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When you think of chocolate, you probably first think of the bars and slabs you see on supermarket shelves – or perhaps of chocolate cake. But chocolate comes in many more forms and can be a surprisingly inventive addition to other ingredients. Why not get a little creative and try out some of these unusual but delicious chocolate-based recipes?

Chocolate Chili Bites

• 200 grams butter
• 200 grams grated or crushed dark chocolate
• 250 grams (1 1/4 cup) sugar
• 5 eggs
• rounded tablespoon of flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground chili powder
• pinch salt

Pre-heat your oven to 200° Celsius.

Melt the butter and chocolate in a small saucepan, over low heat, mixing until no lumps remain. Pour the buttery chocolate into a mixing bowl, mix in the sugar, and leave the mixture to cool.

Once the mix is almost at room temperature, mix in the eggs, one at a time. Then add the flour, chili powder and salt, and mix well.

Spoon dollops onto a parchment-lined baking tray  or pour into fun, shaped baking trays. Back for 10 to 12 minutes, when the outside looks set but the inside is still slightly soft. Cool on a rack and then store in a plastic container in the fridge. Enjoy!

Iced Chocolate Wine

• 2 x 750 ml bottles Maury red wine
• 375 grams skimmed milk
• 150 grams milk chocolate (minimum 33% cocoa solids), chopped
• red wine vinegar

In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the wine to a boil. Using a blowtorch, light the surface of the wine to remove the alcohol. Once the flame has died, stir the wine and continue boiling until it has reduced by about a half.

While the wine is boiling, bring the milk to a boil in another saucepan over medium heat. Once boiling, remove it from the stove and pour it slowly over the chopped chocolate, stirring as you go.

Once the wine has reduced enough, let it cool to room temperature and then add it to the chocolate mixture. Cool again for about two hours. Then pass the chocolate wine through a fine sieve, add a splash of red wine vinegar to the mix, and place in the freezer to solidify.

Once the mixture is frozen, scrape ice slush off the top with a fork. Serve with fresh fruit or mint as garnish.

Chocolate Pizza

• pizza dough
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/4 cup Nutella
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate
• 2 tablespoons chopped white or milk chocolate
• strawberries

Preheat your oven to 230° Celsius.

Roll the pizza dough into a circle with a diameter of about 28 centimetres and place it on a lightly floured baking sheet. Make small dents all over the dough with your fingertips and lightly brush the base with melted butter. Bake the base for about 20 minutes, until golden.

Spread the Nutella on the pizza base, sprinkle with the chocolate and place the pizza back in the oven for 2 or 3 minutes, until the chocolate melts. Top with sliced strawberries and serve by the slice, perhaps with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Chocolate Soup

• 200 grams dark chocolate
• 1 cup cream
• 1/4 cup milk

This simple chocolate soup, or extra-thick hot chocolate, is great for a winter treat.

Start by mixing the cream and the milk in a medium saucepan, and heating them over low heat for about two minutes. Then add the dark chocolate, a block at a time. Whisk continually and keep the mixture at a low heat to prevent lumps.

Once the chocolate is melted, continue whisking and heat the mixture through. Serve in dessert bowls or mugs. For a professional finish, add a dollop of fresh whipped cream sprinkled with cocoa powder.

Jeff is a guest author for Chocolate Time who make custom personalised chocolate in Cape Town, South Africa.

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