My favourite chocolate recipes
These are the recipes to try on World Chocolate Day
It is World Chocolate Day on July 7th, and no one really knows why. It could be to celebrate the anniversary of the introduction of chocolate to Europe, way back in 1550. Apparently it was first mentioned in a 2009 marketing book which shared a business marketing calendar of ideas. But let’s be honest - we don’t really need a reason to have chocolate, do we?
And so I’m using this as an excuse to share some of my favourite chocolate recipes below.
Chocolate cake
For Olivia’s fourth birthday, I made this chocolate cake.
She wanted a Frozen-themed birthday party, but with some blue-tinted icing, and store-bought snowflake decoration that was easily done. If you have a different theme, you can adjust the icing and decor accordingly, or keep it plain and simple.
Chocolate Torte
I first made this chocolate torte as a dessert after a very filling, multi-course Christmas lunch. In hindsight, it’s perhaps a little too rich for that, but if you stick to a small slither, it is a delicious way to end Christmas! It is made with a mix of flour and ground almonds, which gives it a rich and nutty texture. Ideally, you should use a high quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa or more), although the first time I made it I used a ‘normal’ slab of dark chocolate and it still tasted delicious. Give it a try and let me know what you think.
Authentic Marie Biscuit Fudge
Is there anyone in South Africa who doesn’t love Marie Biscuit Fudge? I grew up making these for church sales, school bake sales and later I even had my first enterprise selling them for R1 a packet to all the local neighbours. To pass on these memories, I often make this recipe with my children.
No Bake Marie Biscuit Chocolate Squares
After I shared the Marie Biscuit Square recipe above, I decided to create an alternative without egg as there is a risk in eating uncooked eggs.
Technically, this recipe does not include chocolate, but I you can use chocolate chip cookies instead of Marie biscuits. I also like to sprinkle over some high-quality cocoa before serving, as shown on the picture.
To see how I made these egg-free marie-biscuit squares, watch the reel below:
Enjoy! Please tag me on Instagram if you make any of these recipe, I’d love to see it!
More Sweet Recipes
If you’re looking for something sweet, find some more sweet recipes just below the newsletter block. Sign up for the newsletter if you’re keen to receive new recipes each month, as well as information about events and other updates! Newsletters are sent out infrequently and of course you can unsubscribe any time.
Have you ever made your own Dutch Apple Pie next? This recipe is a goodie, past down generations and shared with me by my Dutch wife, Lianne. It’s the real deal. She also makes the Fluffiest Flapjacks, using this recipe, which pairs wonderfully with Pecan Nut Brittle and with a Berry Compote.
About Shawn Godfrey
Photo credit: Niki M Photography
Shawn Godfrey is an entrepreneur based in Cape Town, South Africa. After the Covid-19 lockdown saw his business in financial distress, cooking was the creative outlet that helped to keep him sane. To keep track of his recipes, and encourage friends and families to join him, he starts his instagram account The Roasted Dad.
Fast-forward to late 2021 - on a whim Shawn (encouraged by his wife Lianne) enters MasterChef South Africa. It is a crazy time of life: running a 200 people business and struggling to keep it profitable, two small children with a third on the way, and about to move into a new house. But when Shawn gets selected to be one of the 20 contestants participating in the fourth season of MasterChef South Africa, he decides to go all in. Leaving his 7-month-pregnant wife to look after their then three and one-year-old children, he battles it out and comes back home five weeks later with the trophy and a million rand prize money in his pocket.
It all started with an Instagram account, but The Roasted Dad is so much more now. Shawn has stayed his entrepreneurial self and whilst he hosts Private Dinner Parties and Cook-with-Me Demos, does Restaurant Take-Overs, he still runs the lighting company and several other businesses.
On his blog, Shawn shares Restaurant Reviews and Accommodation Reviews, and gives an insight into the wild and wonderful life he leads together with his wife Lianne, and their three children Aiden (7), Olivia (5) and Harvey (3).
Sign up to the newsletter below to be kept up to date with events, new recipes and reviews, or contact Shawn to chat about recipe creation, restaurant takeovers and public speaking events.
While it should be no surprise that I am the cook of the Roasted family, few of you will know that The Roasted Mom is the baker. She’s been making this traditional Dutch apple pie for me since we first got together fourteen years ago, and the Cape Town weather this week sure called for a slice of hot Dutch apple pie!