Life

How To Celebrate National Chocolate Day Right

by Meghan Bassett

It's the most magical foodie day in the history of celebrated national food holidays — Oct. 28 is National Chocolate Day. As a self-proclaimed chocoholic, I have been scouring the Internet for chocolate recipe ideas that are almost too good to be true. If I’m going to celebrate this amazing holiday, I am doing it right.

There are people who have told me they don’t like chocolate. I tend to look at them like they are from a planet that hasn’t even been discovered, because how is that even possible? Chocolate is like nectar from the gods that I cannot go without for even 12 hours. Yes, I might be addicted, but it’s an addiction that I think is worth sticking with. Others may call it an “issue,” but I prefer to call it “dedication to my craft.” Eating chocolate is an art.

Of course, eating chocolate chips straight out of the bag gets a bit old after a while. That’s why I love days like National Chocolate Day, because they remind me that there are about five million chocolate recipes I still have yet to try. Narrowing down this list was hard, but I managed to not overwhelm you with my top 126 choices. It’s time to get your chocolate on.

1. Gooey Pumpkin Spice Latte Chocolate Pudding Cake

Since National Chocolate Day is in the fall, I had to include a pumpkin chocolate recipe in my roundup. This cake from Oh She Glows is exactly what I plan to curl up with next to a warm fire with a giant cup of hot cocoa.

2. Almond & Chocolate Pots de Crème

Silky, creamy pots de crème from Green Kitchen Stories are the rich dessert I am constantly looking for when I’m craving chocolate. I also happen to love how elegant and fancy I feel while eating them. Pinky up, ladies!

3. Chocolate Mousse Meringue Cake

I might have stared at this picture a little too long when I first saw it, willing it to magically appear on my desk. If you ever need to know the way to my heart, it’s stuffing cake with chocolate mousse like this one from Lick My Spoon. Just, yes.

4. No-Bake Milk Chocolate Baileys Truffle Cake

How Sweet It Is nails the no-bake category with this truffle cake. I can only imagine how rich and decadent every bite of this gooey cake is…

5. The Moistest Chocolate Mug Cake

Alone on National Chocolate Day? No problem, because Table for Two has a mug cake that’ll cure anyone’s loneliness. Remember, chocolate is always the answer.

6. Five-Minute Chocolate Fudge S’mores Mug Cake

If you’ve got five minutes, you’ve got a warm, gooey, marshmallow-topped mug of perfection waiting for you on the other side. How Sweet It Is makes my mouth water yet again with this cake. Yes, I might have licked the screen. Just a little.

7. Dark Chocolate Cookies & Cream Cookies

I don’t think I’d be able to resist licking the spoon when I make these dark chocolate cookies from Dessert Now, Dinner Later. Dark chocolate is my number one weakness, and anyone who doesn’t enjoy dark chocolate needs to swiftly change their minds. It’s too amazing.

8. Really Very Good Chocolate Pudding

Chocolate pudding isn’t just for kids anymore. Joy the Baker makes darn sure of that with this chocolate pudding recipe, ideal for adults wishing they were children covered in chocolate once again.

9. The Best Chocolate Cake

A chocolate roundup would fall woefully short of expectations if there wasn’t a classic chocolate cake recipe included. My Baking Addiction has the best recipe I’ve ever tried for chocolate cake, so trust me when I say, it’s the best.

10. Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies

I’m busting out the milk with one of these bad boys from Half Baked Harvest. They look so dense and rich, plus any excuse to add peanut butter is just fine by me.

11. Triple Chocolate Brownie Batter Cookies

What’s better than one chocolate? Oh, why that would be triple chocolate! Averie Cooks officially has made the most decadent cookie I’ve ever seen. I’ll take six please.

12. Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Ice Cream

Not only is there chocolate in this ice cream, How Sweet It Is stuffed in some peanut butter and pretzel to go along with it. Yep, this is an ice cream I will definitely scream for.

13. Baked Double Chocolate Cake Doughnuts

You may think the best chocolate recipes are reserved for dessert, but you couldn’t be more wrong. Get ready to wake up to double-chocolate heaven with these doughnuts from A Cozy Kitchen. Dessert for breakfast always wins.

14. Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Double the chocolate and double my smile — that’s my new chocolate mantra. Simple and chocolate-packed cookies like these from Joy the Baker are the best recipe for anyone looking for a quick chocolate fix that’ll still blow their mind.

15. Chocolate Bourbon Caramel Macaron Cake

This is where my mind exploded. Half Baked Harvest makes a chocolate cake that is so good I’m literally at a loss for words.

16. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

These bars from Averie Cooks may not be loaded up with triple or quadruple the chocolate, but there’s something to be said about tasteful restraint when it comes to chocolate. For the chocolate lover who doesn’t want to overdo it, I’ve got your National Chocolate Day recipe right here

17. Salted Dark Chocolate Popcorn

Salt is chocolate’s other best friend, in case you didn’t know. After I’ve eaten some chocolate, I crave a bit of salt to cut through the sweetness. The Kitchn has this covered all in one bite — crunchy, salty, sweet, and chocolate make this the snack of the day.

18. Ultimate Triple Layer Chocolate Bourbon Peanut Butter Buckeye Cake

I’m ending this roundup with the one that has me grabbing my keys and running out the door to go to the store. This cake from Half Baked Harvest will be happening today. Mine may not look as gorgeous, but I’m happy to lick the bowl clean.

Give into the chocolate cravings, and celebrate National Chocolate Day like you should!

For more food ideas, check out Bustle on YouTube.

Images: Oh She Glows; Green Kitchen Stories; Lick My Spoon; How Sweet It Is; Table for Two; How Sweet It Is; Dessert Now, Dinner Later; Joy the Baker; My Baking Addiction; Half Baked Harvest; Averie Cooks; How Sweet It Is; A Cozy Kitchen; Joy the Baker; Half Baked Harvest; Averie Cooks; The Kitchn; Half Baked Harvest