Food and Recipes Desserts Chocolate Our 80 All-Time Favorite Decadent Chocolate Desserts By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 3, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Alison Miksch We Southerners are known for a few things: syrupy drawls, impeccable hospitality, and, of course, our skill for cooking comfort food—arguably our most charming attribute. And there is no food quite as comfort-packed as chocolate. Whether you—or your loved ones—prefer chocolate in form of fudge-drizzled ice cream, gooey bars and brownies, fluffy frosted cupcakes, or creamy custard, you're sure to find something in this mix that will satisfy even the most seasoned sweet tooth. Next time your social calendar requires that you to whip out a to-die-for chocolate dessert recipe, remember that we've got the formula to every rich chocolatey concoction you need right here. From Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake to Chocolate Silk Pie, these desserts are creamy, rich, decadent, and can be enjoyed year-round. We've got all the classics plus a few creative spins (have you ever added vegetables to your chocolate cake? Now's your chance to try). After all, there is never such a thing as too much chocolate. 01 of 79 Mississippi Mud Cake Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke Recipe: Mississippi Mud Cake Coated in marshmallows and fudge, there's nothing not to love about this Mississippi Mud Cake. 02 of 79 Kentucky Bourbon Pie Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Kentucky Bourbon Pie Chocolate, pecans, and bourbon, all baked into an indulgent pie? You can sign us up. 03 of 79 Ultimate Dark Chocolate Brownies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Ultimate Dark Chocolate Brownies Finished with flaky sea salt, these are not your average bake sale brownies. 04 of 79 Devil's Food Cake Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke Recipe: Devil's Food Cake Angel food cake just got a chocolate upgrade. It's devilishly good. 05 of 79 Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream We prefer to leave the sides of this cake unfrosted to show off the striking layers. 06 of 79 Fudge Cake Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Fudge Cake This classic cake is one of our most-baked desserts of all time. Yes, it's that good. 07 of 79 Sweet Potato Brownies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Sweet Potato Brownies A mashed sweet potato is hiding in these fudgy brownies. 08 of 79 Death by Chocolate Micah A. Leal Recipe: Death by Chocolate Dark chocolate cake meets milky chocolate pudding and fresh whipped cream in this tri-toned, scoopable dessert. 09 of 79 Cream Cheese Brownies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Cream Cheese Brownies Dark chocolate brownies get a rich cream cheese swirl to make an all-star flavor combination. 10 of 79 Chocolate Mousse Cake Micah Leal Recipe: Chocolate Mousse Cake Featuring chocolate cake, mousse, and ganache, this rich cake is a chocolate-lover's dream. 11 of 79 Chocolate Bundt Cake Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Chocolate Bundt Cake Garnish your decadent chocolate bundt with edible flowers to bring fresh spring color to the dish. 12 of 79 Chocolate Trifle Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Chocolate Trifle Make this simple Chocolate Trifle the day before the party and get ready to field lots of compliments. 13 of 79 Mama's German Chocolate Cake Photo: Jennifer Davick Recipe: Mama's German Chocolate Cake Pure Southern perfection! Layers of moist German chocolate cake and sweet-and-nutty Coconut-Pecan Frosting will make this dessert an instant favorite. 14 of 79 Instant Pot Double Chocolate Cheesecake Southern Living Recipe: Instant Pot Double Chocolate Cheesecake Just more proof that your slow cooker really can do it all, including cook a cheesecake. 15 of 79 Dr Pepper Texas Sheet Cake Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Recipe: Dr Pepper Texas Sheet Cake The soda's subtle cherry flavor pairs wonderfully with the cake's combination of pecans and chocolate. 16 of 79 Chocolate Torte Micah Leal Recipe: Chocolate Torte Richer and more dense than chocolate cake, this Chocolate Torte packs a punch of cocoa flavor. 17 of 79 Coca Cola Chocolate Cake Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Recipe: Coca Cola Chocolate Cake The unexpected addition of fizzy soda adds lightness to this fluffy chocolate cake. 18 of 79 Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Dusted in powdered sugar, these cookies boast a cracking texture and intense chocolate flavor. 19 of 79 Chocolate Silk Pie Micah A. Leal Recipe: Chocolate Silk Pie This pie is smooth as silk and perfect for the warm months, because we all still need our chocolate fix when it's hot out. 20 of 79 Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Jennifer Causey Recipe: Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies These aren't your average chocolate chip cookies. Brown butter takes the flavor to the next level, adding a slight savory tang to the dough. 21 of 79 Chocolate-Coconut Pavlova Cake Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Chocolate-Coconut Pavlova Cake This stunning centerpiece-worthy cake is made of light, pillowy meringue layers. 22 of 79 Chocolate-Zucchini Cake Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Chocolate-Zucchini Cake Zucchini is the secret ingredient to keeping this cake extra-moist. 23 of 79 Cappuccino Swirl Bars Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Cappuccino Swirl Bars Chocolate and coffee join forces in these decadent bars to create a crave-worthy (and caffeinated) dessert. 24 of 79 Chocolate Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars These make-ahead bars are the perfect worry-free party treat. 25 of 79 Chocolate Peanut-Butter Cake Southern Living Recipe: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cake Chocolate and peanut butter are a tried-and-true combination, and they come together beautifully in this sheet cake. 26 of 79 Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake Micah A. Leal Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake Say happy birthday with this homemade cookie cake. The kids and adults will all be in line for a slice. 27 of 79 Chocolate Éclair Cake Micah A. Leal Recipe: Chocolate Éclair Cake Éclairs are already irresistible, but served in cake form? This cake has simply stolen our hearts. 28 of 79 Triple-Layer Chocolate-Caramel Cake Greg Dupree Recipe: Triple-Layer Chocolate-Caramel Cake Looking to serve a cake that's really special? Rely on our showstopping Triple-Layer Chocolate-Caramel Cake. 29 of 79 Chocolate-Peppermint Swirl Sandwich Cookies Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Chocolate-Peppermint Swirl Sandwich Cookies These delicate and colorful cookies will be the star of the holiday cookie exchange. 30 of 79 Pecan Bourbon Balls Brennan Long Recipe: Pecan Bourbon Balls With strong flavors like bourbon, these fun homemade truffles will be the life of the party. 31 of 79 Lemon-and-Chocolate Doberge Cake Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Lemon-and-Chocolate Doberge CakeLemon and chocolate: an unexpected pairing that works oh-so-well. 32 of 79 Texas Skillet Cake Photo: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Texas Skillet Cake Think Texas sheet cake, but made in a cast iron skillet. Yes, we just went there. 33 of 79 Mississippi Mud Cheesecake Southern Living Recipe: Mississippi Mud Cheesecake This wow-worthy cheesecake is piled high with all the decadent toppings. 34 of 79 Mocha Pudding Cake Recipe: Mocha Pudding Cake This ooey-gooey cake combines all our favorite components of cake and pudding into one decadent dessert. 35 of 79 Chocolate-Cinnamon Latte Cake Jennifer Davick; Food Styling: Vanessa Rocchio; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford Recipe: Chocolate-Cinnamon Latte Cake Whip up this cake with the help of your trusted slow-cooker. 36 of 79 German Chocolate-Pecan Pie Alison Miksch Recipe: German Chocolate-Pecan Pie German chocolate cake and pecan pie collide in this ultimate fusion dessert. 37 of 79 Over the Moon Chocolate Pie Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Over the Moon Chocolate Pie This pie is sure to send you over the moon. The creamy chocolate filling combined with the pillowy meringue topping is the stuff of dreams. 38 of 79 Pecan Pie Brownies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Pecan Pie Brownies Can't decide whether to bring pecan pie or brownies to the potluck? Make both. 39 of 79 Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge Southern Living Recipe: Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge Make this fudge up to two weeks in advance. It couldn't be easier to bring a homemade treat. 40 of 79 Chocolate-Peppermint Cheesecake Hector Sanchez Recipe: Chocolate-Peppermint Cheesecake This festive treat has all the flavors of the winter holidays, chocolate and peppermint, in sliceable cheesecake form. 41 of 79 Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake Jim Franco Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake Let this elegant chocolate cheesecake be the centerpiece of your holiday tablescape. 42 of 79 Mini Chocolate Chess Tarts Photo: Alison Miksch Recipe: Mini Chocolate Chess Tarts If you make tarts often, Pam suggests investing in a tart tamper. It will make quick work of fitting dough rounds into the pan. Another quick-prep tip: Stack piecrusts to cut multiple rounds in one turn. 43 of 79 Chocolate Pudding Jennifer Davick Recipe: Chocolate Pudding This chocolate pudding is everything you dream of—chocolaty rich, silky smooth, and light on calories! 44 of 79 Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake Alison Miksch Recipe: Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake We took the traditional pound cake recipe and raised it a stunning, triple-chocolate twist. This cake means business. A duo of glazes—one creamy chocolate, the other subtle buttermilk—comes together atop this dreamy confection. It's indulgent and, we admit, so much fun to eat and serve. Chocolate enthusiasts will be over the moon for this recipe, but it has enough unexpected flavor—thanks to the addition of the buttermilk glaze—that you'll also win over the harder-to-please dessert eaters at the table. Warning: You—and they—won't be able to resist a second slice. Go for it. We won't tell. 45 of 79 The Ultimate Chocolate Pie Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: The Ultimate Chocolate Pie For the crust, crumble three-fourths of 1 (9-oz.) box of chocolate wafer cookies to yield 2 cups. 46 of 79 Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake Alison Miksch; Prop styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food styling: Mary-Claire Britton Recipe: Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake If you've never known the glory of a mayonnaise cake, you're in for a treat! The staple ingredient yields an ultra-moist crumb and keeps the sugar from taking over your taste buds. 47 of 79 Chocolate-Buttermilk Pudding Photo: Alison Miksch Recipe: Chocolate-Buttermilk Pudding This is the perfect chocolately treat. Top with a dollop of buttermilk cream and a sprig of mint for the ultimate dish. 48 of 79 All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies If chocolate chip cookies are your favorite, whip up a batch of these all-time favorite cookies. They're the best of the best. 49 of 79 Triple Chocolate Brownie-Mousse Stacks Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Triple Chocolate Brownie-Mousse Stacks Allow plenty of time to make fillings, and immediately assemble stacks. You can chill the assembled stacks up to 24 hours ahead of time. 50 of 79 Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie Hector Sanchez Recipe: Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie The new appreciation for whiskey goes beyond drinking and finds its way into sauces, braises, and especially desserts. Now bourbon and pecan pie fit togther like peanut butter and jelly or Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. 51 of 79 Mexican Hot Chocolate Trifle Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate Trifle Top this rich trifle with a sprinkle of chocolate curls. 52 of 79 Rebecca's Black Bottom Icebox Pie Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Rebecca's Black Bottom Icebox Pie With a rich, creamy filling and melt-in-your-mouth crust, this is quite possibly the best chocolate pie ever. 53 of 79 Mint Chocolate Chip Ice-Cream Cake Photo: Jennifer Davick Recipe: Mint Chocolate Chip Ice-Cream Cake This decadent ice-cream cake is truly a mint chocolate lover's dream! Top layers of mint chocolate chip ice cream and Devil's Food Cake Batter with a rich Chocolate Ganache and chopped crème de menthe chocolate mints. Make the whole cake ahead and freeze until ready to serve. 54 of 79 Mexican Chocolate Pudding Cake Photo: Brian Woodcock Recipe: Mexican Chocolate Pudding Cake A scoop of vanilla ice cream is an ideal mate for this warm, gooey spiced chocolate cake. 55 of 79 Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes Photo: Alison Miksch Recipe: Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes You'll hardly be able to bake these little gems before they're devoured. 56 of 79 Chocolate Cobbler Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Chocolate Cobbler This vintage dessert makes use of simple pantry ingredients and few tools for when you need a chocolate fix on the fly. 57 of 79 Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies Victor Protasio Recipe: Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies You don't need an ounce of flour for these cookies that are like fudgy brownies on the inside. 58 of 79 Best-Ever Brownies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Best-Ever Brownies Test Kitchen Pro Ivy Odom said she'd never met a brownie recipe that could top boxed mix—until this one. Try it for yourself and you'll agree. 59 of 79 Wacky Cake Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Wacky Cake This Depression-era recipe is mixed together right in the baking pan. You're going to love the fudgy frosting that's poured over a still-warm cake. 60 of 79 Dark Chocolate-Ginger-Molasses Cookies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Dark Chocolate-Ginger-Molasses Cookies These rich cookies have just the right amount of festive spice. 61 of 79 Chocolate Pudding Pie Micah A. Leal Recipe: Chocolate Pudding Pie The homemade pudding base in this pie is absolutely decadent. Chocolate lovers, you've got to try this one. 62 of 79 Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Jennifer Causey Recipe: Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies If you're not browning the butter in your chocolate chip cookie recipe, get ready for an amazing discovery. 63 of 79 Chocolate Water Cake Micah A. Leal Recipe: Chocolate Water Cake You might not believe it, but you don't need a drop of milk or a single egg to make this decadent chocolate cake. 64 of 79 Toffee Candy Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland Recipe: Toffee Candy You'll be amazed by the complexity of flavor Test Kitchen Professional Pam Lolley was able to pack into these delicious bites of toffee candy. 65 of 79 Easy Brownie Cookies Recipe: Easy Brownie Cookies With just seven ingredients, you can mimic your favorite brownie recipe in cookie form. 66 of 79 Chocolate-Oatmeal Pie Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Chocolate-Oatmeal Pie We reimagined old-school, handheld oatmeal pies into a pretty, sliceable one. 67 of 79 Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies This sweet little cookies are a nostalgic reminder of Christmases at Grandma's. 68 of 79 Easy Fudge Photography: Caitlin Bensel Food Styling: Ali Ramee Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland Recipe: Easy Fudge Fudge is always better homemade, and you only need a handful of ingredients and your microwave for this easiest-ever recipe. 69 of 79 Strawberry Brownies Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Margaret Dickey, Prop Styling: Kay E Clarke Recipe: Strawberry Brownies If chocolate-covered strawberries are your favorite indulgence, these pretty brownies should be your next bake-and-take project. 70 of 79 Classic Chocolate Pound Cake Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar Recipe: Classic Chocolate Pound Cake When it comes to baking, you can never go wrong with a classic crowd-pleaser like this one. 71 of 79 Grandma's Chocolate Drop Cookies Katie Strasberg Rousso Recipe: Grandma's Chocolate Drop Cookies Any recipe that starts with "Grandma's" is going to be reliable, and these are a Christmas cookie swap winner. 72 of 79 Chocolate-Peanut Butter Eggs Cedric Angeles; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Eggs Try something new this Easter and skip the store-bought chocolate eggs. They'll be the best thing in every bunny's basket. 73 of 79 Toffee S'mores Cheesecake Southern Living Recipe: Toffee S'mores Cheesecake This triple-threat recipe is the perfect summertime treat. 74 of 79 Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Zoe Denenberg; Prop Styling: Rachel Mulcahy Recipe: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate and peanut butter are meant to be together, and this recipe is further proof. 75 of 79 Chocolate-Marshmallow Linzer Heart Cookies Recipe: Chocolate-Marshmallow Linzer Heart Cookies Send someone a little love with these cookies that are almost too cute to eat. 76 of 79 Buttermilk-Chocolate Cake Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas: Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Buttermilk-Chocolate Cake Velvety smooth Swiss Meringue Buttercream is a gorgeous match for this rich chocolate cake. 77 of 79 Brownie Cookies Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Brownie Cookies These gooey-on-the-inside, crisp-on-the-outside cookies start with a box of brownie mix from the pantry. 78 of 79 Chocolate Strawberry Cake Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford Recipe: Chocolate Strawberry Cake This stunning layer cake is ready for any and every celebration. 79 of 79 Reese's Cake Alison Miksch Recipe: Reese's Cake Replicate the taste of everyone's favorite chocolate, nutty peanut butter cup candies in an equally indulgent cake. 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