Intensely Chocolate [Hardcover]

Carole Bloom (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 12, 2010

A tantalizing collection of dessert recipes for true chocolate lovers

Chocolate lovers have more and more ways to get their fix with high-cacao, high-quality chocolate beckoning from grocery shelves all over the country. Intensely Chocolate offers luscious recipes for cakes, brownies, muffins, tarts, cookies, custards, candies, and frozen desserts that will make any chocolate lover drool. Here, you'll find new ideas, and classics even better than you remember them. From bittersweet high-cacao content to chocolates mixed with fruits, nuts, spices, and more-there's almost no limit to what you can do with chocolate. Intensely Chocolate gives you the ideas and guidance to turn this beloved ingredient into splendid desserts.

• 100 recipes cover beloved favorites like Individual Molten Mocha Cakes and exciting new ideas like Chocolate-Passion Fruit Ganache Tart.
• This lushly illustrated book also includes helpful information on available ingredients and how to use them.
• These recipes are perfect for today's high-quality chocolate, but simple preparations put these unforgettable treats within easy reach.

For anyone looking for a new twist on their favorite dessert or creative ideas for using high-quality artisan chocolates, Intensely Chocolate is the essential guide to the world's favorite confection.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Even after thousands of years, the world's love affair with chocolate is as passionate as ever. Regardless of the form and flavor it comes in, from dark and pleasantly bitter to light and milky sweet, millions find daily delight in the simple joy of the world's most popular treat.

Modern chocolate lovers have nearly endless options as grocery shelves abound with new varieties of high-cacao content chocolates and top-quality ingredients. Intensely Chocolate presents luscious, amazing recipes that let home bakers and confectioners make the most of this wonderful bounty. Here you'll find decadent desserts, from ultra-rich takes on classic favorites to creative recipes that feature the flavors of today's top-quality artisan chocolates.

This tantalizing collection of 100 recipes includes cakes and cupcakes, brownies, muffins, tarts, cookies, custards and mousses, truffles, ice creams, drinks, and much more—all ideal for satisfying your inner chocoholic. Packed with sumptuous photography, helpful guidance on ingredients and techniques, and simple step-by-step instructions, this gorgeous book is ideal for home confectioners of any skill level.

You'll learn how to properly handle and store chocolate, the subtle differences between chocolate varieties, and how to incorporate other ingredients like fruits, nuts, and spices. Intensely Chocolate takes you on an irresistible journey far from the everyday with recipes like Bittersweet Chocolate-Hazelnut Soufflé Cake, easy Mocha Shortbread Wedges, and an unforgettable Semisweet Chocolate-Passion Fruit Ganache Tart.

Whether you're looking for a fresh twist on a traditional treat or a fanciful new dessert idea, Intensely Chocolate is your essential guide to cooking with everyone's favorite ingredient.

From the Back Cover

For true chocolate lovers only

From deep and dark to crunchy and creamy, Carole Bloom gives chocolate the starring role in 100 tantalizing recipes: these bittersweet cookies, chewy brownies, and delicate cakes will delight any chocolate aficionado.

Praise for The Essential Baker

"Having The Essential Baker is like having a lifetime of baking experience and teaching in your kitchen. Enough information and recipes to last any baker a lifetime."
—Gale Gand

"Carole Bloom's quintessential handbook of indispensable baking fundamentals will make you the best baker you can be."
—Flo Braker

"An exhaustive and tantalizing look at baking . . . delectable."
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 1 edition (October 12, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470551011
• ISBN-13: 978-0470551011
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.9 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #979,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Fine Arts. While deciding whether to go to graduate school in Art History or Dance I traveled to Europe where I experienced incredible desserts and pastries. That's when I decided that I wanted to be a pastry chef. I studied pastry and confectionery arts at La Varenne in Paris and Le Cordon Bleu in London. I've also served an apprenticeship in a fabulous pastry shop in Venice,Italy and have worked at 5 star hotels in Lausanne, Switzerland and San Francisco, CA. I've also worked in top restaurants in Southern California and have had my own business making desserts and cakes for small restaurants, cafes, and individuals. For many years I made wedding and special occasion cakes. For close to 30 years I've been teaching my art to others, specializing in demystifying complicated techniques so everyone can make fabulous desserts, pastries, and confections at home. I enjoy creating desserts for my books to share with everyone. And, I'm always happy to hear from my readers with questions and successes.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Every Page A Delight! January 22, 2011

By JEMiller

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Who does not love chocolate? This book is the very celebration of one of the sweetest and most decadent treats of life- all things chocolate! I read cookbooks just like I would read a novel- cover to cover, making special notations and marking recipes to return to. This book, Intensely Chocolate, by Carole Bloom is educational, informative, comprehensive and most importantly, a mouthwatering, visual delight. If you have had the pleasure of owning any of Carole Bloom's other cookbooks (my favorite for any level of baker- The Essential Baker) you will recognize not only her tantalizing, delicious recipes but "Making a Change" suggestions for creating a whole new "take" with your own special "add-ins" or twists. Thankfully here is one author that gives us not only gives the baker consistantly accurrate measurements and methods, but sources for ingredients & equipment and storage instructions as well.

I am not always successful with using chocolate as the staring ingredient, but Carole Bloom's book has given me the confidance to become successful- My favorites include: semisweet chocolate truffle tart, milk-chocolate toasted pecan tartlets, and bittersweet chocolate-salted caramel truffles.

Every woman I know loves some form of chocolate and this book gives any baker or chocolate lover the open door to enjoy, indulge and share their chocolate passion with those around us fortunate enough to share these wonderful receipes. I have given this book as a gift to several co-workers and friends- not just for Valentines Day any woman would love to add this delicious book to her working cookbook collection. Here's to more chocolate!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Intensely Chocolate is Irresistible February 7, 2011

By Dee Long

Format:Hardcover

I can resist anything but chocolate and this tempting tome from confectioner and chef Carole Bloom is for the true chocolate afficionado.

Recipes are very detailed and on the professional level, so this is not a cookbook for the chocolate fancier who wants a 1-2-3 easy dessert. These are serious, heavy duty chocolate recipes that call for ingredients with specific cocao content or such specialty ingredients as cacao nibs, Dutch processed cocoa powder and chocolate extract.

Every recipe offered by Bloom is a sweet chocolate dream, lovingly illustrated with plenty of preparation and storage tips included to allow every chocolate creation to be an impressive masterpiece.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best chocolate cookbook March 13, 2012

By Ksalt

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Love this cookbook! I have tried many recipes and find that they are all so different from any elsewhere. Lots of positive comments!