Biscuits and Chocolate Gravy Recipe
If you live north of the Mason-Dixon line, chocolate gravy might be a foreign concept to you. You might ask yourself, “Isn’t gravy made from meat drippings?” or “Why would anyone want to eat sweet gravy?” I used to ponder these things. Then I moved to the south and suddenly it all became quite clear. This thick, rich, shimmering sauce, with deep notes of chocolate sweetness, is the perfect complement to fluffy southern biscuits.
Chocolate Gravy Origins: Appalachian Chocolate Gravy
The answer to this great WHY is found in the history of chocolate gravy. Although no one knows exactly who invented this alluring recipe, although many have tried to claim it, it’s believed it was born in southern Appalachia, specifically Tennessee. Along the Spanish trade route, in what was then Louisiana territory, merchants sold cocoa powder, showing local traders different ways to use it. The chocolate gravy was first known as Mexican Breakfast Chocolate, and has grown as a southern staple ever since. Chocolate gravy is considered a true Appalachian recipe.
Dark Chocolate Gravy Recipe Ingredient Checklist
Making chocolate gravy is easier than you think! You might even have all the ingredients in your fridge and pantry right now.
Butter – All good gravy recipes start with fat. Sugar – Chocolate gravy should be sweet, but not overly sweet. Dark unsweetened cocoa powder – You can use regular cocoa powder. However, I find that dark cocoa balances the flavor better. It is also more likely the traditional choice from generations past. All-purpose flour – For thickening. (This could be gluten-free baking mix.) Ground cinnamon – Spanish (or Mexican) influenced recipes should have a little cinnamon, in my opinion. Salt – All sweet recipes need a little salt. Whole milk or buttermilk – Most current chocolate gravy recipes call for whole milk. However, buttermilk was most likely the original choice. Settlers were always trying to make the most of their resources, and buttermilk was a great repurposed food. Plus, the twangy flavor of buttermilk work wonders with cocoa and sugar. Vanilla extract – Just because. Cinnamon biscuits – You need something to serve your southern chocolate gravy with, and biscuits are a perfect fluffy platform. We love this recipe with Cinnamon Drop Biscuits!
How To Make Southern Chocolate Gravy
Gravy, by its most basic definition, is any sauce that starts with a roux… A cooked butter and flour mixture used for thickening. Although you can certainly start chocolate gravy by cooking butter and flour together, I find it’s easiest to combine all the ingredients like a cake batter, then cook it to thicken. You do need to heat the chocolate gravy long enough so that the flour cooks and does not taste raw in the gravy. However, this only takes 5-10 minutes over medium heat.
How To Make Dark Chocolate Gravy Recipe with Cinnamon Biscuits
Instructions… Whisk – Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl, minus the vanilla extract, and whisk well so it’s smooth with no lumps. Heat – Then pour the mixture into a small sauce pot. Simmer the gravy to thicken over medium heat. This ensures the flour cooks through and does not taste raw. Loosen – If the gravy gets too thick, add an extra splash of milk and a little vanilla extract at the end, to thin and flavor the gravy. Ladle – Now pour the hot gravy over warm biscuits and dive in while it’s still warm!
Dark Chocolate Sauce Recipe with Cinnamon Biscuits Tips & Tricks
If you want to start your gravy with a roux, be sure to move the roux around the pan continuously so it does not burn. Then combine all remaining ingredients and whisk them into the roux. If you want your gravy to have a darker (more intense) flavor, reduce the sugar to 1/2 cup and add 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon. Chocolate gravy can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and even frozen. Just make sure to whisk in additional milk when warming the leftover chocolate gravy to loosen it up. Don’t love biscuits? Try chocolate gravy over toast, french toast, pound cake, or bread pudding.
More Holiday Breakfast Ideas
Bruleed Grapefruit Carrot Cake Pancakes with Cream Cheese Maple Syrup Fluffy 5-Ingredient Omelette Bake Arnold Palmer Sweet Rolls Better Than Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls Drunken Monkey Bread Apple Spice Coffee Cake Kahlua Banana Bread Spinach Artichoke Ricotta Egg Casserole
Make sure to check the printable recipe card below for the nutrition information including calories, carbohydrates, protein, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, fiber, vitamin, and calcium percentages. Share This Recipe With Friends!
