Gifts from the Kitchen: Spice-Scented Southwest Chocolate Sauce Recipe

You can't go wrong with chocolate as a holiday gift. Hey! It's the holidays! No dieting allowed!

I wanted to make a southwest version of chocolate sauce, so I decided to go with cocoa powder and southwest spices, used lightly to give just a hint. To add richness, I added a little dark cocoa powder to the regular Dutch cocoa powder.

This is a beautiful, rich sauce that is full of flavor. Just a few spoonfuls is all you need to top brownies, ice cream or to drizzle over your favorite desserts. My hubby added a spoonful to milk and made a delicious rich hot chocolate drink.

The last few years I have also loved adding a little spice to chocolate recipes to "wake up" the taste. The beauty of this recipe is that you can choose your own flavors to pair with the chocolate. I like southwest spices, so I used chipotle, cinnamon and almond. Or, you could try orange zest or extract. Peppermint is always a perfect chocolate pairing, too!

I say be creative! Go wild! The choice is yours!

Wonderful Season's Eatings to All Southwest Food Fans! SPICED HOT FUDGE SAUCE

Makes 3 cups

1 ½ cups sugar
⅔ cup light corn syrup
1 cup regular cocoa powder
2 tablespoons dark cocoa powder
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
½ cup unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon salt
Seasonings as desired**

Combine sugar, corn syrup, cocoa powders and evaporated milk in a large stockpot. Cook over medium high heat until mixture comes to a full rolling boil. Turn heat to medium low and continue cooking for 8 to 10 minutes, whisking frequently to release steam and help thicken sauce.

Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla and salt until butter is completely melted. Let col to warm.

** At this point, taste and add in whatever seasonings you like. Try a teaspoon of extract, such as almond, peppermint, or orange. I also added a teaspoon of cayenne pepper sauce and a dash or two of cinnamon. But, don't go crazy with the spices, because you want the chocolate taste to shine through. Just use a hint of your favorite spices!

Serve immediately, or store in your fridge for up to 4 weeks, reheating in microwave before serving.

Other Fabulous Southwest Food Lovers' Gifts:

Candied Chipotle Pecans, Talk of Tomatoes
Baked Spiced Corn Nuts, The Kitchn

Salsa Bowl by Sur La Table - only $12.00 and a beautiful rustic salsa dish is yours!

The New Southwest Cookbook - An outstanding collection of recipes from the best restaurants in the Southwest

The Border Cookbook - A James Beard winning cookbook containing authentic southwest cuisines

Quesadillas, by none other than ME! - 70 fabulous quesadilla recipes with beautiful photos!

-- posted by Donna