What is it? The chocolate covered habanero pepper. Chocolate covered jalapenos have become a little too mainstream so when you really want the receiver of your gift to remember you go the extra mile and put a little personal spin on things. It is super easy and you probably won’t get burned and you don’t have to try one if you don’t want.

I don’t like out of season produce but for this we can make an exception. Get a good selection of the freshest hottest looking chillies. Find a container of dipping chocolate. The kind you have to heat up works best and dries solid, if it has a little oil in it that will make it melt better. I think dark chocolate works best.

When you are ready to prepare the peppers wash them first and heat up the chocolate. Half power in the microwave avoids burning the chocolate, stir, then heat some more.

Melt the chocolate in a small dish that allows for dipping. Dip each pepper in the chocolate rolling to cover the whole chili. At this point either set it on waxed paper or hang by the stem until the chocolate dries, hanging will give it a better appearance. Using some clothes pins on a hanger works very well. The chocolate dries quickly, so as soon as it dries you can repeat the process until you are satisfied with the result.

I like lots of chocolate. These babies will be hot so some pleasure before the pain is good. More chocolate also helps decrease the burn because it contains dairy which cuts the capsaicin, which is the chemical compound that makes hot sauce hot.

The chocolate covered peppers only last for about a week so eat them quickly or refrigerate. Don’t sneak these on people unless you are really cruel and you know they can handle a habanero. Some people just do not have a natural tolerance to hot sauce and these peppers are painfully hot. Keep away from kids they will eat anything covered in chocolate and this would not be a good one to explain to mom and dad or at the hospital.

Be responsible with these suckers and have fun.