Chocolate Almond Velvet Food

SIMPLE CHOCOLATE-COVERED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Set a pot of water over medium heat and bring to a boil. Add a double boiler to the top of the pot and lower heat to a simmer.
• Add chocolate and coconut oil to the double boiler. Stir until chocolate is melted.
• Place a drip rack over a parchment-lined pan. Place almonds on top of the drip rack. Pour chocolate over the almonds. Allow chocolate to dry.
• Once dry, store almonds in a resealable container.

RED VELVET CHOCOLATE SQUARES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8 x 8 x 2-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• 2. Combine the beets, beans, cocoa powder, egg substitute, and flour in the bowl of a food processor. Process until the mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl halfway through.
• 3. Add the agave, butter, vanilla, almond extract, and food coloring. Process until all of the ingredients are combined, about 1 minute.
• 4. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 28-30 minutes, turning the dish halfway through the baking time. A toothpick inserted in the center will come out with soft batter clinging to it.
• 5. Let the brownies cool completely in the baking dish on a wire rack. Then put them in the fridge for at least 3 hours. When they're cold, cut them into 12 squares and serve. Refrigerate any leftovers.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND GRANOLA

Steps:

• Roughly chop the dates and add into a blender along with the boiling water. Cover and set aside to soak for 20 minutes.
• Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) and lightly grease a large, rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Add the almond butter, cocoa powder, maple syrup to taste, oil, vanilla and salt to the blender and blitz until smooth (a few bits of dates is totally fine).
• Stir the oats and almonds together in a large bowl and add the cocoa mixture. Mix very well until evenly combined, then transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Spread the mixture into an even layer and bake until crisp and crumbly, stirring about halfway through, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
• Cool the granola to room temperature, then break any large chunks up and transfer to a resealable container and store at room temperature for up to 1 month. Serve with milk, on yogurt or enjoy out of hand.

CHOCOLATE VELVET

Steps:

• If desired, rim the glass with chocolate: pour some ground chocolate onto a small plate. Roll the outer rim edge of the champagne flute in the chocolate.
• Pour the stout into the glass, taking care to make as little foam as possible. (The best way to do this: tilt the glass and pour the beer slowly down the inside of the glass.) Slowly pour Prosecco down over the back of a spoon and into the glass, layering the two alcohols for a dramatic cocktail. Drink.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND VELVET

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the first four ingredients; beat until stiff peaks form. Fold in almonds. Spread into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. dish. Cover and freeze for at least 4 hours or until firm. May be frozen for up to 2 months. Remove from the freezer 5 minutes before serving.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND TREATS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8 inch, square baking pan with heavy-duty foil, folding the foil over the edges of the pan.
• Put butter in pan and melt in oven. Add brown sugar, corn syrup and vanilla; stir to mix.
• Add cereal and stir with a spoon, then mix with fingers until thoroughly coated. Place waxed paper on top and press down gently but firmly.
• Bake for 25 minutes until entire surface is bubbly. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and let stand for chips to soften.
• Spread chips, then sprinkle with almonds, pressing gently into chocolate. Let cool until just warm, then refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight before cutting.
• Using foil as a lifter, remove from pan and, without inverting (almond would peel off), peel off foil. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE VELVET POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Melt semisweet chocolate morsels in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH for 30-second intervals until melted (about 1 1/2 minutes total time). Stir until smooth.
• Beat butter and brown sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer, beating about 5 minutes or until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add melted chocolate, beating just until blended.
• Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to chocolate mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Gradually add 1 cup hot water in a slow, steady stream, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in vanilla. Use immediately, following directions for desired cake.
• Spoon batter evenly into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan. Bake at 350° for 55 to 65 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan, and let cool completely on wire rack.
• Sift powdered sugar over top of cake.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND VELVET

Steps:

• Combine chocolate syrup, cream, condensed milk and vanilla. Chill in fridge for 1 hour.
• Whip until fluffy mixture forms soft peaks.
• Update: The original recipe said to serve the velvet cream in muffin cups. There is enough velvet to make up 24+ muffin cups, but it ends up melting too fast.
• My recommendations is to either serve this in small ramekin dishes or to place the whole recipe in a large container and serve it up like ice cream.
• I left the nuts in the recipe, but they tend to drop to the bottom of the dish. So you can add some nuts to the bottom of each dish and add the velvet on top. Unless you are a big fan of Almond Roca -- adding this is a wonderful combination, but it brings the expense of the dish up way too high (over $10.00).
• This makes up A LOT. You may want to consider cutting the recipe in half. With a weight scale measure out the ingredients and proceed from there.
• As the velvet does not freeze completely solid, serve immediately, as it melts quickly.