Cook the Book: Milk Chocolate with Burnt Caramel Drink

Recipes

Cook the Book: Milk Chocolate with Burnt Caramel Drink

Posted by The Serious Eats Team, February 13, 2008 at 3:00 PM

This week, in honor of Valentine's Day, we've put together a list of our favorite books on chocolate, with one Cook the Book recipe a day coming from each volume. And today's book from our "Chocolate Lover's Library" is Chocolate Obsession by Michael Recchiuti and Fran Gage.

This drink takes advantage of burnt caramel, Recchiuti's signature flavor. If you've ever caramelized sugar, this should be a fun one, as it throws out all the rules about the process, actually allowing you to burn the sweet stuff. The recipe for the drink makes enough for two—you and your valentine—but you'll have an excess of the burnt caramel base, which may be kept indefinitely and used for other recipes.

Win the Serious Eats Chocolate Library

We're giving away five (5) sets of the Chocolate Lover's Library—one each day this week. So you can win Chocolate Obsession, along with four other fantastic chocolate books (to be revealed as the week progresses) by answering the following question in the comments:

What is your favorite chocolate recipe?

One (1) winner will be chosen at random from among the comments of this post. Comments will be open until 3 p.m. ET February 14. Feel free to enter every day, but you may win only once during the lifetime of the contest as a whole. The standard Serious Eats contest rules apply.

Milk Chocolate with Burnt Caramel Drink

- makes 2 servings -

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) whole milk
3 tablespoons (2 ounces by weight) Burnt Caramel Base (recipe follows), at room temperature
2 ounces 41% milk chocolate, grated

Procedure

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the milk to a simmer. Pour hot milk into a 1-quart clear vessel. Add the burnt caramel and the grated milk chocolate.

2. Blend with an immersion blender until chocolate has melted and drink is smooth.

3. Divide equally among two cups and serve.

Burnt Caramel Base

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups (1 pound 8 1/2 ounces) granulated cane sugar
1 cup water

Procedure

1. If you have an exhaust fan in your kitchen, use it. Put the sugar in a medium heavy-bottomed pot. (An unlined copper pot works best, if you have one.) Place over medium heat; cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until sugar melts.

2. Continue to cook, without stirring, until sugar turns black, about 10 minutes, washing down any sugar crystals that form on the sides of the pot with a wet pastry brush. Just before it turns black, the sugar may foam. If so, reduce heat to low and, wearing an oven mitt, carefully stir it down. When syrup is ready, it will smoke and large bubbles will break on the surface.

3. While sugar is cooking, bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan. When sugar is black, remove the pot from heat, and put a sieve or splatter guard over it. Wearing the oven mitt, slowly pour the hot water into the sugar syrup a little at a time. The mixture will spatter and foam. Be careful; it's very hot.

4. Let syrup cool to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container; refrigerate until used.

Comments are Closed. | Tags: chocolate, Chocolate Lover's Library, Chocolate Obsession, contests, Cook the Book, drinks, Fran Gage, hot chocolate, Michael Recchiuti

Comments are closed: 259 Comments:

After the cake with rosemary custard, and the craters cake, I'm going to go with earl-grey hot cocoa as my next favorite recipe. Pairing two of my favorite bevarages can't really go wrong.

EtherMaiden at 3:04PM on 02/13/08

bread pudding no doubt

zekks at 3:05PM on 02/13/08

chocolate and ricotta pie

sarahbeam at 3:07PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate silk pie

utahups at 3:12PM on 02/13/08

no bake cookies

pcbdolphins at 3:12PM on 02/13/08

No bake cookies.

greenwolf at 3:14PM on 02/13/08

Melt chocolate and pour into molds of your (least) favorite vegetables or food and then eat. You can then tell the truth that you ate your "vegetables".

mcnerd at 3:14PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate Silk Pie

plhill2000 at 3:15PM on 02/13/08

I'm currently thinking chocolate pudding.

pookywookyster at 3:16PM on 02/13/08

mix: butter + flour + nutella (add cinnamon, or peanut butter, or chocolate chips for variations)
refrigerate.
roll into balls
roll into powdered sugar or cocoa powder

my friend's "truffle" recipe is awesome. and tastes even better frozen!

chlamers at 3:16PM on 02/13/08

I feel like a bore but it's the toll house chocolate chip cookies from the recipe on the back of the package. Good every time.

Lauren B at 3:17PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate Crinkles -- yum!

Judy0077 at 3:17PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate mousse

louiseb130 at 3:18PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate cheesecake cupcakes!

Sarajahii at 3:18PM on 02/13/08

no bake cookies

mverno at 3:21PM on 02/13/08

Brownies!

GoldenEel at 3:21PM on 02/13/08

triple chocolate pudding pie from epicurious

Alm25 at 3:24PM on 02/13/08

chocolate cheesecake

kylad at 3:25PM on 02/13/08

Nigella's chocohotopots!

OneWallKitchen at 3:26PM on 02/13/08

S'mores!

threedogkitchen at 3:29PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate pudding with that chocolate whipped cream out of a can! Cheap and easy!

Lisanne at 3:30PM on 02/13/08

brownies.

icecreamsandwich at 3:31PM on 02/13/08

mousse au chocolat

cybercita at 3:33PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate lava cupcakes! Like a brownie, but gooier.

KarynMC at 3:33PM on 02/13/08

chocolate Guiness cake!!

bitchincamero at 3:33PM on 02/13/08

The brownies from Alice Medrich's Bittersweet book. My friends dubbed them "Crack brownies"

Freyacat at 3:38PM on 02/13/08

Brownies or chocolate pudding...delicious!!!!

Teri at 3:38PM on 02/13/08

BROWNIES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cdziuba at 3:39PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate silk pie with chocolate shavings!!!! :)

Lauren72186 at 3:41PM on 02/13/08

I'd have to stick with the traditional chocolate chip cookie :)

Keket at 3:41PM on 02/13/08

chocolate pudding.

ceforrester at 3:44PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate ganache in a pecan and graham cracker crust - sprinkled with cinnamon and cocoa. mmm.

dafly133 at 3:45PM on 02/13/08

brownies

feep at 3:47PM on 02/13/08

My homemade chocolate cheesecake. A chocolate lovers dream. Chocolate crust...chocolate cake....shaved chocolate for decoration.

dbaxgirl51 at 3:48PM on 02/13/08

Flourless chocolate cate -

1 pound chocolate, butter, eggs, and a whole lot of happy goodness.

iainswife at 3:52PM on 02/13/08

Key lime pie

iainswife at 3:52PM on 02/13/08

English Berry Trifle with extra whipped cream

iainswife at 3:53PM on 02/13/08

Boston Creme Pie with that dark chocolate ganache icing

iainswife at 3:53PM on 02/13/08

Schaffenberger Chocolate bar dessert.

Take chocolate bar and unwrap.

Serve.

iainswife at 3:54PM on 02/13/08

truffles!!!!

carlasharon at 3:58PM on 02/13/08

(dark) chocolate covered strawberries

thanksgiving28 at 3:58PM on 02/13/08

Pierre Herme's black forest cake.

brozy at 4:07PM on 02/13/08

chocolate crinkle cookies

missmicker at 4:10PM on 02/13/08

The chocolate chip cookie recipe on the back of Nestles chips package

inkypleez at 4:10PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate silk pie.

mizchild at 4:11PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate covered strawberries

patty4899 at 4:15PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate pudding with chocolate chips

saturdaynightfever at 4:16PM on 02/13/08

chocolate cheesecake!!

deborahm4 at 4:18PM on 02/13/08

chocolate pudding, no doubt

zach272 at 4:21PM on 02/13/08

Flourless chocolate anything....mmmmm

idorunyc357 at 4:25PM on 02/13/08

I make a delicious chocolate pie that tastes just like a warm gooey chocolate chip cookie....Thats my favorite!

ooodaisymaeooo at 4:29PM on 02/13/08

brownies w/ peanut butter

agordon10 at 4:32PM on 02/13/08

fudge

sandy89 at 4:34PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate pudding:)

jhoefl88 at 4:34PM on 02/13/08

Old fashioned chunky dark chocolate chip cookies!

meredith13 at 4:35PM on 02/13/08

bread pudding for me!

PoignantTuna at 4:36PM on 02/13/08

Dorie Greenspan's World Peace cookies

salty at 4:41PM on 02/13/08

Today, I'd really go for a thick slice of chocolate layer cake. With ganache between the layers and a rich dark buttercream frosting crusted with thin flakes of chocolate.

Anyone have a glass of cold milk handy?

aestheticonion at 4:43PM on 02/13/08

brownies, for sure.

provey at 4:45PM on 02/13/08

Homemade chocolate pudding.

steadier571 at 4:47PM on 02/13/08

Dark chocolate truffles.

AsTheNight at 4:48PM on 02/13/08

truffles, of course! any custardy type dessert is awesome, too - pot de creme or pudding

LA_Eater at 4:50PM on 02/13/08

frozen bananas dipped in chocolate

joni514 at 4:50PM on 02/13/08

ina garten's outrageous brownies!!

pupilindenial at 4:51PM on 02/13/08

Millennium's chocolate almond midnight.

squiggle at 4:52PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate cake

whyreg666 at 4:53PM on 02/13/08

chocolate silk pie

banquetbabe at 4:54PM on 02/13/08

COP Cookies-chocolate chip, oatmeal, pineapple. HMMM

CarolHarrity at 4:57PM on 02/13/08

flourless chocolate cake

AS at 4:58PM on 02/13/08

Definitely chocolate mousse

vandecm at 5:01PM on 02/13/08

Flourless chocolate cake!

twostars4arms at 5:01PM on 02/13/08

chocolate covered pretzels... I love the combo of salty and sweet.

fangirl at 5:04PM on 02/13/08

chocolate chocolate chip cookies are wonderful

jbramley at 5:07PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate Bread Pudding

starsmom at 5:11PM on 02/13/08

chocolate silk pie

jbeckett at 5:15PM on 02/13/08

chocolate covered strawberries- Yum

denyse at 5:20PM on 02/13/08

Just reading everyone's answers is making me hungry! As for my favorite, nothing beats boston cream pie -- the intoxicating interplay of chocolate icing and creamy filling.....

Tobster1 at 5:21PM on 02/13/08

chocolate martini

Faither at 5:24PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate chip cookies!!

brianstewart at 5:27PM on 02/13/08

german chocolate cake

rosidentevil at 5:27PM on 02/13/08

Death By Chocolate Cake

tish123 at 5:29PM on 02/13/08

Warm chocolate souffle, yummm yum !!

bleweye at 5:30PM on 02/13/08

Simple chocolate pudding is great too!

dreamsicle at 5:48PM on 02/13/08

chocolate marquis....with raspberries and whipped cream!

jenberger at 5:49PM on 02/13/08

A dark chocolate mousse with caramelised chestnuts. It is the edible analog of the most deliciously fine-textured suede :)

mongoose at 5:50PM on 02/13/08

chocolate dipped cookies

dolls123 at 5:55PM on 02/13/08

You know, chocolate cheesecake *can* be quite good when it's done right.

Freddie at 5:57PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate Cheese Cake.

kitchenninja at 5:57PM on 02/13/08

chocolate fondue

gladstone7272 at 6:05PM on 02/13/08

Liqueurs with chocolate like Bailey's. I make my own! Served with brownies, chocolate chip cookies, devil's food cake with chocolate whipped cream frosting & berries in the middle, covered in ganache.

PerkyMac at 6:10PM on 02/13/08

chocolate mousse

MajaMeza79 at 6:11PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate mousse. I'm a sucker for classics.

justjoan at 6:13PM on 02/13/08

The very first chocolate cake I ever made - the Decadent Chocolate Cake recipe from the original Silver Palate cookbook

sachidewey at 6:21PM on 02/13/08

I also like chocolate covered oatmeal raisin chip cookies– nummy

superdlux at 6:24PM on 02/13/08

Nigella's Triple Chocolate Brownies

Gayngry at 6:25PM on 02/13/08

Korova cookies.

nuff said.

jazzinx at 6:26PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate Mousse

mommy4five at 6:27PM on 02/13/08

chocolate zucchini cake

joshtims at 6:28PM on 02/13/08

my famous chocolate cobbler

Erinay77 at 6:30PM on 02/13/08

Food & Wine's Bittersweet Chocolate Tart with Coffee Mascarpone Cheese...MMmm

JEP at 6:31PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate Chip Cookies!

kerrireed1 at 6:32PM on 02/13/08

Brownies!

sillelin at 6:33PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate mousse.

thotfulspot at 6:34PM on 02/13/08

Choc. Cheesecake

alyssazor at 6:39PM on 02/13/08

plain, old-fashioned, chocolate fudge.

zorkette at 6:46PM on 02/13/08

Red velvet cake

jpark107 at 6:47PM on 02/13/08

double chocolate brownies

chromiumman at 6:49PM on 02/13/08

dark chocolate ice cream

hungrykat at 6:50PM on 02/13/08

Pam Anderson's Perfect Brownies.

nantaylor at 6:51PM on 02/13/08

Bruce Bogtrotter's cake, from the Roald Dahl cookbook!

lam43 at 6:52PM on 02/13/08

Toll House chocolate chip cookies.

tech9803 at 6:54PM on 02/13/08

David Leibovitz's chocolate covered caramel matzoh crunch. MMM I want some now!

merav13 at 6:57PM on 02/13/08

I like to make molten chocolate cakes - so easy and impressive. The Best Recipe has a good recipe.

karen r at 7:11PM on 02/13/08

lava cake, mmmmm

anniehall4000 at 7:25PM on 02/13/08

my famous brownies, yummers!

samanthapayntr at 7:25PM on 02/13/08

The molten chocolate souffle served at Roy's Restaurants.

Frances Magbual at 7:26PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate mousse! Thank you for the contest!

RobsGirl123 at 7:42PM on 02/13/08

deep dark chocolate loaves from the cheeseboard cookbook.

skim at 7:46PM on 02/13/08

brownies!

javal at 7:47PM on 02/13/08

chocolate madeleines!

Marilyn at 7:52PM on 02/13/08

chocolate pot de creme

thegreatlumpia at 7:55PM on 02/13/08

brownies

llinda29 at 7:56PM on 02/13/08

chocolate mouse, LOVE it.

malleycc at 8:01PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies!

nancyandbruce at 8:06PM on 02/13/08

dark chocolate pudding

Natalie at 8:10PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate pretzels

neneelynn at 8:14PM on 02/13/08

chocolate mousse

gkang at 8:15PM on 02/13/08

Another vote for Chocolate Mousse !

mlstyme at 8:33PM on 02/13/08

My favourite today is brownies - I just made some.

ikkinlala at 8:33PM on 02/13/08

I love making ooey gooey chocolatey brownies!

mommyof3inva at 8:40PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate covered pretzels

smythbr at 8:54PM on 02/13/08

Dark chocolate brownies

nesta67 at 9:14PM on 02/13/08

milk chocolate

jkershen at 9:17PM on 02/13/08

Brownies

agsweeps at 9:17PM on 02/13/08

bread pudding

jessh1218 at 9:20PM on 02/13/08

brownies

leegwebb at 9:22PM on 02/13/08

french silk pie

uninorth at 9:23PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate cake, especially with mocha frosting

Netsearcher at 9:50PM on 02/13/08

Brownies with chocolate chunks!

windjunkie at 9:51PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate cake!

Stephen1969 at 9:53PM on 02/13/08

white chocolate cookies

nicnac at 10:01PM on 02/13/08

french silk pie.

theolotto at 10:16PM on 02/13/08

I love chocolate cream pie.

yadgirl at 10:21PM on 02/13/08

My favorite chocolate recipe is the Moosewood Collective's Six Minute Chocolate Cake. Yummy.

aburke at 10:25PM on 02/13/08

chocolate silk mousse pie!

rubykp at 10:31PM on 02/13/08

I actually prefer to eat dark chocolate all by itself. Favorite recipes include hot chocolate, chocolate ice cream and truffles (couldn't narrow it down).

thesu at 10:40PM on 02/13/08

Mississippi mud cake!

momrec at 10:43PM on 02/13/08

mexican hot chocolate. or my grandmother's chocolate cake. all i know is that it has beets for some reason. no idea why though.

anado at 10:45PM on 02/13/08

Melt chocolate chips, throw in some chow mein noodles and Reese's Pieces. Toss to coat. Drop by scant tsp on waxed paper to set. Then eat, eat, eat! Yummy!

sweepster49 at 10:47PM on 02/13/08

9th floor brownies

lilyrose63 at 11:07PM on 02/13/08

Chocolate covered Strawberries (VERY RIPE BERRIES!)

saxel at 11:08PM on 02/13/08

My mom's black midnight cake!

sowens at 11:19PM on 02/13/08

the chocolate oatmeal, peanut butter no bake cookies that my mother use to make are my favorite of all time.

jdown55 at 11:54PM on 02/13/08

chocolate chip cookies (comforting)

miamia at 11:55PM on 02/13/08

ANYTHING with chocolate--especially chocolate covered strawberries! Thank you for the contest!

AmberRose95 at 12:08AM on 02/14/08

Hershey's favorite brownies

nvtribefan at 12:11AM on 02/14/08

Triple chocolate cookies!

iheartnitz at 12:11AM on 02/14/08

German chocolate cake or chocolate cheesecake - hard to choose just one

peaches41 at 12:15AM on 02/14/08

Chocolate cake

fancyfeet48 at 12:16AM on 02/14/08

Toll House chocolate chip cookies (the recipe, not necessarily the chips)

jessie at 12:20AM on 02/14/08

I still think it's chocolate cake.

Bakersdozen at 12:27AM on 02/14/08

espresso chocolate cookie

sillylil at 12:30AM on 02/14/08

Chocolate Dobash Cake!

steevee at 12:32AM on 02/14/08

Old fashioned cooked chocolate pudding

Shannonlovesfood at 12:35AM on 02/14/08

brownies and more brownies

JOYVEN at 12:35AM on 02/14/08

Mocha Chocolate cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting and truffle filling.

aprille at 12:50AM on 02/14/08

chocolate mocha cake

stacy7911 at 1:08AM on 02/14/08

I like any kind of chocolate, but I just love chocolate macadamia cookies!

brmetcalf at 1:12AM on 02/14/08

Brownies!

jedimtb at 1:18AM on 02/14/08

Chocolate pudding

humbleh at 1:27AM on 02/14/08

Hershey's Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

333Crystal333 at 1:30AM on 02/14/08

espresso brownies, Yummy

timojeen13 at 2:03AM on 02/14/08

The allegedly original brownies from the Palmer House in Chicago. They're almost fudge. Super-rich. Evil. Instead of the apricot glaze, I top them with chocolate ganache, because if you're going to make this recipe, you might as well go completely overboard.

dbcurrie at 2:19AM on 02/14/08

Space Cakes are fun and easy to make

drming5k at 2:53AM on 02/14/08

barefoot contessa outrageous brownies

JerzeeTomato at 3:16AM on 02/14/08

no bake cookies

jmahurin40 at 4:37AM on 02/14/08

Chocolate Silk Pie for sure. Not only to I love chocolate but I love to collect cookbooks, please enter me in this one! Better yet pick me as a winner LOL

Dove420 at 4:45AM on 02/14/08

Julia Child's Chocolate Mousse

paryjeja at 5:27AM on 02/14/08

Chocolate Amaretto Cheesecake

clc408 at 6:05AM on 02/14/08

nobody knows the truffles i seen

Lemoyne at 6:30AM on 02/14/08

my twin daughters make the absolute BEST dark chocolate brownies. But they won't share the recipe w/me. They say they prefer to keep it special by making them for me :)

psalmstress at 7:38AM on 02/14/08

chocolate cake

tsegada at 7:41AM on 02/14/08

chocolate infused with earl grey tea

nibowl at 7:42AM on 02/14/08

Double chocolate cake by Hershey's cocoa mix. It is so moist, and oh so chocolatety.

swsweeps at 7:50AM on 02/14/08

dark chocolate truffles with a raspberry in the middle. I make a chocolate truffle mixture with chambord and into the middle of each I place a frozen raspberry. The raspberry will defrost inside and then you get a suprise when you bite into it.

gervitsd at 7:51AM on 02/14/08

the brownie recipe on the side of the container of Hershey's powdered baking chocolate.

french tart at 8:13AM on 02/14/08

Chocolate chip chookies.

herrinfamily at 8:24AM on 02/14/08

Death by Chocolate Cake. ( it might really be the way I want to go)

farmers13 at 8:29AM on 02/14/08

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Majorcat at 8:31AM on 02/14/08

Without question the Texas Sheet Cake with it's gooey pecan molten chocolate icing poured on the dense chocolate cake while cake is still hot. Yummy!

bb97036 at 8:53AM on 02/14/08

1. Unwrap chocolate bar.
2. Consume.
3. Repeat as necessary.

AaronBSam at 9:23AM on 02/14/08

olive oil brownies

hedgehog at 9:29AM on 02/14/08

Chocolate chip cookies!

atreau at 9:32AM on 02/14/08

Ina Garten's chocolate brownies.

dimsumfan at 9:34AM on 02/14/08

Still http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/14478 - it's so quick and easy, and it always comes out yummy!

amwhiteh at 9:43AM on 02/14/08

chocolate chip cheesecake and beer ;)

klp1965 at 9:54AM on 02/14/08

don't have a favorite chocolate recipe

lilyk at 10:10AM on 02/14/08

I'm going to be making pots de creme today, so I'll go with that this time.

kwatz at 10:13AM on 02/14/08

Chocolate chip bread pudding

iahawk89 at 10:23AM on 02/14/08

Even though it's a bit time consuming, the caramel chocolate cheesecake from Smitten Kitchen is amazing. It was the only dessert at thanksgiving that didn't have any left over at the end of the night.

Tennyo at 10:39AM on 02/14/08

I love Bailey's chocolate cheesecake.

idahomom at 10:45AM on 02/14/08

no bake cookies

redron at 10:46AM on 02/14/08

My current favorite is Jacques Torres's Secret Chocolate Chip cookie recipe.
http://www.marthastewart.com/jacques-torress-secret-chocolate-chip-cookies

VirtualFrolic at 11:05AM on 02/14/08

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie [by Emeril, (Emeril Live)], is without a doubt, the very best chocolate treat I may ever eat, so today's the day, and therefore on this Valentine's Day, I'm eating Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie! Since I have been dieting for some time now, this dessert is well deserved too.

cleopatraa at 11:13AM on 02/14/08

cleopatraa at 11:18AM on 02/14/08

chocolate flannel pudding

garrettsambo at 11:23AM on 02/14/08

Chocolate Chip Cookies by Elizabeth Falkner. I'm eating one right now!

nosher at 11:24AM on 02/14/08

My favorite is simple, comforting brownies.

blossomtostem at 11:25AM on 02/14/08

Chocolate Fudge Pudding Cake

pootieposh at 11:28AM on 02/14/08

Today I could really go for a "Mo's Bacon Bar" by Vosges!

peachfish at 11:45AM on 02/14/08