July 7: Triple Chocolate Bites

Triple Chocolate Bites

Ingredients:
8 tablespoons (4 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened natural or Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (3.4 oz) all-purpose flour
4 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1.2 ounce unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg, room temperature
Lightly sweetened whipped cream or topping (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 and place a rack in the center. Line an 8 inch square metal pan with nonstick foil.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter and confectioners' sugar on medium speed until creamy. Beat in the cocoa powder and salt, then add the flour and stir until mixed. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake for 8 minutes.
3. Combine the milk, bittersweet, and unsweetened chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at 50% power, stirring at 1 minute intervals, until the chocolate is fully melted; set aside.
4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla on medium speed until well mixed and smooth. Stir in the slightly cooled melted chocolate, then beat in the egg. Spread over the chocolate crust and bake for 20-22 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 1 hour, then chill for 3 hours, or until very cold. When ready to serve, lift from the pan, set on a cutting board, and cut into 64 squares. Serve in mini cupcake liners with a dot of whipped cream if desired.

Addition of cocoa powder and salt

Addition of flour

Before the oven...

After the oven...

Before the oven...

After the oven...

Thoughts: I didn't screw up the melting of the chocolate so I'm considering this a success! We thought these would have more of a brownie taste, but they were ehh....ok. The bottom layer was very bland and the chocolate layer mostly tasted like the cream cheese and Hershey's chocolate (not a particularly bad thing).