Valentine’s Day is arguably the sweetest holiday on the calendar, and no treat lands higher on the list for this day than chocolate. A fan favorite and a necessity this time of year, chocolate is one of those rich, decadent sweets that you can add to food or eat all on its own. From pastry chefs to grill masters and everyone in between, if a meal contains chocolate, there’s a high probability it’s going to be good!
If you’re planning on grilling a tasty meal for you and your significant other, you’re not going to want to miss these chocolate-based recipes! If you’ve got the will power to hold off on eating all the treats by Valentine’s Day, use your leftovers to make these four incredible dishes.
1. White Chocolate Orange Soufflé (Courtesy of BarbecueAmerica.com)
On a holiday where we celebrate love, there’s no dessert more romantic than soufflé. In French, the word “souffler” quite literally means “to inflate,” which is what you can expect when you make this tasty treat the right way. Don’t worry though, the signature soufflé puff can take years to master, so there’s no need to stress yourself out about it! The best thing about this recipe is that it combines two unique tastes. In this case, a premium white chocolate is intertwined perfectly with the aroma and flavor of an orange peel. The tart taste of the orange is delicately balanced by the sweet and savory flavor of the imported white chocolate. This recipe is straightforward and easy to follow, but there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when making soufflé. Like many egg-based desserts, soufflé is very much dependent on properly whisking your ingredients together and getting the right consistency and texture prior to cooking. What takes this version of soufflé to the next level, however, is the Grand Marnier liqueur. We mentioned the orange peel, but this liqueur is truly the binding force that gives your soufflé the right amount of orange flavor. After you’ve mixed it in with all the other ingredients, be sure to set your grill up for indirect cooking. On a medium heat (350 degrees Fahrenheit), it will take anywhere between 25 and 35 minutes for your soufflé to achieve a golden brown puff atop the dish. To top it off, dust a bit of powdered sugar on top before you serve. After your first bite, you’ll quickly realize this dish can’t be reserved for only one day a year!
2. Chocolate-Apricot Quesadillas
Convenience and taste collide when it comes to quesadillas. A favorite amongst kids and adults alike, quesadillas are so popular because they’re so easy to make and they taste delicious. But have you ever thought to go beyond the traditional ingredients that go into one of these mouthwatering meals? If someone asked you to name the top three things that make up a quesadilla, you’d probably say cheese, meat, and a tortilla that holds it all together. While that’s the way it has always been done, that’s not the way it always has to be! This Chocolate-Apricot Quesadilla recipe reimagines what we all think of when we hear that word, and gives a very sweet taste to a beloved dish. A griddle will do wonders to make this quesadilla come to life, and will eliminate the mess that might come with trying to assemble this recipe on the grill’s grates. Start by placing a tortilla on your griddle or skillet over a medium heat. Next, sprinkle one tablespoon of cheese over half of the quesadilla. As the cheese begins to melt, take your apricot preserves and spoon two tablespoons over the cheese. This might feel like you’re breaking some sort of unwritten rule, but trust us, these two flavors pair together seamlessly. Finally, sprinkle another tablespoon of cheese over the preserves. When that’s done, fold each of your tortillas in half and let it cook over a medium heat for three to four minutes per side or until you get a golden brown color and the cheese is melted to your satisfaction. So then, where does the chocolate come in? Great question! This recipe calls for melted milk chocolate drizzled over the quesadillas and topped off with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. For real chocolate lovers, you can treat your melted chocolate like a dip and coat each bite of your quesadilla for the optimum chocolate to apricot ratio. No matter how you slice it, this quesadilla recipe is one you’ll enjoy for plenty of days to come!
3. Bite Size Pretzel S’mores
When it comes to dynamic duos in flavor profiles, few combinations meet the stature of salty and sweet. One bite of these small Pretzel S’mores is all it takes to realize the explosion of flavors cascading in your mouth is thanks to two contrasting, yet complementary tastes. S’mores are the ultimate camping snack and generally easy to make on a grill. However, this recipe substitutes the classic graham cracker for a tiny but mighty pretzel. What’s interesting about this change is that it highlights the chocolate even more. Because of the larger surface area of a graham cracker, it can sometimes subdue the chocolate and marshmallow taste. The pretzel, on the other hand, adds a dynamic flavor. To make this version of s’mores, begin by preheating your grill burner to high, or put your propane-powered fire pit to good use by kicking it on and letting it heat up. Next, place your favorite mini chocolate bar onto one of the bite-sized pretzels, and then carefully place your marshmallows on s'mores sticks or campfire forks. The key to the perfect s’more is making your marshmallows to your liking. If you love them charred, have at it! Most people prefer a gooey marshmallow with a little bit of a golden brown coloring, so carefully toast your marshmallows to your desired doneness over your grill's burner or the flame on your propane fire pit. Finally, gently place a marshmallow on the bite-sized pretzel with the mini chocolate bar and place another pretzel on top of the marshmallow to create a s’more! Not bad for a few minutes of work, right? That leftover chocolate from Valentine’s Day never stood a chance!
4. Grilled Banana Splits
Our fourth and final recipe might be the best of the best. Banana splits are known for combining the sweetest dessert toppings and forming a hodgepodge of deliciousness. In this recipe, we capitalize on your leftover chocolate, add in ice cream, whipped cream, and even put your propane to work by grilling the bananas. Oh, and did we mention a heaping helping of hot fudge to top it all off? You chocolate lovers have found your new favorite dessert! Start by preheating your grill to medium, anywhere between the 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit range. Next, combine the butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan and cook over medium-low heat until the butter is completely melted and the sugar is fully dissolved. When there are no clumps left, with a sharp knife, cut each of your bananas in half lengthwise, leaving the peel on the halves. Continue the process by brushing the cut side of the banana halves with the sugar mixture and place the bananas cut side down on the grill. You should aim to grill the bananas until they are golden brown and caramelized, which takes about two minutes. Next, turn the banana halves over with the peel side down and brush each with more glaze, allowing them to cook on the grill for two to three more minutes or until they become tender. Lastly, remove the grilled bananas and place into a sundae dish or shallow bowl. You can top off your masterpiece with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, and with a drizzle with your favorite dessert sauce. Go the extra mile with whipped cream and chopped nuts to complete this ultimate dessert!
Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Blue Rhino
Making the most of Valentine’s Day and all the chocolate you’re bound to have left over is as simple as picking up a Blue Rhino tank and firing up the grill. With plenty of recipe options and our Propane Finder, you’re only a few short steps away from turning Valentine’s Day into an audition for the next best grill master! Be sure to experiment with chocolate in your favorite foods and let us know what incredible concoctions you come up with!
Published: 2021.01.26