When tea is paired with chocolate, its bitterness helps cut through the sweetness of the dessert, making the flavors pop. Black teas’ roasted, earthy notes also pair beautifully with chocolate.
This Depression-era recipe uses a cup of black tea to make fudgy brownies that beat boxed mixes hands down.
Fudgy Chocolate Cake
In this chocolate cake recipe from Austria, a combination of brewed black tea and cocoa powder — plus the addition of boiling water — creates an ultra-moist and super-tasty treat. The boiling water helps the cake come out of the oven softer, and it also reacts with baking powder to help make it super fluffy.
Loose Earl Grey tea stirred into the cake batter adds a subtle but lovely hint of flavor, while chocolate chunks add texture and another layer of intense chocolate taste. This rich, fudge-like cake is perfect for special occasions, including birthdays, showers and holidays.
Brown sugar is more hygroscopic than regular granulated white sugar, so it attracts and holds moisture to keep the cake moist. Using vegetable oil instead of butter makes this a vegan dessert, though feel free to substitute with your favorite type of fat. Sour cream or even full fat Greek yogurt adds dairy-like notes without the heft of butter.
Chocolate Pot de Creme
Dark chocolate and black tea pair wonderfully in this creamy dessert. Pots de Creme is a luxurious dish that can be made at home with simple ingredients. They are ideal for special occasions or simply to enjoy as a romantic indulgence.
Traditionally, this custard is baked in small ramekins (Pots de Creme in plural form). However, this version skips the water bathing process and comes together easily on the stovetop. This means you can impress your guests with a gorgeous and elegant dessert without any fuss.
You can use any type of chocolate for these Chocolate Pots de Creme, but I highly recommend using a high quality brand with at least 70% cocoa. This provides a rich chocolate flavor and makes these pots de creme taste as good as they look!
I also recommend adding a splash of liqueur to this recipe. This adds subtle, complex flavors that enhance the overall chocolate flavor of these pots de creme. Try creme de cacao, Kahlua for a light coffee flavor, or even amaretto for a sweet almond flavor.
Chocolate Pudding
This homemade chocolate pudding is silky, luscious and full of decadent chocolate flavor. It’s easy to make, using basic pudding ingredients that most cooks have on hand. The key is to whisk almost constantly while the pudding is cooking, to prevent clumping or scorching.
Unsweetened natural cocoa powder adds rich, intense chocolate flavor while cornstarch provides a thick consistency. The addition of egg yolks makes the pudding extra creamy and smooth. This recipe is also suitable for vegans.
Whisk together sugar, cocoa, and cornstarch in a heavy medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk, a little at a time, until no dry lumps remain. Stir in vanilla. Bring to a boil and continue whisking, until mixture comes to a boil and thickens. Cool and serve. This recipe will keep up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Be sure to press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding to prevent skin from forming. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.
Vegan Black Tea Chocolate Truffles
These vegan truffles are a wonderful homemade treat. They are quick to make and can be easily rolled into balls and coated in cocoa powder or chocolate sprinkles.
Black tea has a distinct bitter and roasty flavor that pairs wonderfully with chocolate, especially dark chocolate. It also stands out with citrus desserts like cookies, cakes, and tarts. This is why you should give black tea and rich chocolate desserts a try together!
For the best flavor, use loose tea leaves instead of a bag. The flavors are more intense and pronounced, and the bergamot notes really stand out. To make the ganache, bring cream to a simmer and stir in tea leaves for 5 minutes; allow to steep for 3 to 5 more minutes. Finely chop the chocolate and transfer into a bowl; pour warm cream over the chocolate. Stir until combined; add vanilla, cayenne, and cinnamon. Chill in the fridge until set.