cover image Deep Dark Chocolate: Decadent Recipes for the Serious Chocolate Lover

Deep Dark Chocolate: Decadent Recipes for the Serious Chocolate Lover

Sara Perry. Chronicle Books, $18.95 (195pp) ISBN 978-0-8118-6089-5

Veteran cookbook author Perry (Holiday Baking, Everything Tastes Better with Bacon, The New Tea Book) returns with a winning take on everyone's favorite sweet. Chocolate lovers can start their day off with the indulgent, gooey Chocolate Sticky Buns or Chocolate Dream Scones with Mascarpone Spread before breaking out the Vin Santo and Brioche Chocolate Bread Pudding at brunch and snacking throughout the day on various cookies and bars. Desserts are where chocolate really shines, and Perry doesn't disappoint with dishes like a Chocolate Gingerbread with Cacao Nib Whipped Cream cake, ""Baby Loves,"" a chocolate-filled macaroon, as well as Good Ol' Fudgy Brownies and the ""It's My Party"" Birthday Cake. Eschewing time and labor-intensive recipes, Perry offers an easy greatest-hits list, with 6 variations for hot chocolate, a fondue for every season and simple Mom's Frozen Fudge Pops for summertime. While there are already more than enough cookbooks devoted to the topic, the approachability and breadth of Perry's sweet, inventive collection make it worth the indulgence.