich coffee cheesecake. It's creamy and just mildly sweet, which allows the coffee flavor to shine through. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Microwave Fudge
Calling all chocoholics! We'll show you how to make microwave fudge in just five easy steps.
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Mocha Cake
Have your coffee and eat it, too, by baking our three-layer chocolate mocha cake with a cream cheese-espresso frosting.
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Icebox Cake
You don’t have to bake to serve a chocolate dessert! This icebox cake is made from chocolate wafers and whipping cream. It is so delicious.—Cindy Hawkins, New York, New York
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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
When I baked this moist, fudgy chocolate crinkle cookie recipe for the first time, my three preschool children went wild over them! But I like them because they're lower in fat and easy to mix and bake. —Maria Groff, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
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Chocolate Frosting with Chocolate Chips
Whisking up a batch of smooth-as-silk, fudgy chocolate frosting with chocolate chips is a snap using this short recipe and your favorite flavor of baking chips. —Jeannette Mac, Rushville, New York
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Air-Fryer Brownies
As if we didn’t already love our air fryers enough for savory recipes, they can bake our favorite desserts, too! These air-fryer brownies are the perfect quick, classic dessert that you can make in no time.
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Bourbon Balls
Looking for a tasty no-bake dessert? This recipe for bourbon balls brings together the flavors of bourbon, pecans and dark chocolate for the perfect bite.
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Lava Chocolate Cakes
True decadence at its best, these chocolate lava cakes feature a warm, gooey chocolate center that oozes out onto the dessert plate. Whether you enjoy it garnished with a dollop of whipped cream or sprinkled with confectioners’ sugar, you’ll want to lick the plate clean!
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Double Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake
Every slice of this creamy cheesecake is a standout. The classic pairing of chocolate and coffee is sure to please partygoers. —Cheryl Perry, Hertford, North Carolina
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Chocolate Velvet Dessert
This creamy concoction is the result of several attempts to duplicate a chocolate dessert I enjoyed on vacation. It looks so beautiful on a buffet table that many folks are tempted to forgo the main course in favor of this gorgeous treat. —Molly Seidel, Edgewood, New Mexico
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Malted Milk Bark
An old-time candy gets a fresh makeover. This is one of our favorite malted milk ball dessert recipes. The malted milk powder adds such a unique flavor to this bark so don't be tempted to skip it. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
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Chocolate Rum Balls
Roll these truffle-like rum balls in crushed Oreos to get just the right amount of crunch. They can be made three days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. I also tuck some in the freezer!
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Chocolate Scotcheroos
This chocolate recipe was given to me by one of my students at school. It has become one of my family’s favorites and is so easy to make.—Lois Mays, Covington, Pennsylvania
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Chocolate Fudge Brownies
My children always looked forward to these fudge brownies as an after-school snack. They're so fudgy they don't need icing. —Hazel Fritchie, Palestine, Illinois
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Fudgy Brownie Recipe
Finding the perfect brownie recipe is a challenge, but if you are looking to learn how to make fudgy brownies—the gooey, decadent, cannot-stop-eating-them kind—you can stop looking. We have got the recipe and techniques for you.
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Bavarian Mint Fudge
My sister-in-law sent this mint chocolate fudge to us one Christmas, and it's been a traditional holiday treat in our home ever since. With just six ingredients, it couldn't be any easier to make. —Sue Tucker, Edgemoor, South Carolina
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Brownie Cupcakes
These brownie cupcakes are delicious treats to have on holidays, birthdays or even just as a snack. A chocolate kiss in the center makes each bite a delight.
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Coffee Shop Fudge
This fudge recipe is one that my son, Jackson, and I worked on together. After several efforts, we decided this version was a winner. It is smooth, creamy and has an irresistible crunch from pecans. The coffee and cinnamon blend nicely to provide subtle flavor. —Beth Osborne Skinner, Bristol, Tennessee
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Chocolate-Strawberry Celebration Cake
Although I have some wonderful from-scratch chocolate recipes, this one uses a boxed mix with plenty of doctoring. It has become a popular groom’s cake that gets more attention than the wedding cake. —Nora Fitzgerald, Sevierville, Tennessee
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Devil's Food Snack Cake
My husband and his friends request this devil's food snack cake for camping trips because it’s easy to transport. That makes it great for taking to potlucks and other events, too, as there's no frosting involved. —Julie Danler, Bel Aire, Kansas
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Toffee Poke Cake
This toffee poke cake recipe is a favorite among my family and friends. I love making it because it is so simple. —Jeanette Hoffman, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
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Chocolate Ganache Pumpkin Tart
I love the flavor combination of spiced pumpkin and chocolate, which inspired me to create this chocolate pumpkin tart. Sometimes I like to sprinkle chopped crystallized ginger over the chocolate ganache for extra flavor and texture. —Bernice Janowski, Stevens Point, Wisconsin
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Yummy Chocolate Cake
My husband and I are trying to eat lighter but still crave sweets. This moist, healthy chocolate cake really helps with that. With the rich frosting, it makes a decadent treat! —LaDonna Reed, Ponca City, Oklahoma
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Chocolate Caramel Candy
Similar to a Snickers bar—but better—this homemade chocolate caramel candy will scratch your itch for a chewy, chocolaty, caramel, peanut butter treat.
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Chocolate Eclairs
With creamy filling and fudgy frosting, this chocolate recipe is extra special. —Jessica Campbell, Viola, Wisconsin
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Dirt Cake
A dirt cake is a memory-making recipe and tasty dessert all in one. Enjoy decorating the dirt pudding with our fun topping ideas.
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Three-Layer Chocolate Ganache Cake
This decadent cake is what every chocolate lover dreams of!
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Chocolate-Covered Cherries
Not only are these chocolate-covered cherries my family's favorite festive dessert, but they make a delicious holiday present too. Best of all, you can (and should) prepare these ahead. The candy gets better as it's stored, with the centers becoming even juicier. —Linda Hammerich, Bonanza, Oregon
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Peanut Butter Chocolate Fondue
Whenever the family wanted to do a little celebrating over the years, I would make this fondue. It’s fun gathering around the table to get a taste of it. —Beverly Olthaus, Cincinnati, Ohio
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French Silk Pie
French silk pie combines the light texture of chocolate mousse with the delicate crunch of flaky pastry in every bite.
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Semisweet Chocolate Mousse
A friend shared this rich velvety chocolate mousse recipe with me. I love to cook and have tons of chocolate recipes, but this one is a favorite. Best of all, it’s easy to make. —Judy Spencer, San Diego, California
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Brownie Cookies
Take these deeply fudgy cookies to a party, and you're sure to make a friend. A little espresso powder in the dough makes them over-the-top good. —Rebecca Cababa, Las Vegas, Nevada
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Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies
Although these cookies require a little extra effort, they’re worth it. I make them for every family gathering—and they never last long! —Marie Kinyon, Mason, Michigan
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Special Mocha Cupcakes
Topped with a fluffy frosting and chocolate sprinkles, these extra-rich, extra-delicious cupcakes smell wonderful while baking and taste even better! —Mary Bilyeu, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Chocolate Chess Pie
This is one of my mother’s go-to chocolate recipes. It’s a yummy spin on classic chess pie. — Ann Dickens, Nixa, Missouri
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Giant Buckeye Cookie
I’m from Ohio, and we love our buckeye candy! Buckeyes are a delicious combination of peanut butter and chocolate, which is exactly what this cookie is. All you need is a box of cake mix, a few common pantry ingredients, and voila—you have a tasty dessert ready for family and friends in under an hour. You can customize it, too, by substituting other mix-ins for the chocolate chips. We serve it warm with ice cream or whipped cream. —Arianna Harding, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Fudgy Brownies with Peanut Butter Pudding Frosting
Rich brownies are topped with a peanut butter pudding frosting to make this a recipe the whole family will love. These are perfect for a potluck, bake sale or yummy after-dinner treat. —Amy Crook, Syracuse, Utah
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Mint Chocolate Cheesecake
I created this mint chocolate cheesecake for our high school's annual fundraiser. We were told that it brought a hefty price and was one of the first desserts to go! If desired, you can stir the cookie pieces into the batter instead of adding them in a layer. Keep the pieces fairly small; if they're too large they have a tendency to rise to the top. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
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Triple-Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
What could be better than a brownie crust layered with chocolate cheesecake and topped with chocolate ganache? These cheesecake bars will satisfy even the biggest chocolate lovers out there. —Andrea Price, Grafton, Wisconsin
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Chocolate Mallow Cookies
Cocoa, marshmallows and ready-made frosting transform the basic dough into a can’t-beat chocolate recipe. Sometimes, I’ll top each with a pecan half. —Gloria McBride, Payson, Utah
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Chocolate & Peanut Butter Crispy Bars
To make a dairy-free dessert, I created chocolate peanutty bars. My kids and their friends gobble them up. I've written about it on my blog, joyfulscribblings.com. —Dawn Pasco, Overland Park, Kansas
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Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
My group of friends had a weekly "movie night" during winters on Martha's Vineyard, and we'd take turns making a chocolate treat to share. These terrific chocolate thumbprint cookies were an instant success. Once they debuted, I had to make them many more times. —Laura Bryant German, W. Warren, Massachusetts
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