Chocolate is rich, sweet,
and pairs well with almost anything.
It's one of the most universally beloved desserts
in the whole world.
From brigadeiro in Brazil to tiramisu in Italy,
we're taking a look at chocolate desserts around the world.
Belgium is quite literally
the chocolate capital of the world,
a title it's held since 1912,
when a pharmacist put some almond paste
inside a chocolate couverture to sell to patients.
These days, Belgians have perfected the treat,
packing tempered chocolate
with all kinds of delicious fillings,
from dried fruit to nuts to caramel to sweet creams.
Schwarzwälder kirschtorte, or Black Forest cake,
gets its name from the sour cherry kirsch
that's soaked into each layer of dark chocolate cake.
Kirsch-soaked black cherries
are layered between fresh whipped cream
before the cake is topped with more cherries
and dark chocolate shavings
for a bittersweet and boozy slice.
Champurrado is Mexican hot chocolate
brewed with a cinnamon stick, thickened with masa,
and sweetened with a pinch of piloncillo
for an ultra-thick, rich cup of cocoa
that's perfect for cozying up on cold nights.
Brigadeiros are named for a 1940s Brazilian candidate
who was known for being quite the looker.
This chocolaty dessert was created for his fundraisers.
A combination of sweetened condensed milk, butter,
and cocoa powder create a sweet, gooey ball
that's rolled in chocolate sprinkles for a tiny snack.
Notoriously one of the most difficult desserts to nail,
chocolate soufflés date all the way back to 1783.
The delicate dessert combines melted chocolate
with fluffy egg whites, sugar, and egg yolk.
Then it's baked until risen perfectly
for a sweet and airy treat.
In Nigeria, puff puffs are not only a go-to street food,
but an essential party snack.
Chocolate puff puffs combine cocoa powder
with a yeasted dough full of nutmeg and cardamom,
which is rolled into a ball and deep-fried.
The finished doughnut is crisp, yet stretchy and chewy.
Babka originated in Poland when leftover challah dough
was combined with fillings on Passover,
though it wasn't until large populations of Jewish people
moved to New York that chocolate became the go-to filling.
The layered bread is fluffy, yet dense
and perfect anytime of the day,
from breakfast to midnight snack.
Nama alludes to the freshness of this chocolate treat.
Fresh cream is mixed into chocolate
to form a thick ganache, which is refrigerated
before it's sliced into squares
and dusted with a heavy coating of cocoa powder.
It should be served slightly chilled
for a decadent, creamy bite that melts in the mouth.
Tiramisu combines coffee and chocolate
for the perfectly bittersweet after-dinner treat.
The layered Italian dessert
starts with a row of crisp ladyfingers
soaked in coffee and rum,
followed by a thick coating
of creamy, nutty mascarpone cheese,
and finished with a blanket of cocoa powder.
Four whole decades older than chocolate chip cookies,
the brownie is a staple dessert for any occasion,
from barbecues to school lunches -- even to weddings.
Whether you prefer them dense and cakey
or fudgy and gooey,
brownies use powdered and/or melted chocolate
for the perfect portable treat.
Malva pudding is a sweet, pillowy South African dessert
that doesn't have to include cocoa,
but does if you want that extra-chocolaty richness.
In addition to standard cake ingredients,
you'll find apricot jam, orange zest,
and a thin semisweet chocolate sauce.
Like all great puddings,
it can be served with a scoop of ice cream.
A three-layer, no-bake dessert,
Nanaimo bars are about the most decadent treats to whip up.
The crunchy base is made with cocoa powder,
graham crackers, almonds, and coconut;
the middle layer packs sweetness
with a mix of cream and vanilla custard;
and it's all topped off with a shiny chocolate ganache.
In Swedish, kladdkaka means "sticky cake,"
which is the perfect description
for this gooey chocolate cake.
The simple, one-pot recipe
incorporates melted chocolate into eggs, sugar,
and wheat ﬂour, and a ton of butter
for a molten, sticky slice of heaven
that's served during a daily coffee break called fika.
If you've ever visited the Caribbean,
it's almost guaranteed you left with black cake,
also known as rum cake.
A chocolate rum cake incorporates
melted unsweetened chocolate into the batter
along with dark rum and coffee.
And once it's baked and chilled,
the cake is doused in even more rum --
perfect for enjoying the Jamaican sun.
Mosaic cake is a go-to after-dinner dessert in Turkey.
Shortbread biscuits called petit beurre
are pounded into small squares,
then combined with sugar, butter,
cocoa powder, and bitter chocolate.
The mixture is poured into a loaf pan
before the biscuits are baked and sliced,
revealing the tiled pattern inside.
Lamingtons were created in the late 1800s
in honor of the governor of Queensland,
and these days afternoon tea
just isn't complete without them.
Vanilla sponge is cut into small squares;
covered in a thin, sweet chocolate icing;
and rolled in desiccated coconut.
So, which chocolate desserts do you want to try?
Are there any we missed?
Let us know in the comments below.