6 dark recipes

Dark rum balls made with crushed vanilla wafers, cocoa, nuts, and a generous pour of dark rum, rolled in powdered sugar. No-bake holiday cookie that improves with age in the tin.

From recipe request: posted by SuzieQue. Banana bread become an American staple because of its good flavor and adaptability-sandwiched with cream cheese it makes a meal , and it keeps so well it is ready for a snack or dessert whenever needed. This version includes wheat germ and whole-wheat flour for extra goodness.

Intensely rich chocolate mousse made with 1 1/2 cups cocoa, cognac, and strong coffee. No melted chocolate needed. Whipped cream and beaten egg whites keep it impossibly airy despite the deep, dark flavor.

Rich pecan pie with unsweetened chocolate and dark corn syrup for intense, bittersweet flavor. Buttery filling studded with pecans bakes until set with gooey center.

Frozen coffee ice cream cake layered on a chocolate wafer crust with amaretti whipped cream, toasted almonds, and a rich Amaretto dark chocolate sauce. Make-ahead elegance for any celebration.

Whole chicken steamed then wok-smoked over tea leaves, cassia bark, star anise, and rice for deeply aromatic, mahogany-skinned Chinese smoked chicken. A showstopper Hunan technique with layers of warm spice and sesame.