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Cook the Book: 'Chocolate Holidays'

20080204-chochol.jpgValentine's Day is just around the corner, so with the next two Cook the Book selections we will concern ourselves with sweets appropriate for the occasion. The first of our cookbooks for exploration is Alice Medrich's Chocolate Holidays: Unforgettable Desserts for Every Season. The book is geared toward people who love baking but might not have the time to devote to it, so each of its recipes has been chosen for brevity and ease of preparation.

The first of these will be along in a few minutes, but first, we'd like to let you know you can win a copy of this book. All you have to do is answer in the comments below: How do you indulge in chocolate? Hot cocoa? Chocolate cake? A rich and creamy pudding? Chocolate bars?

Winners will be chosen at random from among the commenters, and comments will be open until noon ET, Monday, February 11. The standard Serious Eats contest rules apply.

Comments are closed: 387 Comments:

i roll around in it... or maybe just use it a ganache

Caramello. I try other things, but I always return to Caramello.

Whole Foods house brand bars. Come back from recall soon!!

Dark chocolate...plain, perfect

Mmm definitely dark chocolate bars, with any add-in (nuts, spice, etc.) I'm surprisingly good at just having one or two pieces at a time.

Hmm depends on my mood.... Could be phish food ice cream one day and the next time chocolate pudding and the time after that a candy bar. Basically, any way i can get it.

one piece of chocolate (any kind) every night. can't go without it now :P

anything, depends on the mood. I almost always crave chocolate.

brownies...ice cream...maybe brownies and ice cream...with hot fudge.

Usually I take mine straight up, from a chocolate bar. A good one.

Really decadent chocolate cake is probably my favorite way to indulge.

hot chocolate and chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting. yummy

Reese's peanut butter cups. The interplay between salty and sweet really can't be beat. And I really did not mean to rhyme there.

It's a steady part of my diet, so I don't call it indulging.

Warm dark chocolate brownies straight from the oven.

My favorite chocolate indulgence is Chocolate Decadence:)

Homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Trader Joe's 100-calorie dark chocolate bars, and the occasional pint of Green and Black's Organic Dark Chocolate ice cream.

hot chocolate in the winter, chocolate covered strawberries in the summer.

Rocky Road ice cream preferrably homemade!!!

German chocolate cake.

chocolate anything is great

flourless chocolate cake!

three tier devils food cake with chocolate ganache between each layer with the whole thing covered in white icing.

Chocolate cake, ice cream, or Dove chocolate bars.

A piece of dark chocolate with a cup of coffee every afternoon.

usually with a good book chocolate covered cherries

plain and dark

Chocolate ice cream.

cadbury fruit and nut bars, or cherry cordials

chocolate molten cake...hands down :)

the aroma alone!

Hershey Special DARK

I constantly raid my supply of chocolate chips, I absolutely must have some chocolate every day!

Love really high quality chocolate, but not a chocoholic. I could easily live without it. BUT, when I'm in the mood for some, I really just need a small taste of something really rich and quite dark.

Mostly, my habit is to just break a square off the bar of Valrhona Noir that's stashed in my pantry closet, and take little nibbles that I let melt on my tongue. Ideally followed by a swig from my a glass of cab.

I bought chocolate covered cherries for a Christmas gathering. When I returned home from the store, no one was home. I swear I could hear those things calling my name while I was busy reading my email. I went to the kitchen, opened the box, ate the entire contents, put the empty box at the bottom of the trash bin. No one ever even knew I ever had them. Yes, I love chocolate.

Hot cocoa AND chocolate bars--just not at the same time.

Homemade chocolate espresso brownies- sooooo gooood!

A high-quality chocolate bar. I'd love to be eating a rich chocolate pudding cake, but now must trim down the calories...

I love Lindt chocolates

I make chocolate ice cream or just munch some bittersweet

I love any kind of chocolate, but I'm really a sucker for great solid chocolate pieces or nuts covered in chocolate. Thanks for the giveaway. This book sounds awesome.

homemade valhrona brownies

Ghirardelli brownie mix (for mid-week therapy), "Hershey's Hugs" hot cocoa (for cold nights), and mini Heath bars (for every afternoon). Quality? Maybe not. But I love it all.

I enjoy chocolate most in the form of a Black Forest Cake. I think chocolate and cherries are a perfect pair.

I love the hot chocolate at the Jacques Torres on Amsterdam Avenue!

Sometimes only a hunk of pure dark chocolate will do. Other times a fudgy chocolate brownie with a scoop of chocolate ice cream, hot fudge sauce, whipped cream and some fresh raspberries does the trick. The great thing about chocolate is that it's very versatile and loves to please!

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate bars, homemade hot cocoa, really cheap cordial cherries, chocolate bread - mmmmm!

brownies, chocolate bars, ice cream... really, whatever you put in front of me.

hot chocolate with a gloppy spoonful of condensed milk stirred in

By eating only once a month.

Lindt truffles, most varieties. And chunks in mint or coffee ice cream.

homemade hot chocolate

I love anything chocolate. Hot chocolate, chocolate milk, chocolate candy, chocolate milke shakes.......Did I mention I love chocolate

Chocolate ice cream!

Mostly just a solid bar of dark chocolate, or a hot cup a' cocoa.

CHOCOLATE COVERED PRETZELS!!! YUMMY!!

Every year after Christmas, Godiva on sale. Also, good hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows.

hot chocolate, chocolate milk, Malley's chocolates, chocolate cream pie, brownies, fondue, choc. chip cookies

Cote d'Or chocolate bars...pure, intense and satisfying

A bar... or a layer cake... or if I'm feeling a bit trashy, a sandwich of chocolate chips and peanut butter on toast...

I like to do 1 of 2 things......either make a cheesecake, and top it with a rich dark chocolate sauce made from scratch, or, make a chocolate cheesecake, and top it with shaved (and curled) chocolate.

I'll indulge in it any way I can get it, most often a little square of chocolate after lunch.

Hot chocolate brownies (with chocolate chips), covered in a chocolate-based ice cream that is packed with chocolate candy pieces. I wish I could say it is a rare indulgence, but this happens all too frequently in our home!

The simpler the better - chocolate bars (dark!) or flourless chocolate tortes

Any kind of chocolate love it all

I can't pick just one so let's go with Esther Price assorted creams from Dayton OH, Graeters Peanut Butter Chip ice cream from Cincinnati and Sees chocolates from California - absolutely any type and mix.

I need some chocolate right now!!!

I love fudge brownie ice cream

I love german chocolate cakes!

dark chocolate bars!

brownies and dark chocolate truffles!

Chocolate dipped strawberries are my downfall! (They are of course very healthy!)

chocolate ice cream with milk poured over it

My latest favorite is dark chocolate with candied orange peel. It's from Belgium and is absolutely to die for. I'm going for some now!

chocolate fudge sauce over chocolate ice cream

any way I can, but dark is best

Hot chocolate - whole milk, cocoa powder, sugar, cinnamon, pinch of salt, and an oz or two of Callebaut semisweet melted in at the end.

A thick,creamy chocolate malt is my fix !

Chocolate bars. Usually with nuts and/or fruit in them.

Dagoba Xocolatl or Eclipse bars.

plain dark chocolate from a good quality brand. plain, simple and perfect.

Brownies or hot chocolate ...or brownies and hot chocolate at the same time. yum.

dark chocolate ANYTHING

milk chocolate piece

Chocolate Chip cookies. Hot Chocolate. Dark Chocolate.

Mmmm.... I just indulged a few minutes ago by making homemade hot cocoa with real cacao... takes awhile to make it from scratch, but it's sooo good!!

Brownies real fudgy ones. Most days though I have a piece of chocolate candy, right now it's the truffle kisses left from Christmas.

Chocolate-dipped strawberries

I love Ghiradelli squares

Whipped ganache on top of hazlenut sponge.

Chocolate chip cookies. Thanks for the contest!

Rocky Road Fudge! Yum!

Brownies with a scoop of decadent chocolate ice cream with hot fudge chocolate syrup over the top. Everything is o.k. then.

chocolate
just chocolate
any way!

Chocolate covered strawberries

dark chocolate in any form, cookies when I have some time!

Chocolate-dipped strawberries

chocolate cake with chocolate icing

I love dark chocolate, especially those Valrhona Guanaja 70% feves.

How do I indulge in chocolate? Hohoho, it could be complicated as preparing a chocolate souffle (it's actually not that difficult), or as simple as popping the feves in my mouth, or anything in between, such as making chocolate-dipped strawberries.

How *don't* I indulge in chocolate?!? I love brownies, cakes, cookies, pastries, chocolate candies....

I make dipped strawberries and filled chocolates. Chocolate, it's not just for breakfast anymore, YUM! :)

I love to buy a piece of chocolate at the supermarket to eat in the car on the way home.

I melt it and poor it all over my wife and the indulge.............

I love making desserts with chocolate.

Chocolate works for me in every way shape and form, dark, milk, praline and desserts of every chocolate form. I am always looking for new desserts to serve and try everything. And alas, I also am a regular at weight watchers....

my all time favorite brownie recipe "9th floor brownies"

Chocolate fondue!

dark chocolate in any form

fondue..yummmmy!

I love it by the bar and eatting little bites to make it last.

whoohoo let me at the chocolate! I devour the stuff on occasion. ;0

I like it in all ways, but if I have to choose one, it's probably a simple dark chocolate bonbon or square. My current favorite is Poco Dolce's bittersweet tiles which are topped with grey sea salt ... mmm, yum!

Dark chocolate covered espresso beans!

So many choices...but when I want to indulge...

*Lava cake with ice cream

It's pretty hard to find the good ones...

I get down with chocolate every way!

Guilt-free hot chocolate made with skim milk. You'd be surprised how rich it tastes.

I try to ease the guilt factor by looking for dark at least 65% cocoa bars.

I love chocolate, especially the dark variety. Popping a piece of decadent chocolate is my usuall indulgence, however, when given a chance, I will definately sink my teeth into an incredible chocolate dessert.

fondue is yummy

milk chocolate is my fave

Dark chocolate and a glass of wine. The best.

truffels are my favorite

Chocolate lava cake is the best thing to eat on the planet. With vanilla ice cream on top.

Chocolate is the fifth basic food group. I love chocolate mousse.

I pair chocolate with everything..........except maybe garlic.

Chocolate is our favorite flavor.

Nutella by the spoonful.

During the winter, it's hot chocolate. Summer....chocolate malt ice cream!

homemade chocolate pudding. Quick and perfect!

Dove Dark Chocolate squares.... I nibble on one every afternoon, breaking off tiny little pieces and letting them melt in my mouth. It's good for my heart, you know!

Dark chocolate pudding

Hershey kisses

I make truffles every Christmas

a square of solid dark chocolate in the afternoon... perfect.

I think brownies are my favorite way of consuming chocolate. Although a nice dense flourless chocolate cake is awesome too.

Any kind of chocolate anytime...I LOVE CHOCOLATE!

I indulge daily: dark and in or on anything or everything!!
Yippppppppppeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Dark chocolate with nuts.

I buy chocolate on every trip to the store.

bars bars bars

I love chocolate covered coffee beans.

chocolate covered coffee beans, i love those too!

Pretty much any way I can: homemade chocolate sauce, chunks of dark chocolate, hot chocolate. My favorite ways would probably be in the form of dense fudgy brownies, molten chocolate cake and chocolate cobbler...yummmmm

Reeces Peanut butter cups

Warm chocolate cake... the kind that is almost pudding. So good.

My favorite are called "brown sugar squares" from See's. I also love chocolate with caramel. yummmmm

If I can get my hands on it, homemade sacher torte "mit schlag". Alternatively, Jean-Georges' winter-spiced molten chocolate cake accompanied by Gale Gand's mascarpone and crystallized ginger ice cream.

Yum!!!!!!!

I like to take a small square of the darkest chocolate and just suck on it.

chocolate, chocolate anyway it is fixed is my favorite

anyway i possibly can, whether it's a nibble off of a bar of Valrhona dark chocolate or melted and drizzled into home-churned ice cream (straciatella rules!) Though I'm not a big milk chocolate fan, I also enjoy the occasional hershey's kiss.

rocky road ice cream

A big cup of Steven's Hot Chocolate in Milk Chocolate or Mint Chocolate Truffle. Mmm!
If I'm really craving a chocolate treat, I whip up a batch of cake balls. Delicious. You can't go wrong with any kind of chocolate.

dark chocolate... in my mouth... hmm..

hot chocolate, brownies, chocolate cake..YUMMY!

dark chocolate brownies

White Chocolate Bread Pudding from McCormick & Schmicks or Chocolate Mousse

eat it daily

brownies and just a bar of dark chocolate ... or dark chocolate w/ almonds/nuts ..mm.

brownies, chocolate bars, moose tracks ice cream, and about a thousand other ways.

chocolate bars

If I'm in a hurry, I love chocolate mixed with something salty--chocolate covered pretzels are a favorite. If I have time to relax and really enjoy the experience, then I love a piece of quality dark chocolate with a glass of red wine.

I love chocolate w/ fruit- like strawberries!

any way it comes... but I particularly like hot chocolate made with real mexican chocolate.

chocolate brownies! Chocolate Cake.

Open up a jar of peanut butter and a bag of chocolate chips. Dip a spoon into the peanut butter and then into the chocolate chips. Roll to coat peanut butter with chocolate chips if desired.
Best eaten in one gigantic mouthful.
Repeat.

I sprinkle a 5 oz. box of Junior Mints into my brownie batter before they go in the oven. Mm--mm, gooey, minty and extra-chocolatey!

brownies and cake and just plain chocolate is great too.

Chocolate Souffle

cacao nibs in everything, ibarra cocoa, chocolate cookies...anything to please the roommates...

A gooey chocolate desert with a glass of port-Yum!

Dark chocolate bar or brownies.

chocolate bread pudding

A little piece of chocolate after dinner (Vosages, preferably) or some hot cocoa in the midafternoon.

brownies

THANK YOU GOD BLESS

How do I NOT indulge in chocolate might be a better question, in my case.

Godiva Dark Chocolate Truffle hot chocolate is a favorite, but brownies, chocolate cake, Oreo truffles, even a Hershey bar with almonds...

I like my chocolate baked, thank you very much. I was never the type to crave candies, and would often end up with an uneaten pile of candy after halloween that i'd have to give to my dad b/c they were cluttering up my space. I am, however, a TOTAL sucker for brownies, german chocolate cake, cookies, and other chocolate delivery systems that have been exposed to high heat. Now my mouth is watering just thinking about that GCC.

I love dark chocolates, cookies, cakes, pies...

Chocolate-covered pretzels.

87% dark, so good!

I have a square of dark chocolate daily, and when it's chilly, a cup of hot chocolate.

dark chocolate...........nothing else needed

With hazelnut. Bring on the Nutella!

In search of the perfect brownie.

Straight up very dark baking chocolate.

So many ways - Nutella, Arnott's Tim Tams, Lindor balls, hot chocolate...

Oh! Terry's Dark Chocolate Orange or Harry & David's Chocolate Covered Cherries.....deeelish!

Any kind of chocolate, but my favorite is any Dove product. Thank you for the contest!

I love just about any kind of chocolate, but Dove milk chocolate or M&M peanuts always do it for me. Thank you!

I love chocolate in any shape or form. I've even started adding unsweetened cocoa to the pot when I make chili. It's a great addition.

As soon as the temps dip into the chilly area - I survive off of hot chocolate. It's a nice way to warm up on the inside where the chill really gets to you.

dark chocolate melted and mixed with other ingredients and baked into brownies . . . mmm

I love dark chocolate cupcakes straight out of the oven with no frosting. YUM.

Any way I can and the darker the better!

I drink cocoa made with unsweetened powder! Also very dark chocolate, 80% or more.

In any possible way. But I'm especially thankful for any that's dark and bittersweet. As for white "chocolate," keep it far, far away!

I love to indulge in fudgy brownies, the fudgier the better.

I LOVE dark chocolate--VERY dark chocolate!!!

If it has the name chocolate in it, I love it - hot chocolate, candy bars, cookies, ice cream, brownies - everything.

65%-80% dark chocolate. Bliss.

I love dark chocolate

It does not matter as long as it is chocolate it has to be good

Brownies, Candy bar, ANYWAY I Can Get It!!!!!

with peanut butter

Hot fudge sundae with chocloate ice cream!

Daily. Must...have... chocolate!

Truffles are my secret vice - especially if they're from Voges...

Chocolate bars.

dark chocolate truffles and red wine

Dark Chocolate bars, mmmmmmm

Snacking on shards of Callebaut dark baking chocolate before bed.

Yes. I mean, I indulge in chocolate in just about any way---as long as it's not related to fruit.

lovechocolate

I love orange cream fudge

Well, I'm eang it right now.

I have a little piece of chocolate every day.

I have a bit of Dove Dark every day for my heart
*giggle*
but to indulge,
I either make a cup of thick, dark, drinking chocolate
or
order some Martine's chocolates

rich milk chocolate fudge - no nuts, just melt-in-your-mouth chocolate

Preferably in the form of Nutella. I'll also accept Ferrero Rocher's hazelnut chocolate candies.

sometimes in bar form. sometimes in more indulgent forms.

Caaaaake... [drool]

Fudgy brownie. Cake. Candy bar. Not really picky, just need a little bit every night.

I'll take it any way I can get it. You can get me to eat anything, including scorpions, by dipping it in chocolate.

Bars and brownies.

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