Whenever I need a show-stopping but crowd-pleasing dessert, chocolate is the answer. This is a round-up of 20+ of my favorite chocolate desserts for every occasion. From chocolate cakes to brownies and no-bake cheesecake, I know you’ll love these easy recipes as much as I do!
If you’re looking for more delicious dessert ideas, try my favorite banana dessert recipes, easy lemon desserts, and strawberry desserts.
Is there ever such a thing as too much chocolate? As a certified lover of chocolate and chocolate desserts, I say, never. I can’t think of a reason not to have chocolate for every occasion. The first to come to mind is Valentine’s Day, with romantic desserts like chocolate-covered strawberries and red velvet cake. But chocolate is my secret weapon in so many recipes, and an easy ingredient for elevating the classics, from chocolate pecan pie to chocolate coconut macaroons to a chocolate Oreo cheesecake.
I mean, I’ll even melt chocolate for chocolate fondue and dip my chocolate cookies into it. And I have a round-up of the best chocolate chip recipes for a reason! Every dessert is made just that much better with chocolate. Whether it’s a special dinner, holiday, or everyday occasion, these are the chocolate recipes I come back to again and again.
Over 20 Best Chocolate Desserts to Try
These recipes are the perfect way to satisfy a chocolate craving! I’ve included cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, no-bake desserts, and treats filled or decorated with chocolate ganache, and more.
My #1 Tip for Baking With Chocolate: Choose Quality
The better quality chocolate you use, the better your chocolate desserts will be. The best chocolate for baking is high-quality baking bars. Look for brands like Lindt, Ghirardelli, Guittard, and Baker’s. Regular chocolate chips have a waxy coating that keeps them from sticking together, but it also prevents them from melting smoothly. Chocolate bars and higher-quality chocolate melts seamlessly.
Chocolate Cake Roll
Imagine a giant version of a Little Debbie Swiss Roll! This decadent chocolate cake roll is made from moist chocolate cake rolled up around sweet cream cheese frosting and covered in chocolate ganache.
Chocolate Mousse Cake
My chocolate mousse cake has thick layers of soft cake and creamy mousse finished with silky chocolate ganache. Chocolate whipped cream is my favorite way to decorate it.
Chocolate Truffles
Homemade chocolate truffles are a classic no-bake dessert, especially for holidays like Christmas or Valentine’s Day. Made with only 5 ingredients, this recipe is easy to customize with your favorite toppings, from cocoa to sprinkles.
Chocolate Strawberry Cake
Inspired by chocolate-covered strawberries, this cake has rich chocolate cake layers filled with chocolate buttercream and juicy strawberry purée.
French Silk Pie
This classic French silk pie is made from fluffy chocolate mousse and pillowy whipped cream. Best of all, this dessert is easy to make ahead of time. Just add shaved chocolate curls before serving.
Chocolate Pound Cake
A little denser than your typical chocolate cake, this chocolate pound cake recipe is spongey and moist, drenched in ganache glaze. It’s baked in a bundt pan so it’s perfect for feeding a crowd.
Brookies (Brownie Cookies)
Are they brownies? Are they chocolate chip cookies? Even better, they’re brookies! These combine a fudgy brownie layer with a buttery cookie layer loaded with chocolate chips. Make the layers from scratch or use a boxed brownie mix and refrigerated cookie dough!
Classic Chocolate Fudge
Chocolate fudge is one of the easiest no-bake desserts. This recipe needs just 6 ingredients! The result is firm, creamy homemade chocolate fudge for the holidays and beyond.
Red Velvet Brownies
I love these red velvet brownies. Inspired by the classic cake, they’re a romantic dessert with fudgy centers and shiny, crackly tops. Adding white chocolate chips makes them even more festive!
Chocolate Glazed Donuts
My old-fashioned chocolate sour cream donuts are so fun to make and taste just like the bakery version, right down to the classic crackly vanilla glaze. I’ll show you how to make, shape, and deep-fry these homemade donuts from scratch.
Chocolate Bundt Cake
Chocolate cake doesn’t get more fudgy and soft than this easy chocolate bundt cake recipe. It’s covered with chocolate ganache and perfect for any holiday.
Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
Cheesecake bars are what I make when I don’t feel like fussing with springform pans and waterbaths. These chocolate cheesecake bars are rich, creamy, and so easy!
Soft Chocolate Sugar Cookies
There are countless ways to decorate these incredible chocolate sugar cookies! They’re fudgy and tender inside and crisp at the edges, and perfect for icing, adding sprinkles, and covering with frosting.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
With rich chocolate cake filled and frosted with peanut butter buttercream, this chocolate peanut butter cake tastes like a Reese’s Cup in layer cake form. Especially when it’s finished with sweet-salty peanut butter cups and ganache!
Better Than Sex Cake
A decadent chocolate poke cake soaked with gooey caramel, topped with whipped cream, and finished with hot fudge and toffee bits. Does this Better Than Sex Cake live up to its name? You be the judge!
Hot Chocolate Bombs
We don’t just eat chocolate in my house, we drink it too! I love making homemade hot chocolate bombs filled with hot cocoa mix and mini marshmallows. Drop them into a glass of warm milk and stir. These also make great gifts for teachers, friends, and neighbors.
Easy Chocolate Cupcakes
Just as easy a boxed cake mix, but with so much more flavor, my Easy Chocolate Cupcake recipe is a go-to for all your baking needs.
Chocolate Rum Balls
I like to think of rum balls as the “adult” version of chocolate truffles. These easy homemade rum balls are made from creamy chocolate, chopped walnuts, and spicy dark rum. Make them ahead of time to really let the flavors develop!
No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake
My no-bake chocolate cheesecake is thick and chocolatey, even without the oven. The ingredients are simple, and the recipe is very easy. All it takes is a few hours of chilling in the fridge.
Chocolate Pie
Homemade chocolate pie is an old-timey recipe that I still love to make for special occasions. I make it from scratch with a thick, pudding-like dark chocolate custard and whipped cream.
Chocolate Ice Cream Cake
In the summer, there’s nothing I crave more than an ice cream cake. This chocolate ice cream cake has a chocolate cake layer topped with smooth chocolate ice cream. So simple, but so good.
Chocolate Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
The chocolate cookie itself is not overly sweet or fudgy, but it’s nice and soft. Once it’s paired with chocolate frosting, the flavors SHINE! Use this recipe to make decorated chocolate sugar cookies for Valentine’s Day, or Halloween, or frost a batch just because.
Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes
These chocolate ganache cupcakes are my favorite chocolate cupcake recipe filled with creamy homemade chocolate ganache. They’re finished with chocolate buttercream so they’re extra fudgy.
Mint Chocolate Brownies
These mint chocolate brownies are one of my favorite ways to bring that classic flavor combination to a dessert. Silky mint frosting is sandwiched between a thick chocolate brownie and chocolate ganache.
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Even with their crackly, snowy edges, soft-baked crinkle cookies aren’t just for Christmas! I fill these chocolate crinkle cookies with chocolate chips for double the fudginess.
Buckeye Brownies
Creamy peanut butter fudge and chocolate ganache top a fudgy brownie in this buckeye brownies recipe. They taste just like the peanut butter buckeyes!
Fantasy Fudge
Fantasy fudge is an easier way to make the creamiest homemade fudge! It’s filled with marshmallow creme and crunch from chopped nuts. All it takes is 15 minutes on the stovetop.
Chocolate Drip Cake
This is the ultimate three-layer chocolate cake for birthdays and parties! I’ll show you how to bake and stack the cake layers, fill them with chocolate frosting, and decorate the cake with a chocolate ganache drip.
Chocolate Zucchini Cake
I would take any excuse to make this cake. The moisture in the zucchini makes for a perfect texture with a moist and compact crumb. You hardly know you’re eating vegetables. Paired with a Chocolate Brown Butter Frosting, each bite is rich and decadent.
