For some people, chocolate is a guilty pleasure. The supposed sin is indulgence. I think these people are mostly worried about calories, and frankly, I think most of them worry too much. Of course, there are other people who have convinced themselves that there are enough antioxidants in chocolate to qualify it as health food. To that I say: don’t eat chocolate to be healthy. Stay healthy so you can eat chocolate. However, I have some news that should legitimately worry chocolate-lovers and chocolate-deniers everywhere. There’s a worldwide chocolate shortage going on. As you might expect with issues of global proportion – it’s complicated. That’s because in today’s world there are politics (or at least controversy) attached to everything. Even this Dark Chocolate Nut Loaf.
I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but you’re eating too much chocolate. Chocolate manufacturers can’t get you your fix fast enough. Prices are rising dramatically and the two largest chocolate makers, Mars, Inc. and Barry Callebaut want you to know that if something doesn’t change, chocolate might become harder to come by in the future.
Naturally, it’s a supply and demand issue. It seems less cocoa is being produced and more and more people are eating chocolate on a worldwide level than ever before.
Americans and Europeans have been mad for chocolate for a long time. However, as the world globalizes, the consumption of chocolate is on the rise. Especially in nations like China, India, South Africa, and Vietnam that have traditionally ignored the stuff.
Adding to the demand problem is the fact that our tastes in chocolate have changed in recent decades. We’ve developed a love of dark chocolate which contains more cocoa by volume than traditional chocolate formulas. A lot more. The average chocolate bar in 1960 contained about 10% cocoa, while today’s dark chocolate bar often contains 70% or more.
Still, the global chocoholics alone can’t be blamed for the shortage. Climate change probably has something to do with it too. Especially in West Africa where more than 70 percent of the world’s cocoa is produced. There’s been a persistent drought there. This has led to decreased production.
Dark Chocolate Nut Loaf with Raisins
I’m not trying to depress you or even to convince you to eat less chocolate. In fact, my recipe for Dark Chocolate Nut Loaf proves I myself am in denial about the whole issue. It has a whopping 18 ounces of 70% dark chocolate in it. That’s more than a pound! This might mean this Dark Chocolate Nut Loaf alone is responsible for the worldwide chocolate shortage. Yikes. GREG
Chocolate Nut Loaf with Golden Raisins
Print This Recipe Yield 10–12Source Adapted from La Cucina ItalianaPublished
Ingredients
- 5 ounce digestive biscuits (roughly broken into bitesize or smaller pieces)
- ½ cup walnuts pieces
- ½ cup hazel nuts
- ½ cup unsalted almonds
- ½ cup golden raisins
- 18 ounce dark chocolate (70% cocoa)
- 20 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Directions
Line a 9- x 5‑inch loaf pan with parchment or wax paper, leaving at least a 1‑inch overhang on all sides. In a large bowl, combine cookies, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts and raisins.
Fill a medium saucepan with 2 inches water; bring water to a simmer. Combine chocolate, butter, and salt in a medium heatproof bowl. Set bowl over (but not touching) the simmering water; stir until chocolate and butter are melted and combined. Remove bowl from heat.
Pour 3/4 of chocolate over nut mixture and stir to combine. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Wait about 20 minutes for the remaining chocolate to firm some, then spread it on top of the chocolate nut loaf in pan, creating a decorative surface. Cover pan with plastic wrap and chill until chocolate is firm, about 8 hours.
About 2 hours before serving, remove loaf from refrigerator and let stand, unwrapped (this will allow loaf to slice cleanly and easily).
When ready to serve use the parchment overhang to pull loaf from pan; transfer to a cutting board. Cut loaf into slices. Serve.
Do I detect a mixed message by making me lust for chocolate while espousing abstinence? Between chocolate, almonds and walnuts (which require more water than almonds), what’s left?
One giant chocolate nutty candy bar. Oh my! What if I drink way less water and continue to eat chocolate? At least I’d be helping with one of our shortages, right?
Goodness, I need to make these asap. Looks beyond perfection.
Shortage of chocolate does not sound good at all.
Ohhhh mah gawd!! Say it isn’t so! Quick make a few more of those to freeze and put into chocolate storage!
I cringe every time the cocoa shortage comes up. Why can’t it be a shortage of pablum?
Beautiful loaf. Beautiful cross section.
If I would make that for one of our next garden party, there would be nor more talk until this delicious chocolate nut loaf would be gone 🙂 Wow! Great recipe. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
Ooh, Greg, this is like a giant loaf-shaped candy bar! I can just imagine guests’ faces as they sit with their coffee and watch me slice into it and plate it up for them.
Greg, you can definitely get a choclate fix from your chocolate loaf.
I had no idea there was a chocolate shortage. Americans and Europeans do love their chocolate-Everyone else appears to be catching on too.
Enjoyed your post.
Velva
This looks wonderful! Gotta make it quick, before the chocolate shortage hits. 🙂 Actually, I’ve been reading much the same thing about the shortage. Depressing thought!
WOW, like a mendiant on steroids.…this is freaking awesome! Over a pound of chocolate in one dish.…I’m calling the people at Guinness Book!
Oh, wow! It’s like a giant homemade candy bar in loaf form. Amazing!
Love this thought, Greg! “Don’t eat chocolate to be healthy. Stay healthy so you can eat chocolate.” I’m not worried about the chocolate shortage. I like to buy Latin American chocolate anyway, it’s more likely to be ethically produced (without child labor). Now as to that loaf: I love the way it looks, packed with the hazelnuts and cookie pieces (and the almond chunks must be in there somewhere).
WHY would you show me this?!
There goes my diet.…
Love your photos, they make me worship chocolate more than I actually do! 😀
Love this recipe Greg. It reminds me of the chocolate salami we make at Christmas. Please, please let there not be a shortage of chocolate
Whaaaaa? That is a thing of beauty, seriously, dude!
Whoa, does this chocolate dessert look insane! My family is going to be seriously disappointed if there truly is a chocolate shortage—fingers crossed that prices don’t skyrocket!!!
Really gorgeous photos! I had no idea about the situation with chocolate. It’s really eye opening that the chocolate I grew up on in the 60’s only had 10% cocoa compared to the 70% today that so many of us are preferring. Population growth combined with climate change bringing drought to so many areas of the world will massively change the dynamics of what’s on the plates of my grandchildren when they’re my age. Really good post, Greg.
absolutely awesome. I love love love those Biscoff cookies on Delta–with nothing nutritious except the love. They would be so good in this decadent chocolate loaf.
Holy chocolate! This looks positively deadly! Chocolate is all over in China, my son says. The storefronts of Nestles and Ghiradelli are packed and they are paying a lot for it. I know I could never forgo chocolate even though I probably should! But then I’d be even a madder woman.