When friends stop by, I am never without dessert. I always have a frozen baguette and chocolate on hand, and that means dessert is minutes away.
After defrosting the bread in the microwave, I slice the baguette horizontally, and top the halves with my favorite dark chocolate chips (Valrhona or Ghirardelli), a touch of olive oil, and a sprinkle of sea salt. Into the oven it goes, and in a snap, out comes one of the best chocolate feasts on the planet, loved by grown-ups and kids alike. Watch their eyes grow wide when this platter hits the table!
In grill season, I toast the baguette halves first on the grill, add the topping to each half, and close the grill lid for a minute or two until the chocolate melts.
You can make this on any “raft,” by the way, including one that is gluten-free. It all depends what you have on hand or crave—saltines, Glutinos (gluten-free crackers), Matzoh, sliced white bread, or crêpes.
- 1 baguette (about 15 slices)
- extra-virgin olive 0il
- Ghiardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips
- sea salt
- The grill method you know from the instructions above. For the oven, turn on the broiler for 5 minutes to preheat it.
- Slice a whole baguette thin (about 15 slices). Spread the plain slices out on a baking sheet and broil them until golden. Watch carefully; they should be done in 30 seconds.
- Turn the slices over, sprinkle on some chocolate chips, and broil until the bread is golden and the chocolate gets melty.
- Arrange the slices on a platter, drizzle with a touch of extra virgin olive oil, and a sprinkle of sea salt.
On occasion, just to change it up, I serve ice cream on the side. I love Talenti Belgian Milk Chocolate or Butter Pecan with this; it's now available in most supermarkets. For a dinner party, or if you feel like fancying it up, you could put out some bowls of dried cherries, cranberries, and toasted coconut.
Faith.
Many years ago, when my kids were young. I was craving something salty and sweet. I came up with grilled chocolate sandwiches. Just like making a grilled cheese sandwich, I would butter the outside of the bread and fill the sandwich with a piece of a chocolate bar; probably a Hershey bar., then toast it up in a pan on the stove. What fun we had on a cold night sitting in front of the fireplace. What a treat!!! You bright back some fun memories yesterday when I listened to your show.
We’re so glad. Thanks for sharing this with us. . .and for listening!