Chocolate & Brie Panini

The ultimate in decadence! Rice chocolate and melted cheese combine in this delicious Brie panini. Serve it up as a surprising dessert!

On Christmas Day, a couple of years ago, my husband handed me a curious, round package to open. What was inside that package had me pledging my undying love to him. That's right, folks - it was an entire wheel of Brie cheese.

(Moment of reverent silence.)

I profess my undying love to you, honey.

Now, I have also been known to enjoy a little nibble of chocolate here and there. So, when our cooking group hostess asked me to make Giada de Laurentiis' Chocolate & Brie Panini, I was more than excited. What can I say, I'm a simple gal. One puzzler: How does Giada eat all of these delicious dishes and remain so slim? I don't think I can be her friend. Well, unless she promised to make me lots and lots of things with Brie.

You're thinking that the combo of chocolate and brie - oh yeah, and basil - sounds a little odd. Just stick with me. Have I led you astray yet?

Preheat a panini grill or a large cast-iron pan.

Cut a loaf of sourdough bread into 12 slices.

Brush both sides of each slice of bread with extra-virgin olive oil (about ⅓ cup total).

Grill the bread slices until they begin to turn golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Remove the bread from the grill and place slices of Brie on six of the bread slices (about 2 oz each).

Top the cheese with 2 tablespoon semi-sweet chocolate chips. Giada recommends ⅓ cup per sandwich. We actually used about ¼ cup per sandwich and thought that they chocolate overpowered the Brie. Sacrilegious, I say! I think 2 tablespoon would be just right.

Stay with me now. Divide ⅓ cup thinly sliced basil leaves across the six slices of bread, laying across the chocolate chips.

Top with the other slices of bread to form six sandwiches. Place the sandwiches on the panini grill and grill until the chocolate begins to melt, about 2 minutes. If you are using a cast-iron pan, place a foil-covered brick on top of the sandwiches, cook for 1 minute, and then cook for an additional minute on the other side. See my recipe for Grilled Chicken and Pesto Panini to see pictures of the brick procedure.

Cut each panini in half and serve.

Other dessert panini:

Minitindel's Melting Ice Cream and Raspberry Dessert Panini
Panini Happy's Grilled Brownie Sundae Panini

Other panini with Brie cheese:

Whole Foods Market's Smoked Turkey, Plum, and Brie Panini

Chocolate & Brie Panini

12 slices sourdough bread

⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil

12 ounces Brie cheese, thinly sliced

¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips

⅓ cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves

Preheat panini grill or cast-iron pan. Brush both sides of each slice of bread with extra-virgin olive oil. Grill the bread slices until they begin to turn golden brown, about 1-2 minutes.

Remove the bread from the grill and place slices of Brie on six of the bread slices (about 2 oz each). Top the cheese with 2 tablespoon semi-sweet chocolate chips on each slice. Divide the thinly sliced basil leaves across the six slices of bread, laying across the chocolate chips.

Cut each panini in half and serve.

Makes 6 panini.

Chocolate & Brie Panini

Other dessert panini:

Other panini with Brie cheese:

More Dessert Recipes

Want more easy, healthy recipes?

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Other dessert panini:

Other panini with Brie cheese:

More Dessert Recipes

Want more easy, healthy recipes?

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