Chocolate Gravy and Biscuits
Though I was born and raised in Wisconsin, and my heritage and traditions are very German in nature, my family spent quite a bit of time in Arkansas.
My father was born and raised in Hot Springs, AR, until he moved up north looking for work. His family has been in Arkansas since the land grants in the 1800’s. We’ve traced the family back to the 1200’s, with American landfall coming in the 1600’s. They have been a southern family for hundreds of years.
So I shouldn’t have been so surprised to find out that Chocolate Gravy and Biscuits wasn’t just an eccentric family recipe. In fact, it seems to be an old family tradition in some parts of the old south.
My family would go to Arkansas a few times a year when we were kids. The highlight of the trip was staying at my Aunt Nellie’s house. She let kids have the run of the house, which we always took advantage of. And she always made us Chocolate Gravy and Biscuits for breakfast.
Chocolate gravy is exactly that. It’s made like a traditional gravy, starting with a roux and adding milk, cocoa and sugar to form a rich, chocolate flavor. In our family we’d put a bit of butter on the bottom of our plate, pour the gravy over that, and tear up hot biscuits into that. I hear that more refined people actually just pour the gravy over halved butter biscuits.
That’s hardly any fun for kids, if you ask me.
We’d come back up north and none of our friends would have heard of it. At sleep-overs my mom would make it for breakfast, but most of our friends would turn their noses up at it. I never understood that. I mean, come on…. it’s CHOCOLATE!
I never understood that it was a tradition outside my family until I was channel surfing one day and stopped on an interview with a southern race car driver who was confessing that his favorite meal was Chocolate Gravy and Biscuits.
Huh, who knew.
Hi, I have the same treasured memories (sans butter LOL) from my Grandmother making ‘biscuits and chocolate’ (from NW Alabama). We sopped of course. We weren’t allowed to have our ‘biscuits and chocolate’ until we’d finished our regular breakfast first.
My Grandmother used to make this and never used a recipe (Eastern Oklahoma/Arkansas). I have been searching for a recipe. Anyone have one they are willing to share?
I too grew up eating what we called “cocoa and biscuits.” My mother got the recipe from my grandmother who was from Georgia (Savannah to be exact). I recently ran across it being described in the book “Savannah From Savannah” by Denise Hildreth and heard it called chocolate gravy for the first time. Whatever you call it, it’s delicious. We don’t have it often, but when we do, it’s a special meal. Even my health-conscious son can’t resist Maw-Maw’s cocoa and biscuits.
I was born in Savannah and grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. We had chocolate gravy and biscuits at least once a week for breakfast. It was brought up recently in a conversation with a friend so I am trying to find the recipe. My son should love it!!
I thought we were the only family who ate this! My family is all from OK and AK. My grandmother, however, doesn’t use milk and insists on calling it “syrup” because it doesn’t include milk. I’ve never had the milk-chocolate version, but all the women in my family love dark chocolate, so maybe that’s why!
Reading the posts above brings back memories of my “embarassed mother”, when she would hear of my telling all my school friends what I had for breakfast. - “Chocolate Gravy”, I would proudly say and still do to this day. I do have a recipe for anyone interested. It goes as follows: 4 C. Milk, 1/2 cup Sugar (less if desired), about 1/4 C of Flour, 3 T (heaping) of Cocoa, 1/4 t Salt - I heat the milk (careful not to let it burn or stick to the bottom of the pan), then add the powdered or “dry” ingredients, stirring till the gravy starts to thicken. Once heated to the desired consistancy, I add about an Eighth of a cup of butter. The butter could be added to the bottom of the bowl or plate with the gravy spooned on top of it. Both are equally tasty. Enjoy!! for more discussion, join me on facebook ………………………… the “Chocolate Gravy Lovers” group. See you there. Kevin
I GREW UP ON CHOCOLATE GRAVY CAUSE I HAD A AUNT THAT USED TO MAKE IT ALL THE TIME AND I FINALLY GOT THE RECIPE AND SO NOW IM GOING TO MAKE IT FOR MY CHILDREN CAUSE IF THEY ARE ANYTHING LIKE ME THEY WILL LOVE IT
I am so surprised to see that others also grew up with what I knew as cocoa gravy and biscuits. My great Aunt, “Ma Faye” would make this and I would hop on my bike, race down the street to make sure I got the first serving. I have not had it for about 20 years. When I mention it to anyone they think I am nuts. My mom does not have recipe and I would love to make it. Since I am not a great cook, I don’t even know how to make regular gravy. Anyone willing to share a recipe I would really appreciate it. Thanks for bringing back great childhood memories.
I grew up in AR and have since moved away. Until this week, it had been 20 years since my last visit. Chocolate gravy and biscuits is one of my favorite meals, anytime. No one from the NW has ever heard of it and think it sounds awful.
My kids, who are grown, love it.