30 Irresistible Chocolate Recipes from Friends and Me

With the holiday just four days away, my kitchen is buzzing. The house is being tidied and reorganized, the shopping is done and the fridge is filling up. The turkey is dry-brining, side dishes are prepped to finish later in the week, serving dishes are laid out and labeled, and the table is set. This is my favorite time of year — hectic, joyful, and full of anticipation.

Because I’m moving at full speed, I’m taking a brief pause from posting new recipes and instead sharing a selection of chocolate treats from some of my favorite food bloggers, along with a few of my own favorites. If you haven’t visited these blogs, settle in with a cup of coffee — their writing, photography, and recipes are a real delight.

Irvin Lin of Eat The Love is a designer, type enthusiast, and inventive baker. He reimagines familiar desserts with unexpected flavor combinations and textures. His recipes are both beautiful and inspiring.

Dark Chocolate Sweet Potato Bread Pudding

Dark Chocolate, Butterscotch & Vanilla Bean Ombre Cake (GF)

Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Bars with White Chocolate Vanilla Swirl

Sabrina Modelle of The Tomato Tart brings a playful, stylish voice and stunning photography to every recipe. She’s a web designer by trade and a brilliant baker by passion — her creations always make me want to try something new.

GF Brownies with Spicy Mexican Caramel

Chocolate Tart with Blood Orange Caramel (GF & Vegan)

S’Mores in a Jar with Homemade Bourbon Marshmallows (GF)

Shulie Madnick of Food Wanderings is a talented photographer and recipe developer. I met her at IFBC in Seattle and found her warm and fun in person — her photos consistently capture the mood of a dish and her desserts are photogenic and delicious.

Chocolate, Chocolate Chip ‘Sable’ Cookies

Coconut-Meringue Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Yeast Cake and Roulade

Robin Ove of What About the Food? lives in Santa Cruz and creates stunning food photography alongside memorable recipes. Her work always leaves me hungry — for both the food and the images.

Coconut Porter Chocolate Cake with Toasted Coconut Frosting

Tiramisu Cheesecake with Mocha Ganache

Best Brownie Sundae with Irish Whiskey Caramel Sauce

Cathy Pollak of Noble Pig is endlessly creative and generous with her ideas. I met her at BlogHer Food and enjoyed tasting her family’s wines. Her recipes are inventive and approachable, perfect for busy families who still want great flavor.

Reese’s Chocolate-Oatmeal-Cake Batter Cookies

Coconut Milk-Nutella Swirl Bread

Six Minute Chocolate Cake with Chocolate-Balsamic Glaze

Annelies Zijderveld of The Food Poet writes with a voice that draws you in. Her storytelling elevates her recipes, making each post feel like a personal moment shared over food. Her writing is as lovely as her desserts.

Stumptown Coffee Bean Chocolate Bark

Rocky Road Popsicles

Peppermint Chocolate Rochers

Jeanette Chen of Jeanette’s Healthy Kitchen adapted recipes to accommodate her family’s dietary needs and turned that experience into a career helping others cook delicious, health-conscious meals. Her adaptations are practical and flavorful.

Chocolate Mousse with Pomegranate Gelee

GF Peanut Butter Cookies with Dark Chocolate Drizzle (Vegan)

Dark Chocolate Almond Cranberry Trail Mix

Rhonda Adkins of The Kitchen Witch is a talented photographer and recipe developer who once stepped in for me with a Chocolate Monday post while I was traveling. We met at IACP and immediately clicked. Her recipes and photos are full of character and warmth.

Chocolate Candy Cane Pie

Nutella-Stuffed French Toast

Cocoa-Covered Tiramisu

I’m grateful to the food community for the opportunities to meet these talented writers and photographers. Whether local or online friends, they’ve taught me so much and continue to inspire me with their creativity. If there’s one takeaway from this post, it’s the value of attending food conferences — you’ll meet people who will shape your cooking and your passion.

Enjoy the holiday week and the time you spend with family and friends. I’m delighted to introduce you to these creative voices and share some favorite recipes from their collections. Wishing you a warm, joyful celebration.

Here are my favorite recipes pictured above. All my recipes include gluten-free options.

Homemade Snickers Bars

Chocolate Brownie Bourbon Gelato

Mini Baked Chocolate Cake Donuts

Chocolate Mocha Tart with Kahlua Mascarpone Cream

Boston Cream Pie

Double Chocolate Bourbon Milkshakes

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