Chocolate Gravy Recipe

by Louieinseattle on 2010-01-06

It must be a deep South secret, as I lived in New Orleans and Alabama for 4 years and never heard of this.
My favorite food was chocolate corn bread.
":)

by itsemilyday on 2010-01-16

Oh my gosh! My mom used to make this for me for breakfast before school. I haven't had this in SO long. Thank you, Saveur!

by jacobsjd on 2010-01-16

Louieinseattle, I was born in Florida in 1960 when it was still in the deep South. I also spent much time in Georgia at my grandparents during the first 25 years of my life. I grew up on Southern cooking and a lot of soul food from my grandparent's African-American cook. I've never heard of this either. If someone knows from what region of the South this comes, please let us know.

by michele mckee on 2010-01-17

I have lived in the South (as well as my family) 60 years and never heard or saw chocolate gravy...from where was this submitted?

by kimberlydaly on 2010-01-17

I am from Louisiana and have also lived in Arkansas and Tennessee. The only place I've ever had this was in Arkansas. When I was in high school my friend's elderly aunts would make it for breakfast to go on biscuits, and I have NEVER forgotten it! So excited to have the recipe now!

by dkropka on 2010-01-18

Nope. I was born and raised in South Carolina - a southern family for many generations. I've never seen or heard of this.

by lyricalsoul on 2010-01-18

My friend in North Carolina eats this just about every Sunday with biscuits, just as shown in the picture. I really thought it was something her family made up, but here it is. Thanks, Saveur!

by schavis on 2010-01-18

According to The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, Vol. 7: Foodways: "Another variety, popular in Appalachia, is chocolate gravy, sweet gravy prepared with cocoa and poured over biscuits for breakfast. This gravy is stirred with milk and occasionally cream. Chocolate gravy also enjoys a rich history in the cooking of the Arkansas Ozarks, although its origins are unknown."

by plant-lady@hotmail.com on 2010-01-18

Chocolate gravy is very common here in the Ozarks of Northern Arkansas, but it does not usually have vanilla in it, and it is a breakfast food, definately not a dessert. My friends have been known to serve it with biscuits and sausage!
I'm a transplant from England to Pocahontas, Arkansas, and I have never got to like siclky sweet stuff for breakfast. Sorry

by plant-lady@hotmail.com on 2010-01-18

This is not "soul food" as far as I know. This is from an area that is predominantly peopled by Americans of Scots-Irish, English and German backgrounds.
I doubt than an African American cook in Florida or Georgia would have known about this, as the whole pattern of settlement in that area would have been different.
Can't prove any of this, just saying what I have heard.

by dafoxfl on 2010-01-19

I live in Florida and the first time I had this was when a friend from Mississippi made it. Don't know what part of MS, maybe the Arkansas side ...

by Shannon on 2010-02-02

I visited relatives in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1968 or 69, and my cousin Frankie made this for breakfast one morning. She made it as a special breakfast for her family - it was a long standing tradition.

by blainepate on 2010-02-04

Well done, SAVEUR!!! Though I've lived in Los Angeles for over thirteen years now, chocolate gravy n' homemade buttermilk biscuits is a mandatory staple at family breakfasts when I return back home to Nashville. My grandmother's grandmother used to make this for her and her siblings when she was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee. My mom's chocolate gravy comforts our family in these often difficult times the same way her great grandmother's version did for her family during the Great Depression. Kudos to SAVEUR for exposing this true Southern gem to the rest of the world.

by blainepate on 2010-02-04

I feel that "schavis" and "plant-lady" are both on the money: In my experience, this dish is Appalachia-based and I agree that its origin lies not in African American/soul food cooking, but more from the Americans from Scots-Irish, English and German backgrounds who populate deep, remote regions of Appalachia.

by angelitacarmelita on 2010-03-26

I would like to gently remind reviewers that Soul Food transcends skin color and ethnicity, Soul Food feeds the southern spirit. Although I am from the South and have not heard of 'chocolate gravy' myself, let's keep in mind that Soul Food belongs to ALL Southerners. Who wouldn't love a biscuit, maybe one your making from your own families southern heritage with a little chocolate gravy on it? sounds good....

by Shericastle on 2010-04-05

Chocolate gravy is native to the Mountain South, particularly the Blue Ridge Mountains of eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. It comes from the tradition of resourceful cooks transforming humble, inexpensive ingredients into excellent dishes. When made properly, the gravy is somewhere between fudge sauce and thin pudding and is usually served on hot biscuits. It is called gravy because it was once common to call nearly all roux-based sauces made in a cast-iron skillet a "gravy", even when no meat was involved, although there are versions that use bacon drippings in place of the butter.

by Shericastle on 2010-04-05

Chocolate gravy is native to the Mountain South, particularly the Blue Ridge Mountains of eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. It comes from the tradition of resourceful cooks transforming humble, inexpensive ingredients into excellent dishes. When made properly, the gravy is somewhere between fudge sauce and thin pudding and is usually served on hot biscuits. It is called gravy because it was once common to call nearly all roux-based sauces made in a cast-iron skillet a "gravy", even when no meat was involved, although there are versions that use bacon drippings in place of the butter.

by Daisymaegogo on 2010-04-07

I live in Tennessee, and grew up eating this gravy. My Granny and my mom made it for us growing up, and now I cook it for my own children.
I only use 1/4 cup of cocoa instead of 1/2 cup, and sometimes use water instead of milk.
In most of our "meat and 3" restauraunts in town, they have chocolate and biscuits (or pancakes) on the menu. People from out of town freak out a little, but most people like it once they try it.

by kirbychristian on 2010-04-08

I'm glad there's a few other Southerners unfamiliar with this. I grew up in Eastern North Carolina and Alabama and never saw chocolate gravy on biscuits. Biscuits with sausage gravy or red-eye gravy yes...chocolate, no. Sounds interesting though.

by Michael RL on 2010-04-08

I was raised in N.E. Okla and I don't remember ever seeing this, hearing about this, or ever hearing any of the family talk about this. But, according to some of the responses I'm seeing, I guess it happened??? Now, Flour gravy, Red-eye gravy oh yea, But this one I'm not sure about, But I will be brave and try it.... But I haven't seen to much that didn't go good with Chocolate!!!!

by Michael RL on 2010-04-08

I was raised in N.E. Okla and I don't remember ever seeing this, hearing about this, or ever hearing any of the family talk about this. But, according to some of the responses I'm seeing, I guess it happened??? Now, Flour gravy, Red-eye gravy oh yea, But this one I'm not sure about, But I will be brave and try it.... But I haven't seen to much that didn't go good with Chocolate!!!!

by sblake on 2010-04-09

I am 69 years old. I was born and raised (until age 12) in Eastern Kentucky and I grew up on, and loved, chocolate gravy for breakfast. I have served it to my grandchildren for the past 18 years and they truly love it. They all live in Florida and have carried this recipe there with them.

by SNEAKYPETE on 2010-06-02

I'm from Arbyrd, Missouri (extreme southern bootheel) and this was a dietary staple in our home. First recipe I ever learned, although ours was made without flour. Not quite part of a healthy diet, however.

by CRAZEDCOOK on 2010-07-25

Born and raised in the Bootheel of Missouri, my family has enjoyed chocolate gravy and biscuits as a special breakfast and brunch treat for generations. Family roots go all through Tennessee, N. Arkansas and S. Missouri. My Grandma was unable to determine how far back the recipe goes on the family tree going back to England. I recall friends experiencing this treat for the first time at our table and leaving with a smile! Mom & Grandma used the left over gravy to make chocolate pies! I carry on the tradition with my children, though we rarely have left overs! Your recipe is as I have known, except we add a pinch of salt. The vanilla is a must!

by ellidirect on 2010-11-12

This recipe is not of Appalachian origin. It is Cherokee. My great grandma was full blood Cherokee in Oklahoma and she made this often. She said she learned it from her Great Grandmother. Her great Grandma was born in 1806. I grew up on it but it was never one of my favorites.

by MOLLYCANTER on 2011-01-22

Grew up in North Alabama--loved it when Mom fixed this for breakfast. Usually Saturday mornings!

by LOVESOUTHERN on 2011-10-09

This particular recipe of chocolate gravy is not the one my Great-grandmother made. I have often wondered about the origin of this recipe. My great-grandmother told us she used to serve this recipe up to the "hobos" in the depression who would end up at her back door begging for food. She never turned anyone away who needed food. To Ellidirect's comment that the recipe is not of Appalachian origin, but is rather Cherokee it could be Cherokee but it could still be of Appalachian origin. My great-grandmother was full-blood Cherokee and was born and raised in the Appalachian mountains near the Eastern Band Cherokee reservation. I know a lot of people in the Franklin NC area who make this recipe! I think it could very well have started in the NC/Eastern Tennessee area... We may never know...

by MTCOPLEN on 2011-11-07

I grew up in Quinton Oklahoma a small town with small town people in it. My grandma didn't have much money to buy us kids birthday gifts so every birthday we got a special breakfast, mine was chocolate gravy and biscuits. Everyone in that town had that I knew made it on special occasions. Now I'm grown and have children of my own I make them a special breakfast for their birthdays and for my daughter its chocolate gravy she loves it. There are several restaurants here in AR. that sell it some people put sausage in it something I DO NOT DO, but I do put vanilla in mine just like my mom, my grandma, and my great grandma. My grandpa who was born in Choctaw Territory (now known as Red Oak) used to tell me his grandma made it for him when he was just a boy. I don't know much about Soul Food, but when I do get homesick or miss my family sometimes I'll just make chocolate gravy & biscuits to feel better.

by FAUXSWEDE on 2012-01-17

I grew up in Georgia and my Grandmother made chocolate gravy and biscuits all the time. I loved it. My Grandmother grew up in Hartwell, Ga which isn't too terribly far from Blue Ridge so those who've said the recipe originated in Souther mountain communities may have been onto something. I wish more people were familiar with it so I wouldn't get the strange looks when I mention it. It really is delicious!