Homemade Chocolate Gravy

Chocolate gravy is a work of art—each bite more satisfying than the next. My family has enjoyed this dish for as long as I can remember, but many have never heard of this specific breakfast dish. Originally served in Louisiana and Tennessee for over 500 years, chocolate gravy has been a staple of the South for quite some time. Although this recipe is simple, it compliments several items one would serve if they wish to make a full spread. Personally, I prefer it over toast and eggs, but the popular approach is on biscuits with bacon. However you wish to serve it, this sweet gravy is sure to be a crowd favorite!

Ingredients:

¼ cup cocoa

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

¾ cup white sugar

2 cups milk (add more as needed)

1 tablespoon butter (softened)

2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions:

Whisk cocoa, flour, and sugar together in a bowl until consistency is smooth and free of lumps. This helps to disperse both sweet and thickening agents evenly to the mixture. Most recipes begin with handling dry ingredients, and soon you’ll see why.

The next step is to pour milk into the previously measured mixture and whisk until well incorporated. If wet ingredients were added to begin with, each of the dry ones would soak up too much liquid. This order provides for a more heterogeneous mixture and prevents chunks of flour from remaining in the gravy.

Transfer the mixture into a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until its consistency is similar to traditional gravy (approximately 7-10 minutes). Both wet and dry ingredients combine and thicken as heat is applied. Continue to add milk if results are not as desired.

Remove saucepan from heat and stir in butter and vanilla until butter is completely melted. Continue to stir until ready to serve.

Enjoy over preferred breakfast items!