30 Amazing Chocolate Recipes
Today is National Chocolate Day and what better day to honor my sweet friend Joan from Chocolate Chocolate & More!
The best thing about being a food blogger is our community. Our community is strong… and loving. We help each other, we guide one another and we love each other. It’s hard to imagine that I would meet some of my best and closest friends through food blogging but that’s exactly what happened. We share ideas, we support one another in business but we also become a part of each other’s real lives. We share our families, our hopes, our sorrows and our dreams.
This week was a truly difficult week as the the food blogging world is sharing much sorrow.
We had to say goodbye to an incredible friend, blogger and mentor far too soon. My sweet friend Joan, the blogger behind Chocolate Chocolate & More, suffered a fatal heart attack on Thursday morning at the young age of 49. She leaves behind 3 beautiful children, a loving family and countless friends. (Please read, know and share the symptoms of a heart attack here).
I’m not sure I can find the words to tell you exactly what an amazing woman Joan was! Regardless of who you are, Joan always had time for you and did everything she could to help you. She always had open arms, a laugh, and a smile, she was as full of life as anyone could be.
The only thing sweeter than chocolate was Joan. I truly believe if we all tried to live our lives a little more like Joan, the world would be a better place.
What better way to honor my friend, who I dub the Queen of Chocolate, than a round-up of truly delicious chocolate goodies!
CHOCOLATE CAKES
Death By Chocolate Devil’s Food Cake
Death By Chocolate Devil’s Food Cake (photo above)
Chocolate Poke Cake From Scratch
CHOCOLATE COOKIES
Dark Chocolate Truffle Cookies
The Dark Chocolate Truffle Cookies recipe above is a recipe Joan developed in honor of a recent Chocolate Tour we took in Seattle! It was such great fun and we literally got to taste so much chocolate I couldn’t keep up… Joan had no problem getting through all of the chocolate. She was my chocolate idol.
More chocolate inspired cookies:
Dark Chocolate Truffle Cookies (photo above)
No Bake Chocolate Cookies (Peanut Free)
BARS & BROWNIES
Lunch Lady Brownies
Lunch Lady Brownies (photo above)
Brownie Bottom Cheesecake Bars
NO BAKE CHOCOLATE DESSERTS
3 Minute Fudge
3 Minute Fudge is one of Joan’s most popular recipes of all time! Give it a try and you’ll see why! Just last week Joan and I chatted on the phone for a while… we were discussing a few things and this recipe was one of them. I was going to make a version of this recipe for my site because Joan said it was a huge favorite… and Joan was going to make a version of my chocolate poke cake because that was her most favorite from my site. You can expect a twist on Joan’s fudge coming soon… and I will be doing a special guest post on Chocolate Chocolate & More with a fun twist on my poke cake made especially for Joan!
More easy no bake recipes:
3 Minute Fudge (photo above)
Chocolate Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
CHOCOLATE PIES
Easy Brownie Pie
No list of desserts would be complete without pie… and of course chocolatey pie in honor of my chocolate loving friend. Joan will be forever missed and loved. She has inspired me in more ways than you know.
Chocolate Lover’s Pies:
Easy Brownie Pie (photo above)
This a very tasty recipes
We agree! Thanks Olympia!
My heartfelt condolences regarding your friend Joan. Thank you for sharing this post.
Thank you Elizabeth.
Thank you for sharing her amazing recipes.
Joan was a shining star and gone way too soon. She was also happy to meet you, too Holly. Too beautiful to be forgotten by any who loved her she’ll forever remain in our hearts.
Aaw.another wonderful and touching tribute to Joan Hayes. Am a total “baby”to this world. Discovering this corner of the internet in March. Recovering from a serious surgery,found Joans’blog and since am following well over 200,25binders full of yummy! That smile Joan has! All the people she touched. Such a loss. Thanks to you and all the others in the foodie world,that shared such precious memories of a truly memorable woman. May all be surrounded with love, peace, and comfort in the legacy that will live on.
Awww you’ve captured all of Joan’s best treats in one delicious round up!! She would be honored :)
Thank you Aimee.
I can hear her reaction now at the thought of sending the dessert cart away. Oh, that makes me laugh. She did not do many things in moderation and she truly believed that there should always be dessert. I’m so happy you were able to meet at last and spend time in person. She was truly one in a million.
It makes me laugh a little every time Mary. :) I will truly cherish every moment we had.