Chocolate gravy recipe
A friend and I were comparing notes about our favorite childhood treats. As I was raving about my grandma’s chocolate pie, my friend said, “So how’s your grandma’s chocolate gravy?” Huh? Chocolate gravy—is that like mole, I asked. Nope, it’s spooned on biscuits, she said. I had to admit that I’d never heard of chocolate gravy; clearly I’d been deprived.
Curious why I had been denied the joys of chocolate gravy all my life, I called my grandma and demanded an explanation. “Why don’t you make chocolate gravy?” I asked. She replied, “Because I don’t know what it is.”
I see. Apparently, my grandma was in the dark on this secret as well. My only consolation? At least I wasn’t alone.
So what’s the provenance of chocolate gravy? Because I know everything, I assumed that if I hadn’t heard of it, then it must not be Texan.
I was wrong.
I poked around and not only had my friend—a long-standing Texan—grown up eating it within slapping distance of Dallas, but other Texan friends had been eating it all their lives as well. I heard chocolate-gravy stories from friends as far west as Midland and as far south as Houston. Though friends who had grown up in Arkansas, Tennessee and Georgia had also indulged, so it’s not particular to just Texas. But no matter, my family had been missing out on a very good thing.
I needed to make up for lost time. A little research revealed that there hadn’t been much chocolate-gravy recipe evolution over the years. The biggest schism I found in the chocolate-gravy community was whether to use milk or water as your liquid. I was surprised that no one had thrown some chipotle or bacon into their gravy, but actually this pleased me as it proved that chocolate gravy was indeed a classic that didn’t need any tinkering. But enough about thinking, it was time to eat.
I made my first batch and it was a deep, dark concoction—smooth, creamy and thick. I sliced a biscuit in half and plopped some chocolate gravy on each half. My first bite revealed this gravy’s pleasures. Its pudding-like consistency is pure comfort on a cold, winter morning. And while biscuits are in no way virtuous, their texture and heft prevents the gravy from sliding into total decadence, which is important as this is a breakfast treat after all, not dessert.
Does chocolate gravy and biscuits replace my beloved chocolate pie? No, but I certainly wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to pass an occasional morning with it poured on top of a biscuit. And am I the only one who didn’t grow up eating this? No matter, I am very, very pleased to finally make its acquaintance.
Chocolate gravy
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Biscuits, for serving
Instructions
- Mix together in a pot the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, salt and cinnamon (can sift if it’s too lumpy). Add the milk and while stirring cook on medium heat until it thickens. Stir in the vanilla and butter and serve immediately with biscuits.
OMG! is all I thought of when I saw this post. I grew up with this being a regular Sunday breakfast meal at Grandma's house. My grandparents were raised in southeast MO and northeast AR, not Texas, so it maybe from that area. My grandpa's family actually prefers homemade chocolate syrup, which is served on anything (biscuits, pancakes, cake) but Grandma always made chocolate gravy. Usually when you tell people about chocolate gravy, they must have this horrible idea of some salty greasy mess…but that's NOT what it is at all. Thanks for all your wonderful post, makes me miss home and good southern food.
Cheri–I could work with that!
Brenda–I'm beginning to think that Arkansas may be where it's from.
Middleclassmom–I like your crumbling technique! And very interesting note about it stemming from Depression-era rations.
Misti–I love white gravy as well!
April–I didn't realize pimento cheese had a similar history. Very interesting–thank you!
Runaway Spoon–That is an excellent idea! Mind if I borrow it?
Paul–Oh, thank you! I'd love to see her recipe!
Abby–I know! We'll just have to make up for lost time.
Carol–I'm a big fan of cinnamon toast so I just know I'd love chocolate toast. Thanks for sharing!
Pete–Perhaps a bit fancy, but I wouldn't say no to a croissant covered in chocolate gravy!
Dining Room Table–Even better, try it with strawberry jam!
Ginger–That's too funny–I always thought of sheet/sheath cake as simply chocolate cake as well. I had no idea it had any other name. What a wonderful way to welcome your son home.
Anna–Yes to both! I can't wait for strawberry season to arrive!
Laurel–Doesn't it? It actually reminds me a bit of the cioccolata calda I drank when visiting Torino.
Tasty Eats at Home–Doesn't it look divine?
Tina–And see, I was thinking maybe it was an East Texas thing? No matter, we know about it now!
HeadNClouds–I agree, my family is so crazy for chocolate I know we'd eaten it often if we'd known about it.
Hillary S.–I know, some people gave me funny looks when I mentioned it. No matter, more for us!
I'm a native of Southeast Texas…Lake Jackson, to be precise. I've never heard of Chocolate Gravy but it looks good. I grew up on Bisquits and Jelly or Honey.
I do know that Italians call their pasta sauce/meat sauce…Gravy. It's ALL good to me. 😉
great day in the mornin! i learned somethin today. born in dallas and raised in Tyler (it's in east texas y'all) i can tell you i never heard squat about this. i swear sometimes you think you know it all about a place but this was a new idea for me. i'm glad to now be indoctrinated into the church of holy cocoa deliciousness! AMEN! BTW i live in NYC now so i admit this is such an easy thing to conjure up, i can't wait to make a bowl, gee now all i need is a darling gravy dish like you have pictured. wow i agree with one comment posted that the gravy dish photo is indeed swoon-inspiring. yum. thanks for your recipe and the one of shawnda. KEEP UP THE GREAT POSTINGS, from one lisa (now in nyc but formerly from texas) to another!
Now I'm craving breakfast! This sounds amazing!