Chocolate pizza is definitely a thing! While it may sound unusual to some, pizza with a chocolate crust or chocolate toppings has become popular in recent years. Chocolate pizza combines the savory flavor of pizza with the sweet taste of chocolate for an unexpected but delicious culinary mashup.
What is chocolate pizza?
Chocolate pizza refers to pizza that incorporates chocolate in some way, usually via the crust or toppings. Some examples of chocolate pizza include:
- Pizza with a chocolate chip cookie crust instead of a traditional pizza dough crust.
- Pizza with chocolate sauce drizzled over the top.
- Pizza with chocolate candies like M&Ms or chocolate chips as a topping.
- Pizza made with a thin chocolate crust and fruit or other sweet toppings.
So in essence, chocolate pizza takes the basic pizza form and gives it a dessert-like twist by integrating chocolate. It combines pizza toppings like fruit or nuts with the rich decadence of chocolate.
The history of chocolate pizza
Chocolate pizza originated in the early 1980s at the California restaurant California Pizza Kitchen. Chef Ed LaDou created a pizza dessert with a chocolate chip cookie crust, raspberry jam sauce, and fresh raspberries on top. This innovative combination of sweet and savory was a hit and put chocolate pizza on the map.
Here’s a brief timeline of chocolate pizza history:
- Early 1980s: California Pizza Kitchen debuts a chocolate chip cookie pizza with raspberry sauce.
- 1990s: Chocolate pizza gains popularity on dessert menus at restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory.
- Early 2000s: Frozen chocolate pizza becomes available from brands like Keebler.
- 2010s: Chocolate pizzas go viral as a food trend on social media.
- Today: Chocolate pizza is widely available from restaurants, bakeries, frozen food aisles, and online recipes.
While California Pizza Kitchen is credited with inventing chocolate pizza, the trend went on to thrive and can now be found internationally in restaurants and home kitchens.
Chocolate pizza variations
There are endless variations of chocolate pizza out there. Some popular styles include:
| Variation | Description |
|---|---|
| Cookie crust | A chocolate chip cookie, Oreo cookie, or chocolate wafer crust |
| Brownie crust | A fudgy chocolate brownie crust |
| Chocolate drizzle | Melted chocolate or chocolate sauce drizzled over a regular pizza crust |
| Candy bar toppings | Toppings like M&Ms, Reese’s Pieces, chocolate chips, etc. |
| Fruit & nut toppings | Banana slices, strawberries, pineapples, almonds, etc. as sweet toppings |
The crust and toppings can be mixed and matched for all kinds of unique chocolate pizza combinations.
How is chocolate pizza made?
Making chocolate pizza at home is relatively easy. Here is a basic process:
- Make or purchase a pizza crust. This can be a pre-made chocolate cookie crust, brownie crust from scratch, or regular dough crust.
- Spread chocolate sauce or melted chocolate over the crust with a spoon or spatula. Leave some areas without chocolate for variety.
- Decorate with desired toppings while the chocolate is still warm. Classic options include fruit like banana slices or strawberries, nuts like almonds or pecans, and chocolate candies like M&Ms or chocolate chips.
- Optionally add whipped cream, powdered sugar, or vanilla ice cream on top for extra decadence.
- Slice and serve chocolate pizza like regular pizza. Enjoy immediately while still warm and melty.
Making chocolate pizza from scratch takes more time but allows customizing the crust and toppings. There are also shortcut recipes using refrigerated cookie dough or a ready-made crust.
Where can I find chocolate pizza?
Here are some places to find chocolate pizza on a menu or pre-made:
- Restaurants: California Pizza Kitchen, The Cheesecake Factory, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Chuck E. Cheese
- Bakeries: Gigi’s Cupcakes, SusieCakes, DESSERT Gallery Bake Shop
- Grocery stores: Digiorno, Newman’s Own, and other brands in the frozen food aisle
- Online: Goldbelly, Baked by Melissa, Harry & David
- DIY: Make at home with a store-bought crust and toppings
Calling ahead to check menus is advised, as chocolate pizza tends to be a limited-time seasonal item at many establishments.
Chocolate pizza for parties
Chocolate pizza makes for an exciting show-stopping centerpiece at parties and events like:
- Birthday parties
- Kid’s sleepover parties
- Bridal showers
- Baby showers
- Holiday parties like Valentine’s Day and Christmas
- Game day get-togethers
- Movie nights
Serving chocolate pizza at a party allows guests to enjoy an interactive, shareable dessert. Set out a large chocolate pizza and let guests grab slices buffet style. Customize individual slices with a DIY toppings bar featuring candies, nuts, fruit, and sauces.
Nutritional information
The nutrition of chocolate pizza can vary widely depending on the specific ingredients used. However, here are some general nutrition facts for a slice of chocolate pizza (1/8th of a 14-inch pizza):
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 350-400 calories |
| Carbs | 45-55g |
| Protein | 5-8g |
| Total Fat | 15-20g |
| Sugar | 25-30g |
As a dessert pizza, it is high in carbs, sugar, and fat. Most of the calories come from the refined flour crust and high-sugar toppings. Chocolate pizza is considered a treat and should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy diet.
Benefits of chocolate pizza
While high in sugar, chocolate pizza can have some potential benefits when enjoyed occasionally. These include:
- Unique flavor experience: The sweet and salty taste combination provides fun sensory stimulation for the palate.
- Party showstopper: It’s a memorable dessert for special occasions and gatherings.
- Quick & easy: Store-bought versions provide fast easy dessert with minimal effort.
- Kid-friendly: The fun pizza form makes it appealing to picky young eaters.
- Mood booster: The chocolate can provide a quick boost of happiness chemicals like serotonin.
When balancing taste and nutrition, a homemade chocolate pizza made with a whole grain crust and antioxidant-rich cacao can be a better option.
Potential downsides
While delicious, chocolate pizza does have some potential health downsides to consider:
- High in calories and fat: It ranks low in nutrients for the amount of dense calories.
- Blood sugar crash: The added sugars can lead to an energy crash later on.
- Nutrient-poor: Made with heavily processed ingredients like white flour and chocolate.
- Lacking protein: Unlike regular pizza, it does not provide much filling protein.
- Low satiety: May not satisfy hunger or cravings long-term.
Portion control and ingredient quality are key when enjoying chocolate pizza. Focusing on fresh fruit toppings and less processed options can provide more nutritional benefits.
Fun facts
Here are some fun facts about chocolate pizza:
- The largest chocolate pizza ever made was over 10 feet across.
- There is a pizza place in Brazil called Brutus Pizza that tops pies with chocolate covered insects.
- Some pizza chefs use unconventional chocolate pizza toppings like potato chips, cheese, and hot dogs.
- Pizzerias like Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory offer pizza with both chocolate crust and sauce.
- There is a chocolate pizza emoji that depicts a slice of pizza topped with melting chocolate.
- Chocolate pizza is believed to have originated before traditional pizza as a celebratory food in ancient Mesoamerica.
Conclusion
Chocolate pizza has gone from an obscure novelty to a beloved mainstream dessert. Its rise proves that a creative mashup of flavors can take the food world by storm. While not the most nutritious meal, chocolate pizza provides the satisfying taste of two classic comfort foods in one. When enjoyed occasionally, it can be a fun indulgence for chocolate lovers, kids, and the young at heart. This unique dessert shows how the pizza form can take on limitless interpretations.