118 of Our Most Decadent Chocolate Dessert Recipes

Added caramel or nougat doubles the decadence of these super chocolatey brownies. These Turrón Studded Chilled Chocolate Brownies from Norman Van Aken’s Florida Kitchen, shared by Edible South Florida, marries the famed Spanish almond nougat with the beloved chocolate brownie for a treat that’s pure magic. And Edible Seattle‘s Caramel Spelt Brownies fall between cakey and chewy, playing peacemaker in the brownie debate. The added caramel shards elevate the flavor and texture, while the addition of whole-grain spelt flour elevates nutritionally. 

Image: Caramel Spelt Brownies, Edible Seattle

If you like a fudgy brownie, this is the one for you. Dark, nutty and fudgy, you can use hazelnut or peanut butter for this recipe—though, perhaps predictably, our answer to that is to make two batches: one with hazelnut and one with peanut butter. The addition of rye flour intensifies the richness of the dark chocolate and the nutty flavor of the nut butter, adding its own malty depth while making the brownies extra fudgy. 

Recipe from Edible Sea to Sky

Balance is often the spice of life in the kitchen and a touch of savory is just the thing to cut through the richness of the chocolate for a sweet-but-not-too-sweet bite. Edible Alaska‘s Sourdough Brownies add a cup of unfed sourdough starter or sourdough discard while these Chocolate Basil Brownies from 100 Cookies, shared by Edible Nashville, features chocolate brownies topped with basil-infused buttercream.

Image: Sourdough Brownies, Edible Alaska

Edible Vermont‘s The Best Brownies are made with buckwheat and sweet rice flours and tapioca starch—and taste best the day after they are made. Edible San Diego‘s Gluten-Free Brownies with Tahini Drizzle are slightly sweet and nutty, made with almond flour and elevated further with the nutty notes of sesame. Or simply omit the flours altogether, like Edible Boston‘s Flourless Fudge Brownies, made super fudgy with the addition of ground, blanched almonds and lifted with whipped whites.

Image: The Best Brownies, Edible Vermont

With three kinds of chocolate, including a full package of Popular’s Authentic Mexican Chocolate, Edible Rio Grande Valley‘s Popular Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies are an utterly delightful hit of nostalgia. An almond cookie sandwich, it’s the addition of cinnamon to the chocolate ganache that hits the traditional Mexican-hot-chocolate note in Edible Monterey Bay‘s Mexican Chocolate Almond Cookies.

Image: Popular Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies, Edible Rio Grande Valley

We’re all about solo dining, but unless you own a mini skillet we can’t, in good conscience, recommend it for skillet cookie night. With crisp edges, a cakey center and pools of gooey chocolate, who doesn’t love a skillet cookie to the very last bite? Edible Nutmeg‘s Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet adds semi-bitter or bittersweet chocolate and a subtle hint of salt to balance the sweetness of the batter. Edible Seattle‘s Soft, Salted-Rye Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie adds rye flour, which makes the cookie extra tender and soft and adds a slightly earthy flavor. And these Gooey Chocolate Skillets from the Lodge Cast Iron Cookbook, shared by Edible Nashville, adds chocolate wafer cookies for an extra chocolate oomph—and even suggests serving them in individual-sized skillets.

Image: Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet, Edible Nutmeg

The subtle, earthy depth of rye flour plays beautifully against the bittersweet chocolate in Edible Maine‘s Salted Rye Chocolate Cookies. For a sumptuous vegan and gluten-free version, try Edible San Diego‘s Vegan Salted Dark Chocolate Fudge Cookies made super fudgy and moist with the addition of mashed sweet potatoes and nut butter. Or if you prefer a vegan and gluten-free sandwich cookie with a bit of a snap, go for Edible Nutmeg‘s Salted Chocolate and Almond Sandwich Cookies.

Image: Salted Rye Chocolate Cookies, Edible Maine

Germans love their Christmas cookies, and as good as these chocolate-forward ones are, why save them for Christmas? Edible Michiana‘s Berliner Brot is a cookie, but a bit like bread and literally translates to “Berlin Christmas bread.” It’s lightly sweet and perfectly spicy with the crunch of hazelnut. Edible Rio Grande Valley‘s Elisenlebkuchen are a soft, cake-like and nutty flourless gingerbread mixture baked on top of a thin baking wafer then layered with a chocolate glaze. 

Image: Elisenlebkuchen, Edible Rio Grande Valley

We love a classic chocolate chip cookie but how about upping the nutrition without sacrificing taste? Edible Rio Grande Valley’s Texas Mesquite Chocolate Chip Cookies adds mesquite flour, which is sweet, nutty and chock-full of soluble fiber, making it perfect to aid digestion after a big meal. Or try Edible East Bay‘s Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies, which packs on added nutrition with local whole-grain flour and uses dates, honey, molasses and, of course, chocolate chips, to sweeten the cookies.

Image: Texas Mesquite Chocolate Chip Cookies, Edible Rio Grande Valley

The addition of espresso to chocolate intensifies the richness of the chocolate, making them the perfect pair. With a fudge-like buttercream that you could eat with a spoon, Edible Bozeman‘s French Hen Chocolate Espresso Cake also features a rich and moist cake that is intensely chocolatey. Edible Asheville‘s The Best Chocolate Cake Ever holds all the secrets for the best chocolate cake—and no one will know it’s vegan. And Edible Maine‘s Chocolate Cake with Chocolate-Espresso Frosting is a magical vegan and gluten-free cake that’s moist and intensely chocolatey, with a hint (or a kick) of spice.

Image: French Hen Chocolate Espresso Cake, Edible Bozeman

The iconic (and nostalgic) pairing of peanut butter and chocolate brings big flavors to these cakes. This B.A.C.C (Big Ass Chocolate Cake) is big and beautiful with three layers of decadently indulgent flavors. Or if you’re looking for something chilled, try this Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Fridge Cake from Fridge Cakes that tastes like a Reese’s peanut butter cup that collided with a cheesecake then rolled into a s’more. 

Recipes shared by Edible Nashville

You might not expect to see zucchini on the grocery list for making a cake but if you know, you know. The addition of zucchini gives the cake a superbly moist crumb, making it an especially good make-ahead cake. Edible Sea to Sky‘s Chocolate Zucchini Cake drizzles the cake with a chocolate ganache to give it a bit of fancy. Or go even more extra on the moist and tender with this Chocolate Sour Cream Zucchini Cake with Chocolate Glaze from The Harvest Baker, shared by Edible Nashville. 

Image: Chocolate Zucchini Cake, Edible Sea to Sky

These cakes taste like the holidays—and are perfect for any season. Edible Madison‘s Chocolate Cinnamon Cake with Spiced Orange Whipped Cream showcases a trifecta of flavors that makes the cake equal parts warm and fruity. Edible Boston‘s Chocolate Spice Sheet Cake adds a subtle tang with goat cheese frosting that’s not so goat-cheesy that kids won’t enjoy it. And Edible Rhody‘s Chocolate Spice Cake with Hot Chocolate Sauce and Mascarpone Whipped Cream is deep, rich and moist, and the perfect end to an elevated dinner party.

Image: Chocolate Cinnamon Cake, Edible Madison

This super nutty and chocolatey Turkish Mosaic Cake from Turkish Delights resides somewhere between a cake and candy, and is an easy no-bake chocolate torte you’re guaranteed to make again. But if you prefer a torte without the nuts, Edible Cape Cod‘s Tenerena al Chocolate is an intensely chocolatey moist torte that’s easy to make and calls for only a handful of ingredients and a very short bake time. 

Image: Tenerena al Chocolate, Edible Cape Cod

Beautifully rich, dense and moist chocolate cakes without any flours—alternative or otherwise. Edible Marin & Wine Country‘s Flourless Chocolate Almond Torte calls for almond paste along with a few other ingredients you may already have in your pantry and fridge. Edible Ojai & Ventura County‘s Mocha Chile Chocolate Torte adds warming spices, including a bit of cayenne and ground black pepper that gives it a kick. And Edible Michiana‘s Flourless Chocolate Beet Cake doubles down on the moist factor with the addition of beets.

Image: Flourless Chocolate Almond Torte, Edible Marin & Wine Country

Edible Boston‘s Layered Chocolate Nude Cake with Mascarpone Cocoa Frosting and Raspberries is a beautifully rustic cake made with tapioca and sorghum flours. Blanched almonds and brown rice flour make the batter for Edible Marin & Wine Country‘s Gluten-Free Chocolate and Almond Cake with Poached Pears and Fresh Cranberries or use almond meal and quick polenta for their Gluten-Free Orange Polenta Cake.

Image: Layered Chocolate Nude Cake, Edible Boston

The brown ale that substitutes for water in Edible OKC‘s Chocolate Briefcase Cake adds a subtle malty, yeasty flavor that elevates this sheetcake. Edible Nashville‘s Chef’s Market’s Irish Cream Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Chocolate Ganache with layers of chocolate, espresso and vanilla flavors is an indulgent favorite. But if you like it boozy, go with Edible South Florida‘s 86-proof Chocolate Cake, a chocolate Bundt cake with a half cup of bourbon (or rum, Cognac or Scotch) to start. 

Image: Chocolate Briefcase Cake, Edible OKC

This Bittersweet Chocolate Cheesecake shared by Edible Nashville is baked in a water bath, which tempers the heat and keeps the cake almost mousse-like in the center. And also super creamy, this Chocolate Basque Cheesecake from For the Love of Chocolate, shared by Edible Nashville, is also crustless, making it super easy to whip up. Or try Edible Rhody‘s Chocolate Almond-Spice Cheesecake, a gluten-free cheesecake that’s surprisingly light with layers of chocolate ganache. 

Image: Bittersweet Chocolate Cheesecake, Edible Nashville

There’s something about truffles that make you feel fancy when eating them and these Dark Chocolate Mocha Truffles are fit for a black-tie event. Made with raw cacao and nuts, Edible Bozeman‘s Cocoa Pecan Truffles are as delicious as they are nutritious. Edible East Bay‘s Alice Medrich’s Chocolate Butter Truffles come from the OG, the one widely credited with introducing the chocolate truffle to the U.S. at Cocolat. Add some crunch to the melty ganache with Edible Michiana‘s Toasted Quinoa Chocolate Truffles. Or go wild with Edible Monterey Bay‘s Hand-Rolled Chocolate Truffles that starts with a basic foundation and invites your imagination to run wild with the additions.

Image: Cocoa Pecan Truffles, Edible Bozeman

Edible Nashville‘s Malted Chocolate Cream Pie adds malt powder to give it the chocolate malt touch—and if you like your chocolate over the top, use chocolate cookies in place of graham crackers for the crust. Edible New Mexico‘s Dark Chocolate Pot de Crème Tart with Espresso Whipped Cream and Salted Caramel is a rich twist on the classic French pot de creme with a shortbread crust. And Edible Western NY‘s Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie with Quinoa and Oat Crust is a gluten-free crowd pleaser. 

Image: Malted Chocolate Cream Pie, Edible Nashville

If you’re a fan of the classic chocolate-and-orange pairing, you have to try Edible Indy‘s Orange Espresso Chocolate Pie with a chocolate sandwich cookie crust and silky chocolate filling. Edible Western NY‘s Black Forest Custard Crunch is a riff on the traditional Black Forest cake made with fresh (or frozen) cherries. With just a handful of ingredients, Edible Sarasota‘s Chocolate Tart with Berries comes out of the pan ready to impress. And Edible Delmarva‘s Maggie’s Pomegranate Avocado Chocolate Torte is a nutritious favorite with a chocolate shortcrust pastry, chocolate avocado mousse and pomegranate gel. 

Image: Orange Espresso Chocolate Pie, Edible Indy

Edible Sea to Sky‘s Chocolate Mousse is a two-ingredient classic. Sweet and tart berries contrast beautifully with the silky smooth chocolate mousse in Edible Boston‘s Chocolate Raspberry Mousse. Or if you like things sweet and tangy, Edible Madison‘s Chocolate Yogurt “Mousse” is a dairy-heavy recipe that combines equal parts heavy cream and whole Greek yogurt. Or go for full indulgence with Edible Southeastern Massachusetts‘s Hazelnut Chocolate Sea Salt Mousse, a blissful blend of creamy hazelnut spread, rich dark chocolate and airy whipped cream.

Image: Chocolate Raspberry Mousse, Edible Boston

Edible Rhody‘s Homemade Chocolate Pudding is just about the easiest thing you can whip up with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and fridge and can be made with any type of chocolate, from milk to super dark, in accordance with your tastebuds. The addition of sesame-based tahini in Edible Maine‘s Chocolate Tahini Pudding adds a delightfully nutty note to an otherwise familiar favorite. 

Image: Chocolate Tahini Pudding, Edible Maine

There are few desserts more impressive than a soufflé and these chocolate ones are sheer decadence. Edible Michiana‘s Chocolate Mocha Soufflé is not overly sweet but is elegant in all ways—in texture, taste and flair. And this Chocolate Mint Soufflé from My Life in Recipes, shared by Edible Vermont, is simply stunning, and has a built-in backup plan if overcooked: Voila, it’s a flourless molten chocolate cake. 

Image: Chocolate Mocha Soufflé, Edible Michiana

Edible Sarasota‘s Vegan Chocolate, Coconut & Strawberry Parfaits are layered with chocolate pudding, coconut cream and strawberries then topped with chocolate flakes. Edible Ojai & Ventura County‘s Chocolate Avocado Mousse with Homemade Strawberry Jam offer a delicious low-sugar treat that’s made lusciously creamy with avocados. Or turn those avocados into a chocolate pudding with Edible San Diego‘s Chili-Chocolate Avocado Pudding.

Image: Chocolate Avocado Mousse, Edible Ojai & Ventura County