Ghirardelli Giveaway
This is a sponsored review by BlogHer and Ghirardelli.
When someone asks if you would like to do a review of chocolate and in particular Ghirardelli chocolate there should only be one right way to respond – that being “Yes, please!â€
Thats exactly what I said when BlogHer asked me this question and its been heavenly, to say the least.
This basket of noms arrived just before my oldest’s birthday and I asked her what chocolate thing she wanted for her celebration. She turned up her nose and said she didnt like chocolate. I nodded and kept the deep shock to myself (winks).
Several days later, when the weather had turned really cold, I made some hot chocolate using the Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate and Cocoa and surprised the kids with it (mini marshmallows included). The oldest then admitted that now she loves chocolate and that she must have been temporarily nuts to not love it. I was relieved because I can’t eat all this chocolate by myself!
You can learn a little about the 158 year global story of this amazing Ghirardelli family at their site.
On top of the joy of trying all of these lovely chocolates, I also get to run a giveaway for you!
Read about that $100 giveaway at the bottom of this post.
I tried out one recipe in the delightful cookbook that came with this gift basket – “The Ghirardelli Chocolate Cookbook†Hardcover 160 pages.
I made the Chocolate Chip Cheesecake from this cookbook and we simply adored it!
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake – Yield: 8 servings source
Ingredients
- 1 cup(s) semi-sweet Ghirardelli chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon(s) Unsweetened Cocoa
- 2 ounce(s) White Chocolate Baking Bar
- 2/3 cup(s) crushed graham crackers
- 1/4 cup(s) granulate white sugar
- 1/3 cup(s) (2/3 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 1/4 cup(s) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon(s) pure vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup(s) granulated white sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup(s) sour cream
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch springform cake pan. To make the crust, in a small bowl, mix together the crushed graham crackers, cocoa, and sugar. Stir in the butter. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Press firmly to distribute the crust mixture onto the bottom and halfway up the sides of the pan. Chill the crust while making the filling. To make the filling, in a medium-size bowl, beat the cream cheese, vanilla, and sugar with an electric mixer at low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in the eggs, increasing the speed slightly as the mixture softens. Beat in the sour cream. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips with a large spoon.
Pour the filling into the chilled crust and set the pan on a baking tray. Bake for 75 minutes, or until firm. The cheesecake may deflate and crack as it cools, so turn off the oven and let cool slowly in the oven for about 1 hour with the oven door open.
Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Cover and chill in the refrigerator overnight before removing from the pan. Sprinkle the top with grated white chocolate. This cheesecake is best if eaten within 3 days of baking.
I wanted to also include a really simple preparation that uses this delicious chocolate in a way that showcases it’s beauty and is fun for kids.
Chocolate covered Caramel Apples
Ingredients
- 4 – 5 chilled medium sized apples
- sticks for apples
- 14 ounce bag caramels, unwrapped
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 bag of semi-sweet Ghirardelli chocolate chips
- your favorite topping
Directions:
Wash wax off apples with hot water and remove stems. Embed stick where the stem was. Store in refrigerator until just before use.
Add one tablespoon water to unwrapped caramels in a microwave proof ceramic bowl and microwave, 1 minute at a time with mixing after each minute, until fluid.
Dip chilled apples in the caramel until coated.
Put apples onto an oiled surface.
Chill an hour and then move on to the chocolate step.
Put your favorite toppings in prep bowls to be ready to act quickly.
Put chips in microwave safe bowl, add 1 tablespoon oil (I use olive oil) and microwave the chocolate at one minute intervals, stirring between. Do this just until the chocolate has melted enough to be a smooth dip.
Dip the caramel apples in the chocolate (or drizzle it over top apples) and then roll the apples in your toppings! Put back on an oiled plate and back in the refrigerator for later!
The Giveaway
This contest lasts from 11/15/2010 (9:00 a.m. PST) to 12/15/2010 (5:00 p.m. PST).
The prize for this contest is a $100 Visa gift card!
Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
- 1) Leave a comment below telling me of your OWN favorite chocolate recipe.
- (2) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
- 3) Blog about your favorite recipe, referring to this post by link, and then leave a comment here with a link to that post.
- Follow this link CLICK HERE and provide your email address and your favorite chocolate recipe.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The official rules are here: BlogHer.com Ghirardelli official rules
BlogHer/Ghirardelli exclusive offers page
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278 Comments
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My favorite chocolate dessert recipe is super rich dark chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting.
dchrisg3[at]gmail[dot]com
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/DchrisG3/status/14250410139189248
dchrisg3[at]gmail[dot]com
One of my fav chocolate recipes is a recipe I got from my mother-in-law! Here you go!!! Enjoy!
Double Chocolate Zucchini Cake
3 c shredded zucchini
3 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp clove
1 1/2 c vegetable oil
2 1/3 c packed brown sugar
4 eggs
2 squares unsweetened melted chocolate
1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c chopped pecans
GLAZE
1 c confectioners sugar
1 tbsp butter
dash of salt
2 tbsp corn syrup
2 tbsp water
1/2 tsp vanilla
————————————————————————————————————-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease pan.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, clove and set aside.
Beat sugar and oil on medium and add one egg at a time–beating well each time.
Beat in chocolate gradually.
Add dry ingredients.
Beat until smooth.
Fold in zucchini and chocolate chips and pecans.
Pour into greased pan and bake approximately 1 hour 20 minutes.
Cool 20 minutes and remove from pan.
Spread with glaze when cooled completely.
GLAZE
Beat sugar, butter, and salt.
Add corn syrup, water, and vanilla.
Stir until smooth.
I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/#!/FotoMacro/status/14326613474811905
I know everyone knows this recipe, but I love it and my family loves it and everyone I know loves it…not sure where I got it as I have had it for YEARS!!!!
CHOCOLATE OATMEAL NO-BAKE COOKIES
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 stick butter
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
1/2 cup peanut butter
Combine sugar, cocoa, butter and milk in a saucepan. On medium heat, bring to a boil for one full minute.
Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter (optional), vanilla and oatmeal.
Drop by spoonful onto wax paper. Let cool for at least 30 minutes.
my tweet http://twitter.com/#!/RePurrPussed/status/14331136851316736
I like making double dip chocolate chip cookies. Basic chocolate chip cookies double dipped in chocolate!
I have a recipe for a cookie with oatmeal, white chocolate, and dried pineapple that always gets raves.
I have a chocolate and peanut butter cake recipe that is incredible!
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/suburbsanity/status/14426313494368256
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com
Homemade chocolate chip cookies with lots of Ghirardelli chips! Yum…
Mmm, this looks great!
My favorite chocolate recipe is chocolate covered pretzels. Melt semi-sweet chips in a double boiler, drop pretzels in and swoosh around to make sure they get covered. Fish them out with a fork, set on wax paper and refrigerate or freeze until chocolate hardens. Delicious!
Tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/lilmsmoneybags/status/14452906451279873
My son and I made molten lava cakes for dessert last night and I think it’s our family’s new favorite (easy, fast, delicious!) chocolate dessert. Recipe’s from Martha Stewart on line, and we actually used Ghirardelli chocolate!
I have a recipe for mini chocolate/cherry cheesecakes that I make for the holidays. It’s my family’s favorite.
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/eswright18/status/14471373925646337
My favorite chocolate recipe is for my chocolate-chip cookies. EVERYbody says they’re the best ever.
Thanks for a great giveaway!
My favorite recipe with chocolate has to be no-bake peanut butter and chocolate cookies. They’ve been my favorite since childhood! Yum!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Tara
giveawayblogs at gmail dot com
Tweeted you!
http://twitter.com/Ida_Sessions/status/14512136780775424
I just love to melt chocolate and drizzle it all over pretzels. Yum!
tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/outinthemsticks/status/14517157299752960
My favorite chocolate recipe is my “Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Raisin Cookies”.
I like cream cheese swirl brownies.
I like a devils food cake with semi sweet chocolate chips and a dark chocolate frosting
tweet http://twitter.com/#!/vlbsweeps/status/14683170989416449
Mississippi Mudd Brownies are my favorite chocolate recipe. Yum!
Something new we’ve tried this year for the holidays is a chocolate pecan pie… delicious addition to the traditional taste.
i love oreo balls, no bake! just cream cheese and cruched oreos covered with melted bark!
I have a recipe for a Chocolate sauce, that I enjoy making for special occasions.
While the sauce is still warm, it is so good to pour over desserts or ice cream.
My favorite depends on the time of day, right now I am leaning to a simple layer cake with Chocolate frosting and strawberry filling.
My favorite chocolate recipe is the Never Fail chocolate fudge recipe on the bottle of marshmallow creme. I always add tons of walnuts.
I like brownies
tweeted Latest: http://nikas-culinaria.com/reviews/ghirardelli-giveaway/ less than 5 seconds ago
I love making my grandpa’s Chocolate Cherry Bars every Christmas
Chcolate cake recipe
2/3 cup
1 cup
4
4 heaped Tb
4 Tb
1 1/2 tsp
1 tsp
4 Tb
2/3 cup
9 oz
Dark semisweet chocolate pieces
Butter
Sugar
Eggs
All purpose flour
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Baking powder
Vanilla extract
Sour cream
Heavy cream or whipping cream
Semisweet chocolate pieces
Line your cake tin (3 inches tall) with greaseproof or other non-stick paper and grease the tin.
Melt chocolate pieces with butter over hot water.
Beat together the eggs and sugar, mix in flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and vanilla extract.
Slowly fold in the melted butter and chocolate mix along with the sour cream.
Bake at suggested temp. until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool the cake.
Remove the crusted edges on the top of the cake, and cut cake in half, horizontally.
Frosting
Heat the heavy cream or whipping cream in a sauce pan, stirring so that it does not burn.
Do Not Boil.
Remove from heat, add semisweet chocolate pieces, stir until smooth, and let it cool until in thickens.
Use one 1/3 of the frosting between the two layers, 1/3 on top, and the rest around the cake.
Put the cake into the fridge for one hour or more to harden the frosting.
This cake should be room temperature when served
Making fudge is something I enjoy doing…I’ve really been wanting to do that lately.
My favorite chocolate recipe is double chocolate chunk cookies.
chocolate covered pretzels is my favorite recipe simply but so good
My fave is German chocolate cake.
cjwallace43 at gmail dot com
Tweet:http://twitter.com/cjwallace43/status/14854797727371264
cjwallace43 at gmail dot com
My own favorite chocolate recipe is chocolate brownies with walnuts and chocolate chunks.
Here is a recipe for Coconut Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Ingredients:
1 1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. coconut oil
2 eggs
1/2 c. buttermilk
2 cups grated zucchini
4 T. cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. chocolate chips
chocolate icing
1 c. coconut flakes
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350. Cream oil, butter and sugar. Add eggs and mix well.
2. Mix buttermilk and zucchini together. Combine all dry ingredients (cocoa powder, baking soda, salk, baking powder, flour) in another bowl. Add the dry and wet mixtures alternately to the sugar/oil/egg mixture. Mix until combined.
3. Fold in chocolate chips and put in a greased 9×13 pan. Bake for 45 minutes.
4. Frost when cool and decorate with coconut flakes.
ajolly1456 at gmail dot com
My favorite chocolate dessert is one my mom used to make all the time – chocolate bread pudding made with a French baguette and bittersweet chocolate as the star ingredients – and it’s one that I continue to make to this day. It’s so rich and satisfying, with melted chocolate pretty much oozing out everywhere. I usually add fresh fruit, like strawberries, bananas, or raspberries, for an even richer taste.
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/guettel78/status/14885605376794624
my favorite recipe is homemade chocolate brownies
itsjustme62613 at gmail.com
tweet
http://twitter.com/MistySunrise/status/14893407579148289
itsjustme62613 at gmail.com
Chocolate cheesecake. Yum. It takes a bit of work, but the payoff is fab.
txhottie_86 at yahoo dot com
nothing fancy. Just good ol plain chocolate chip cookies
My favorite is a chocolate carrot cake!
My favorite homemade chocolate dessert is mousse. Thanks for the contest.
blogged: http://slehan.blogspot.com/2010/11/win-100-from-ghirardelli-blogher.html
My favorite recipe is chocolate covered apples with crushed M&M pieces. Thanks for the chance.
I have an old recipe for chocolate cake that includes black coffee. It’s a holiday favorite in our house and even better when made with Ghirardelli chocolate. mcgillrmcgill(at)charter(dot)net
My favorite chocolate recipie is chocolate brownies.
Im pretty simple…chocolate fudge brownies with peanut butter chips is one of my favorites…
Thank you for the great giveaway!
I love old fashioned chocolate chip cookies! They are still my favorite!
msjem2001 at yahoo dot com
I’m not much of a baker-so I’m going to share with you my chocolate in a fix treat -I have two- You will need-Rice krispies, butter, wax paper , a bag of mini marshmallows and one cup of Ghiradelli choclate pieces. I prepare the rice krispie squares as instructed on the cereal box. It is found on all boxes, including store brands-once squares are in pan. I melt chocolate chips either in sauce pan or microwave till they are very soft, almost liquid and then drizzle over the entire rice krispe pan.
Enjoy
My favorite is our homemade dark chocolate cake with vanilla icing! Yum!
I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/dresdenrain/status/15085350225444864
We love all kinds of chocolate brownies.
susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com
I have a recipe for chocolate covered pretzels with caramel drizzled over the chocolate, So yummy
stanleybilly(at)bellsouth(dot)net
My favorite recipe is Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Well I have many favorites but I’d say my Chocolate Fudge recipe, it’s one of the best I’ve ever tasted.
My favorite is Homemade chocolate chip cookies with Ghirardelli chips been making them for awhile love them Yummy!
tishajean@ charter.net
Tweeted too
http://twitter.com/#!/latishajean/status/15125951994134529
tishajean@ charter.net
My own fave chocolate recipe is for Chocolate Drop cookies, the ones with the oatmeal
I love chocolate cream cheese sweet potato pie!
Amaretto Chocolate Cheesecake is my favorite chocolate recipe.
I love making chocolate covered strawberries and kiwi. So easy and yummy!
lisalmg25 at gmail dot com
I Tweeted this giveaway. http://twitter.com/lisalmg/status/15151897627336705
lisalmg25 at gmail dot com
I have a homemade, from scratch brownie recipe that I love
Lovefool827 (at) yahoo (dotcom)
one of my favorites is chocolate espresso cake
I love to make dreamy chocolate pudding
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
tweet
http://twitter.com/Ardy22/status/15187024067698688
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
I make an awesome double chocolate chip brownie!
I discovered the Chocolate Sambuca cookies recipe when a coworker brought them to work years ago. I now love them and have to make them every year. They require 12 ounces of bittersweet chocolate and they are sooo good!