Whether it’s date night, or even girls night in, sometimes it’s hard to get creative. When you combine chocolate and wine though, that’s a duo that can never go wrong. Break away from the standard boxed truffles without being overly fussy in putting a twist on the classic pairing.
For these sweet treats, we recommend semi-sweet chocolate — nothing too dark or bitter. We love using Brix Chocolate for its smooth, meltable and wine-friendly characteristics. It pairs best with wines like a St-Emilion Merlot blend or Zinfandel.
Don’t Mind If I Fondue…
One of the easiest ways to spice things up is also one of the simplest: make fondue. Just chop Brix Chocolate into consistently-sized small chunks with a serrated knife. Place in a microwave-safe bowl and melt in 30 second intervals. Stir in between intervals until a smooth consistency is reached.
Now comes the fun part: choose your dippers. This leaves room to be creative. We love fruit such as strawberries, pineapple, kiwi, and banana. Other dippable treats include rice krispies, jumbo marshmallows, cheesecake bites… the options are endless. Place your choice of dipper onto skewers for the fondue fun to begin.
You Make My Heart Pop…
A standing ovation for this dynamic duo: popcorn and movies! Take it up a notch by adding a drizzle of melted chocolate over your movietime snacks. You can even try pretzels or potato chips as other sweet-and-salty alternatives. For extra flair, add sprinkles, crushed nuts or candy pieces. With new movies released every week on streaming services through 2021, there’s something to see all year round.
Whisk Them Off Their Feet…
Of course the most classic thing to do with chocolate chunks, bake them into something delicious. Replace store-bought chips for Brix Chocolate chunks in your favorite cookie or brownie recipe. Voilà, the results equal a perfect wine-pairing dessert!
Take A Pizza My Heart…
It’s no secret that pizza is one of everyone’s favorite foods… but have you ever had a chocolate dessert pizza? If not, you’re missing out! Start with a normal pizza crust and use melted chocolate for the sauce and marshmallows as the “cheese.” The rest of the toppings are up to you! Experiment with chopped peanuts, mini peanut butter cups, or cut fruit. Bake just as you would a normal pizza, but be prepared to bite into a whole different realm of goodness.
They Say Love Is Blind…
For the ultimate wine and chocolate fun, try a blind tasting. Place a few bottles of wine in bags to cover them up, then place different types of chocolate chunks like milk, dark, and semi-sweet into bowls. (Tip: Tape the label to the bottom of the bowls so you don’t forget which is which.) Taste them individually or together to find different aromas and flavors. Pick your favorite pairing, and try to guess the correct answers without peeking!
There are so many creative ways to incorporate wine and chocolate into a fun evening at home. Visit our online wine shop to choose a special bottle to celebrate. Don’t forget to add on Brix Chocolate to your cart at checkout.