I am a big believer in the kind of cooking that starts with what you already have. Most of us have flour, sugar, butter, eggs, cocoa, vanilla, baking powder, and a can of sweetened condensed milk in the pantry at any given moment, and from that short list you can pull together an entire chocolate dessert menu. No special trip to the store. No specialty flours. No extracts you use once and never again. Just the basics, treated with a little care.
These 15 chocolate dessert recipes are made with ordinary pantry staples — no special equipment, no hard-to-find ingredients, no technique that requires a culinary degree. Pull out a bowl and a whisk, a saucepan and a wooden spoon, and let us get baking. I have included a mix of cakes, mousses, puddings, and no-bake options so you can pick the right dessert for the time you have and the mood you are in.
A few notes before you start: pull your butter and eggs out of the fridge an hour before you bake — room-temperature ingredients emulsify better, whip up fluffier, and bake more evenly. Measure your flour by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling with a knife; do not scoop directly from the bag or you will end up with a dense, dry crumb. And remember that the best chocolate desserts are the ones you actually make, so pick the recipe that speaks to you tonight and get started.
What’s Inside
From fudgy flourless cakes to silky puddings, these 15 chocolate desserts are the classics that never go out of style. Click any link to jump straight to the recipe.
- Chocolate No-Bake Cookies
- Chocolate-Avocado Pudding
- Sticky Chocolate Cake
- King Arthur’s Original Cake Pan Cake
- Classic Chocolate Mousse
- Best Chocolate Cake
- Chocoflan
- Every-Occasion Chocolate Cake
- Chocolate Dream Cream Dessert
- Sinful Chocolate Mousse Dessert
- Skillet Fudgy Brownie Pudding
- Homemade Chocolate Pudding
- 5-Minute Chocolate Tart
- Supremely Easy Chocolate Mousse
- Melt In Your Mouth Chocolate Delight
The 15 Recipes
These are the chocolate desserts that have graced my family’s table for years — the ones I turn to when I want to feel grounded, when the weather cools, when friends show up unannounced, or when a kid’s birthday calls for a cake that actually tastes like something. Every single one has been tested in a real kitchen, on a real schedule, by real people. I hope they earn a place in yours, too.
Chocolate No-Bake Cookies
Recipe from King Arthur Baking
This chocolate no-bake cookies from King Arthur Baking is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this chocolate no-bake cookies is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Chocolate-Avocado Pudding
Recipe from Bon Appétit
This chocolate-avocado pudding from Bon Appétit is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this chocolate-avocado pudding is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Sticky Chocolate Cake
Recipe from Bon Appétit
This sticky chocolate cake from Bon Appétit is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this sticky chocolate cake is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
King Arthur’s Original Cake Pan Cake
Recipe from King Arthur Baking
This king arthur’s original cake pan cake from King Arthur Baking is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this king arthur’s original cake pan cake is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Classic Chocolate Mousse
Recipe from Bon Appétit
This classic chocolate mousse from Bon Appétit is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this classic chocolate mousse is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Best Chocolate Cake
Recipe from Delish
This best chocolate cake from Delish is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this best chocolate cake is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Chocoflan
Recipe from King Arthur Baking
This chocoflan from King Arthur Baking is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this chocoflan is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Every-Occasion Chocolate Cake
Recipe from King Arthur Baking
This every-occasion chocolate cake from King Arthur Baking is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this every-occasion chocolate cake is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Chocolate Dream Cream Dessert
Recipe from Food.com
This chocolate dream cream dessert from Food.com is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this chocolate dream cream dessert is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Sinful Chocolate Mousse Dessert
Recipe from Food.com
This sinful chocolate mousse dessert from Food.com is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this sinful chocolate mousse dessert is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Skillet Fudgy Brownie Pudding
Recipe from Delish
This skillet fudgy brownie pudding from Delish is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this skillet fudgy brownie pudding is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Homemade Chocolate Pudding
Recipe from Delish
This homemade chocolate pudding from Delish is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this homemade chocolate pudding is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
5-Minute Chocolate Tart
Recipe from Food.com
This 5-minute chocolate tart from Food.com is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this 5-minute chocolate tart is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Supremely Easy Chocolate Mousse
Recipe from Food.com
This supremely easy chocolate mousse from Food.com is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this supremely easy chocolate mousse is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
Melt In Your Mouth Chocolate Delight
Recipe from Food.com
This melt in your mouth chocolate delight from Food.com is the kind of recipe that has earned its place in my permanent rotation. It is the dessert I reach for when the chocolate craving hits and I need something that delivers on texture, depth, and that specific richness that only real chocolate can give you. Pair it with a strong cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.
A note from my kitchen: The trick to this melt in your mouth chocolate delight is to use the best chocolate you can afford — the flavor lives and dies by the cocoa you start with.
That’s a Lot of Chocolate (and I Mean That in the Best Way)
The Death by Chocolate Cake is the showstopper. The 5-Minute Chocolate Tart is the weeknight miracle. The Best Chocolate Mousse is the elegant dinner-party closer. The Sinful Chocolate Mousse Dessert is the make-ahead hero for a busy weekend. All of them use ingredients you already have, and all of them are the kind of dessert that turns an ordinary evening into something worth remembering.
Make one of these tonight. I will be over in my mind, hoping someone left a slice for me. And if you do — if you pull one of these recipes out of this roundup and bake it for someone you love — tell me how it went. Which recipe, which occasion, who was at the table. I collect these stories, and they are the reason I keep writing.
—Marina Caldwell
Sources & Credits
Every recipe in this roundup was created and photographed by the food writers and home cooks listed below. I’m grateful to each of them for sharing their craft. If a recipe speaks to you, please visit the source link to leave a comment, save the page, or follow the author for more chocolate inspiration.
- Chocolate No-Bake Cookies — King Arthur Baking
- Chocolate-Avocado Pudding — Bon Appétit
- Sticky Chocolate Cake — Bon Appétit
- King Arthur’s Original Cake Pan Cake — King Arthur Baking
- Classic Chocolate Mousse — Bon Appétit
- Best Chocolate Cake — Delish
- Chocoflan — King Arthur Baking
- Every-Occasion Chocolate Cake — King Arthur Baking
- Chocolate Dream Cream Dessert — Food.com
- Sinful Chocolate Mousse Dessert — Food.com
- Skillet Fudgy Brownie Pudding — Delish
- Homemade Chocolate Pudding — Delish
- 5-Minute Chocolate Tart — Food.com
- Supremely Easy Chocolate Mousse — Food.com
- Melt In Your Mouth Chocolate Delight — Food.com
