What to bring to a potluck party and Chocolate Covered Pound Cake

New: Recipes - What to bring to a potluck party and Chocolate Covered Pound Cake

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Potlucks, parties and picnics, they’re tons of fun, and a great way to try out new bites, but, the question is, what to bring? What will make everyone happy? What won’t break the bank? What is the perfect potluck recipe? The perfect potluck party dish should be:

1. Tasty. It should still taste good even if left out on a table for hours
2. Inexpensive. Especially if making large quantities
3. Impressive. Something to show off your skills
4. Shareable. Everyone should be able to grab a piece
5. Presentable. Sure casseroles are tasty, but after a few digs, it doesn't look quite as appetizing

This recipe for chocolate covered pound cake is from Make it Naked.  These tasty bites are unique, easy to make and will taste great even when left out on the dessert table for hours. With the chocolate covering, the pound cake doesn't need to be as sweet so I decreased the sugar.

Bite-sized chocolate covered pound cake

Chocolate covered pound cake

Makes: 24 (I made 12 large and about 24 minis)

Oven: 325 degrees

Rating: 3/5

Cutting pound cake into bite-sized cubes

Ingredients 

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1¾ cups sugar
• 5 eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 11/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F with rack centred.
2. Beat cream cheese in bowl with electric mixer until fluffy. Add in butter until well combined. Mix in sugar and eggs one by one. Lastly, stir in vanilla.
3. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly combine dry ingredients into cream cheese mixture. Mix until thoroughly combined.
4. Pour mixture into large rectangular or square baking pan lined with parchment paper so that batter is about 1.5 inches thick.

Chocolate dip

Drizzling white chocolate over dipped cubes of pound cake

Ingredients

• 12 ounces of chocolate chips
• 4 tablespoons canola oil

Directions

1. Melt chocolate chips in wide saucepan on low heat, add canola oil. Stir frequently until chocolate is completely melted.
2. Once cake is completely cooled, cut into bite-sized cubes and dip into chocolate. Make sure you cover only three sides so that the bottom can sit on the wire rack without sticking.

Gets a little messy dipping pound cake into chocolate

Tips

• I found using a fork helpful at times, but I mostly used my fingers to dip the chocolates. Much easier to handle. Just make sure to wipe off the excess chocolate that builds up otherwise it makes it hard to pick up the cake.
• Remember to keep the chocolate warm and keep stirring so it doesn't harden. I kept my chocolate liquid by placing the chocolate bowl inside another bowl of hot water and replaced the hot water whenever it cooled down.
• For a little something extra, I melted some white chocolate and drizzled it over the dark chocolate once it dried. You could also sprinkle some toasted chopped nuts or almonds or even decorate it with some caramel.

Chocolate covered pound cake -- the perfect potluck dessert

Other potluck ideas:

Vanilla Cupcakes
Spinach Dip
Chocolate Cake
Potstickers