Chocolate Overload: Two reasons for chocolate indulgence next week!

10th September 2021 BWM Staff

Ah yes, who doesn’t love chocolate? I mean, we’re sure there are some people who aren’t chocolate fans, but we’re pretty sure most people around the globe are chocolate fans.

And this coming week brings a few reasons to celebrate by ordering the best chocolate from some of our favorite LGBTQ chocolate companies, or even baking or making a few chocolate creations of your own!

Monday, September 13 is International Chocolate Day! That’s not to get confused with World Chocolate Day, which is a separate day celebrated on July 7 of every year. Why do we have two big chocolate days being celebrated around the globe every year? Who knows? But do we even need to ask this question? You can never celebrate chocolate too much!

Speaking of not being able to celebrate chocolate too much, Sunday, September 12 is also Chocolate Milkshake Day in the US! So, go ahead and make a chocolate milkshake to wash down the rest of your chocolate treats. Now, that’s what we call chocolate overload!

Here are a few of our favorite companies to buy chocolate from. If ordering online, it probably won’t get to you by Monday. But we’re pretty sure no one will need to twist your arm to crack it open once it arrives!

OMNOM Chocolate

Omnom is a small batch, artisan chocolate maker based in Reykjavík, Iceland. It was founded by Kjartan Gíslason and Óskar Þórðarson in 2013. Omnom’s mission is to make the best chocolate possible using the highest quality ingredients. I got sent the tasty caramel bar that comes in rainbow and unicorn packaging, created for Icelandic Pride in 2017!

Five North Chocolate

Five North Chocolate is an award-winning, certified LGBT business enterprise, supporting cacao farmers around the world by creating deliciously nutritious, Fair Trade Certified chocolate snacks. Give in to your cravings without the guilt! 72% dark chocolate paired with fun flavors like goji berry, pistachio sea salt, and cinnamon almond. Sounds like a treat!

Visit fivenorthchocolate.com to order!

The Protein Bakery

The Protein Bakery is one of those finds you almost don’t want to tell anyone about, a secret so good you want to keep it to yourself! The treats here are amazing! Whether you are just keeping a little bit healthy or using the amazing shakes and sugarless cookies (my favorite) for your gym nutrition, The Protein Bakery has it all for you.

Visiting the store in NYC is like walking into your favorite cookie bakery, the smell is amazing! They have gift specials and can deliver all over the world, including delicious chocolate chip cookies and brownies!

Visit proteinbakery.com for more information.

Queerios Bakery

Queerios Bakery makes some delicious desserts that will tempt any recipient’s sweet tooth. Check out their chocolate-covered pretzels or chocolate-covered strawberries, but it’s their hot cocoa bombs that are…well, the BOMB!

Beautifully decorated or simply covered in white, milk, or dark chocolate, these flavored treats are a great way to say “happy holidays.” Choose from Swiss miss, peppermint, pumpkin spice and mocha flavored or a vegan version that is non-dairy hot cocoa oat milk flavored. You can get these customized with a name or saying and colored in red, pink or purple. Run by 2 Peruvian queer folk, their tagline says it all: Made with love for our community.

$12 for 2 hot cocoa bombs, $14 for 2 customized cocoa bombs, $16 for 2 vegan hot cocoa bombs (minimum shipping order is for 2, but they’re yummy so feel free to order more)

Go to instagram.com/queeriosbakery/ to see what they have to offer!

Now, if you’re looking for something a little more immediate to feed your chocolate appetite, check out an awesome Bad Day Brownie recipe from culinary chef, journalist and author of the food memoir Uncommonly Good, Matthew Wexler.

Bad Day Brownies

Makes 24 brownies.

2 sticks unsalted butter (16 tablespoons)

1 package (4 ounces ) Baker’s Unsweetened Chocolate

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips

confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Butter and flour a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. (Alternate methods are to spray the pan with nonstick spray or line with parchment paper, being sure to spray or butter the sides.)

Over medium heat, melt butter and Baker’s chocolate. I didn’t believe it either, but a double boiler isn’t necessary—it works out just fine as long as you heat it until just melted. Set aside. Whisk the eggs and sugar until combined. Slowly add butter–chocolate mixture to egg–sugar mixture, stirring constantly to prevent scrambling the eggs. Turn off heat and then stir in the flour, followed by the chocolate chips. Pour into the prepared baking dish.

Bake on the center rack for 40 to 45 minutes. The top will crack and the center should be set, but do not overcook. Cool completely, cut into squares and sprinkle with confectioners sugar.

Check out this article on Matthew Wexler in Queer Forty for more information.

Chocolate Milkshake

If you’re also celebrating Chocolate Milkshake Day, then you need to make one of the BEST chocolate milkshakes ever! In order to do that, you need the best chocolate milkshake recipe ever! No worries, we got you covered!

Check out this amazing HERSHEY’s Chocolate Milkshake recipe!