Cocoa: An Exploration of Chocolate, with Recipes

I bought this book on the back of an Instagram post, and I'm so glad I did! I thought I knew a bit about chocolate but after delving into this book I'm now much better informed. Not only is it a beautiful book to look at, it is lovingly written and the author's passion for chocolate is obvious. I've tried a couple of the recipes - The Arabian Nights Coffee Chocolate Layer Cake with Rose Scented Ganache (the best textured and keeping chocolate cake I've come across) and the Pistachio & Nutmeg Cake with Chocolate Raspberries. Both recipes were easy to follow and the cakes turned out as I'd hoped they would. There are many more recipes I can't wait to try - Rye, Chocolate & Macadamia Ricotta Cheesecake with PY Sherry Raisin Sauce being the next on my list. A lovely addition to my already extensive cook book collection and one I'll enjoy dipping into in the future.

Quite a few people on social media had recommended this book and I'm always wary that they are being paid to recommend it, but they aren't wrong. The recipes in here, as the title suggests, all contain chocolate but they are not all sweet. A lovely range of recipes from drinks, sauces, cakes, puddings and savoury dishes such as Sticky Slow-Roasted Beef Short Ribs with Cocoa and Maple and a Caponata. Everything I have made so far from the Chocolate-Dipped Orange & Caraway Shortbread to the Honeyed Wheaten Bread with Oatmeal & Nibs has been delicious and really enjoyable to make. Yes, all the recipes do contain chocolate but are not dominated by it. I'd highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys cooking and baking and isn't afraid of trying new things. The design of the book is also gorgeous and looks great on the shelf!

Wonderful recipes.. some fabulous flavour combinations. I have lots of chocolate books but this one still offered a fresh perspective.

I received this book a week ago and have already made two of the recipes which were delicious and incredibly easy to make. The photography is beautiful too. But what I really love about this book is the time taken to research cocoa and all its applications, which makes this recipe book insightful and a great read.

It would be worth buying this book for the gorgeous cover alone, however to miss out on reading the story of chocolate while trying the recipes that are interspersed throughout would be a mistake. This is definitely a book that I have enjoyed reading as much as I have loved the recipes.