What would you say if I told you that I had a recipe for a luscious, elegant dessert that you could be proud to serve at your fanciest dinner party? And, what if I told you that this luscious and elegant dessert is so versatile that it can be made in several different flavor combinations? Are you curious yet? What if I also told you that this same luscious and elegant little dessert can be ready to serve in five minutes flat? Unbelievable, right? Well, believe it. It’s called Chocolate Silk, and it’s creamy, dreamy and delicious!
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The ingredients in the basic Chocolate Silk recipe are ricotta cheese, cocoa powder, sugar and cream. After that, you can pretty much add any other flavoring you want. I’ve given you a few suggestions below, to jump start your imagination.
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My mother used to make a version of this dessert for me when I was little. Instead of cocoa powder and sugar, she just mixed a cup of ricotta with a packet of Swiss Miss [1]hot chocolate mix and a little milk. In her mind, it was a healthier snack option because it was made with cheese. Not as sophisticated as Chocolate Silk, but I loved it anyway!
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Years later, when I was pregnant, I developed gestational diabetes. I used to make this dessert with sugar free Swiss Miss and lowfat milk. It wasn’t quite as rich and creamy, but it was still a very satisfying treat. Thank God for that! Who wants to deal with a dessert-deprived pregnant woman!
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The versions shown in the pictures are the original Chocolate Silk and the Mocha Silk. Other variations I’ve tried are Chocolate-Orange Silk, Chocolate-Raspberry Silk and Chocolate-Hazelnut Silk. Anything that goes well with chocolate will work in this dish. Throw caution to the wind! Experiment! Go crazy!
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Chocolate Silk
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1 32 oz container ricotta cheese
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar, depending on your taste
1/4 cup heavy cream
dark chocolate shavings and whipped cream for garnish
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Combine all of the ingredients, except the garnishes in the bowl of a food processor. Process a minute or two until the mixture is smooth, like silk.
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Ladle in pretty glasses or cups and garnish, if desired.
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Serve and enjoy!
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Variations:
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Mocha Silk
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Follow original recipe above, adding 2 tablespoons of instant espresso powder to the mixture before processing.
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Try chocolate-covered roasted coffee beans as a garnish.
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Chocolate-Orange Silk
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Follow original recipe for Chocolate Silk, adding 1 tablespoon of orange liqueur (Cointreau or Grand Marnier) to the mixture before processing. You could also swirl in a bit of candied ginger chips too.
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Try candied orange zest or ginger chips for a garnish.
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Chocolate-Raspberry Silk
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Follow original recipe for Chocolate Silk, adding 1 tablespoon of Framboise liqueur to the mixture before processing.
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Garnish with fresh raspberries and chocolate shavings
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Chocolate-Hazelnut Silk
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Follow original recipe for Chocolate Silk, adding 1 tablespoon of hazelnut liqueur (Frangelico) to the mixture before processing.
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Melt a few tablespoons of Nutella in the microwave and drizzle on top.
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Garnish with toasted, chopped hazelnuts.
Enjoy!