Spicy Chocolate Recipes

Recipes for spicy chocolate covered pretzels, spicy chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate covered jalapeno peppers, and more, as well as tips for working with melted chocolate. Let's spice things up!

Chocolate and holiday recipes are a marriage made in heaven. If you are like us, you’ll deeply enjoy a bit of a spicy kick to your sweet chocolate delights. It’s easy to do.

You can incorporate a bit of cayenne pepper or even another spicier chili powder, such as habanero powder, into your chocolate and proceed with your recipe. The process of coating your preferred food items is not difficult, once you work through a few basic steps.

Keep a few things in mind when working with melted chocolate.

• A double boiler is best to avoid direct heat, which can burn the chocolate and make it clumpy.
• Microwaves don’t work very well. You’ll see many recipes that call for melting chocolate in a microwave, and it can be done, but microwaves can be very touchy and it is easy to burn your chocolate this way. If you’ve never done it before, we say “avoid” the microwave.
• If you DO melt your chocolate directly in a pot, use only low heat and stir often.
• Crisco. Crisco works great to make the chocolate nice and smooth and easy to work with.
• One 14 ounce bag of chocolate will cover a lot!
• Spice it up! For each 14 ounces of chocolate, add one teaspoon of cayenne pepper or habanero powder. Taste from there. You can always add more, but this amount works well.

Here are some recipes to keep you cooking with spicy chocolate.

Spicy Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Ingredients

• 30 log pretzels
• 14 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
• 3 tablespoons Crisco
• 6 ounces white chocolate
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Cooking Directions

1. Heat a small pot to low heat and add semi-sweet chocolate with 2 tablespoons Crisco. It is best to use a double-boiler for this, but if you don’t have one, be sure to keep the heat low. Stir often until chocolate is melted and smooth.
2. Sprinkle cayenne pepper into chocolate a bit at a time and mix until fully blended.
3. Dip each pretzel into the chocolate and coat each side.
4. Set the chocolate pretzels on wax paper to cool. Refrigerate to speed up the process.
5. Heat a separate small pot to low heat and add white chocolate with 1 tablespoon Crisco. Again, a double boiler is best, but if you don’t have one, keep the heat low and stir often until melted and smooth.
6. Hold each pretzelover the white chocolate, and with a small spoon, drizzle white chocolate over the pretzel in a small but steady stream. Be creative with your designs.
7. Set the pretzel on wax paper to cool.
8. Serve!

Looking for more recipes? See below.

Mexican Brownies

These Mexican Brownies are rich and fudgy with gooey chocolate, seasoned with cinnamon, cayenne powder and my favorite seasoning, ancho powder. Brownies are the best dessert. Here is my recipe.

Mexican Hot Chocolate

This Mexican Hot Chocolate recipe is made with cocoa powder, cinnamon, vanilla and a mix of chili powders for just a touch of warmth. It has just the right amount of chocolate and spice.

Spiked Mexican Hot Chocolate

Cozy up to the fire this winter with a nice, warm mug of hot chocolate made in the crockpot with chocolate, sweetened cocoa, cream and kahlua, with a touch of ancho to help warm your bones, topped with marshmallows and chocolate syrup.

Chocolate Covered Jalapeno Peppers Recipe

Get your chocolate on for the holidays with this recipe for jalapeno peppers dipped in sweet chocolate and drizzled with white chocolate. A wonderful holiday dessert.

Spicy Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe

If you enjoy any of these recipes, I hope you'll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don't forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I'll be sure to share! Thanks! -- Mike H.