Everyone knows that chocolate and coffee complement each. Chocolate and tea might not be such an obvious pairing, but they can work really well together. Here you’ll find 19 tea and chocolate recipes that might make you want to try this exciting combination.
Thank you to all who participated in this month’s We Should Cocoa tea challenge. We really do appreciate the time and effort that you all put in. This was another tough challenge from me it seems; I shall be getting a reputation for meanness if I don’t watch out. However, nineteen of you were not put off and have come up with some really interesting and delicious looking recipes using tea and chocolate. There are also some stunning photographs which put my own efforts to shame.
It was particularly interesting to see the variety of teas that were used. Earl Grey was a particularly popular choice. I know I’ve said it before and I expect I’ll say it again, but there are an awful lot of creative and talented food bloggers out there.
Chele will be posting the next We Should Cocoa challenge on the Chocolate Teapot on 1 March 2011 – what madness will she be getting us into I wonder?
This month, we have the addition of a prize for one of you (UK postage only I’m afraid), a box of Masala Chai Salted Caramels from Katie Christoffers of Matcha Chocolat. Katie won’t be seeing the entries until this post goes up, so I won’t be able to announce the winner quite yet. When she has made a decision, I will publish their name at the bottom of this post.
19 Tea and Chocolate Recipes
Suelle of Mainly Baking hasn’t yet missed a We Should Cocoa challenge and she made an early start on this one with these delectable Tea Cream Sandwich Biscuits using Earl Grey. Suelle, we will miss you next month but hope you have a great holiday.
First timer Kim of Le Fleur Chocolat has given us a real treat using genmaicha with these Dark Riceball Chocolate Truffles. They not only look delectable, but are vegan too.
Welcome to Carly of Tart to Heart who has made some beautiful looking Earl Grey Chocolate Cupcakes with Honey-Lemon Buttercream – just the sound of these has my taste buds tantalised.
Well on time, Dom of Belleau Kitchen has baked a Tea and Chocolate Cake to be proud of – I must get myself a bundt mould. As well as the PG Tips and chocolate, it has another, more unexpected, ingredient.
Michelle of Food, Football and a Baby has in her words “taken a couple of liberties” with her Nilgiri Tea Creams with Chocolate Dipped Cornish Fairings. I forgive her though as she has appealed to my devotion to my home county by making Cornish fairings.
These amazingly coloured Matcha Sugar Cookie Brownies were baked by Victoria of District Chocoholic at 2 am, that is what I call dedication.
Matcha Chocolate Roll
Ever since I first came across Matcha Chocolat, I’ve been wanting to experiment with what was a fairly new concept to me: tea and chocolate. I had a bash back in July when I made green tea cupcakes and chocrhutea, but I’ve been saving any further trials until I thought the time was right to use this combination in a We Should Cocoa challenge.
So, there you have it, this month’s special ingredient is tea. Matcha was my tea of choice. I just so love the colour – Matcha Chocolate Roll.
Another first timer, Mel of Sharky Oven Gloves, has used chai to make Chilli Chai Chocolate Cupcakes and the shark looking on seems very keen to sink his teeth into it.
Johanna of Green Gourmet Giraffe came up with some highly unusual ingredients in her Earl Grey Cupcakes with Chocolate and Cashew Frosting.
More matcha from Baking Addict of The more than occasional baker with her attractive marbled Green Tea Chocolate Bundt Cake using her new (and much coveted by me) silicone bundt mould.
BrownievilleGirl has gone for a good old Irish recipe using black tea with her Chocolate Tea Brack. Given she likes neither tea nor dried fruit this is quite heroic of her.
Nora the Kitchen ‘Splorer has gone for something similar, but a yeasted bread this time – Chai fruit and chocolate bread.
Tea breads were a popular theme for many of those submitting at the last minute and Louise of Using Mainly Spoons has made Chocolate, ginger and cardamom tea loaf.
I know how good this is because I sneakily tried to get a 2nd entry in and made this very same loaf using Earl Grey.
Lucy of TheKitchenMaid used green tea to make not only this delicious Chocolate Honey Tea but also a beautifying face mask – it’s on my list ๐
Hanna of Corner Cottage Bakery battled with her cold and just made it at the very last minute with her Chocolate Chai Fondants
Here ends our inspiring 19 tea and chocolate recipes.
Update 6 March 2011
Katie of Matcha Chocolat really enjoyed reading your entries and was duly impressed. She had a hard time making a decision, but in the end the lucky winner of her chocolates is: Dom of Belleau Kitchen because ” I liked the tea and chocolate cake for its rustic appeal and use of everyday ingredients; yet with an alternative twist (beetroot & PG tips). Great way to highlight a more savoury side to tea infused cuisine!”
Maya Russell says
I LOVE the colour of matcha. Great round up.
Choclette says
Thanks Hanna
Hanna says
Beautiful round-up! Congratulations on the chocolates Dom!
Choclette says
CityHippy – don’t them just ๐
Johanna – glad you enjoyed it. As you know I’m quite a fan of matcha, it works so well in baking.
Johanna GGG says
I’ve been looking forward to this round up and it is wonderful – I have just bought some matcha and I wonder if it is this event that inspired me to finally make some – great challenge – now I must do more baking with tea
cityhippyfarmgirl says
They all look so good!
Choclette says
Thanks for stopping by Shanae
Shanae Branham says
Wow! Everything looks so yummie! I am glad I stopped by today. By the way, I have a contest giveaway on my blog you might find fun. Take a look. triumphandtears.blogspot.com
Choclette says
Hazel – sorry you didn’t get your tea in the post. Would have liked to see what you came up with. Malteaser Bunnies sound good though.
BVG – thanks, it was really fun to sea what people came up withl.
Michelle – this is the problem – my list grows ever longer ๐
Michelle Peters - Jones says
Wow, I love the round up. So many things to try!!
Brownieville Girl says
Great round up – very impressive enteries.
Hazel says
What a wonderful array of recipes! Great to see a savoury recipe in there and it also makes me happy to see so many recipes with Earl Grey! I was so excited to participate this month but unfortunately the postal service was against me. I am still waiting for a package from England containing real tea and Malteaster bunnies! ๐ I am hoping that I can participate next time!
Choclette says
Suelle – but which tea bread will you try?
CC – yes, I’m quite envious of Chele’s skill.
Rhyleysgranny – there’s always another challenge to look forward to ๐
Dom – thank you. We did indeed do well.
Suman – thank you. I’m just wondering which of these to make next.
Kath – you didn’t buy that Early Grey, early enough. Despite this, I would never ever put a curse on you ๐ If you send me your entry, I’ll add it on to the end of this round-up if you’d like – no chance of the prize though.
Chele – it was a fantastic round-up. I feel (without any justification) rather like a proud mother hen.
Chele says
Fantastic round up and may I also add my thanks to everyone who took part. Please forgive me as time is not on my side at the mo and I probably won’t be able to visit everyone’s blog. Some genius ideas in this round up and I especially like the savory touch
;0)
Kath says
I am so rubbish! I bought the Early Grey but just couldn’t find the time before your deadline. I have made them this morning though and will post my Earl Grey truffles in the next day or so. As long as they work out OK, guess what – the ganache split, but I have rescued it with more cream. You must have put the curse on me ๐
Suman Singh says
WOW, everything looks so delicious and scrumptions..Great event..
Dom at Belleau Kitchen says
didn’t we do well… such an inspiring ingredient choice this month!
Rhyleysgranny says
Wow. fabulous entries. Sorry I missed this month’s challenge.
The Caked Crusader says
those piped buttercream roses covering the cake are amazing
Suelle says
Well done Phil for being brave enough to make a savoury dish.
I’m really keen to try one of the tea breads soon.
As Choclette mentioned I’m on holiday for the whole of March so will miss the next challenge, but I’ll be keen to get back into baking in April.