Granny Ragland's Chocolate Gravy

When I was growing up in Tennessee, I loved going to visit my grandparents. Exploring the old barn in the field behind their house. Running around the cool, dark basement filled with Pa's tools and Granny's canning supplies. Horsing around with my cousins on the rope swing in the backyard.

But the best part was waking up to a house already filling with breakfast smells -- eggs, country ham -- and walking into the kitchen to find that Granny had made a batch of biscuits and her famous chocolate gravy.

Last year, when Granny asked if I wanted anything in particular for Christmas, I told her I would love it if she would just write down some of her favorite recipes. On Christmas Day, when she handed me a stack of handwritten recipe cards, I knew without looking which one would be on top -- this delicious chocolate gravy.

To this day, I've never heard of chocolate gravy outside my family. I asked Granny why she ever started cooking it. She told me it was because my grandfather's mom had made it for him, and Granny wanted to make Pa something familiar -- yet special -- when they were newlyweds.

I can't think of anything better than this.

Okay, let's get one thing out of the way: Yes, the notion of chocolate gravy for breakfast is ludicrous! I mean, it's basically a sort of chocolate pudding served on biscuits.

It's ridiculous. I don't care.

And neither will you.

The next time you want to make someone feel special (even if it's yourself!), make up a batch of buttermilk biscuits, douse them in this rich, gooey, chocolaty deliciousness, and watch the smiles light up around your table.   --ZP

Granny Ragland's Chocolate Gravy

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1/3 cup sugar

2 cups whole milk

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Mix dry ingredients well. Slowly add milk until mixture is smooth. Cook very slowly over low heat, stirring frequently. When it gets thick enough, remove from stove. Add vanilla and butter.

Enjoy over biscuits.

Comments

[Hendersonville Epicurean]

Someone in the Northwest once told me their grandmother always made them Chocolate Gravy. Don't remember where they were originally from, but it just sounds Southern to me.

I thought they were kidding, but they swore it was true. It sounded strangely yummy. Now I have a recipe! Thanks.

[vanessa]

ahhh! the family secret is out-- but i guess it's for world-betterment. i just got this recipe from granny in november, it works great with full fat vanilla soy milk & earth balance!

[kristina]

Chocolate gravy!! You've just made my day.

[Nick]

Darn that sounds good. I've certainly never heard of this before. What do you think about putting it over turkey though?

- The Peanut Butter Boy

[Angie Pangie]

Hi! Just found your blog thru Tastespotting.

I liked your writing voice, and the chocolate gravy idea (Hello?! Chocolate and Gravy, grow my hips and clog my veins at the same time, could it get any better?), so I thought I'd subscribe.

Then, I noticed, we're cooking the same things! I did sweet and sour cabbage wedges last month, and I have fish tacos on my docket for next week. Sounds like we have similar tastes. Based on your review, I think I'll significantly change the fish tacos though! I just loved the idea of the radish salad, figured it would save the dish. Ah well.

Well, great job. I wish I was half as good as you are at photography! I've put you in my feeds . . . I'll be back! Often. :)

Angie

[Lauren]

Oh lordy, you have won me over.

[Cassidy]

I am so glad you guys are sharing this with the world...obesity here we come! I might just wip this up on vacation next week. :o)

[Zach]

Thanks, all!

Nick -- I really don't think this would be good on turkey. It's not like a mole sauce. It's just thick and sweet.

But if you try it on turkey, please let me know how it turns out!

[Deborah]

It sounds intriguing - and delicious!

[Patricia Scarpin]

That looks sinful. And oh, so good.

[Jennifer]

I'm a big fan of chocolate gravy. I don't think there are that many of us who have had it. I've always thought it was a Southern thing. In any case, it is delicious!

[Bre in KY]

Thanks for the recipe! A lady in our church back home (Eastern Ky) used to make this for her family every Sunday morning. I always knew I could stop and have breakfast at her house! She's gone now...I"m so glad to have this recipe!

[KiKi]

Dear God...
I'm so sorry for I have sinned. I have lusted after chocolate sauce on biscuits in spite of my low-carb diet. Please forgive me for my lustful thoughts and don't plague me with gastrointestinal issues for my sins.
Sincerely,
Me

[Jinxy]

OMG my Grandma used to make chocolate gravy on Christmas. It is my favorite thing in the world. When I moved a couple of states away I started making it for myself on Christmas. Your recipe is very similar to mine. Its wonderful.

[Victoria]

My grandmother in Illinois used to make Chocolate Gravy. I haven't had it in YEARS. Nobody I have ever asked has heard of it. I tried to make it one day from a receipe I found on the web but it wasn't the same as hers. I'll have to give this recipe a try! Thanks for posting it!

[Ken in MS]

I, too, always thought chocolate gravy was a Southern thing. We have a big group of homos that go to Florida every year for Memorial Day and one of our members always makes chocolate gravy. (Biscuit detail has rotated based on past success!) But now the talk among us once-or-twice-removed from Southern grandmothers is about tomato gravy. If I get a good recipe, I'll pass it on. And I'm sure the beach libations have no effect on the taste.

[SSK]

My family has eaten "milk toast" that is buttered toast with a vanilla gravy -- the above recipe without the cocoa powder. I also thought chocolate gravy was a southern dish. No matter what the origin, it sounds heavenly and I'll try it one day.

[Clay@The Bitten Word]

@Ken - Tomato gravy?! I'm intrigued!

@SSK - we'll have to give it vanilla gravy a try, too!

[Sarah]

Check out Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock's "Gift of Southern Cooking" for an excellent recipe for Tomato Gravy.

And many thanks for posting the chocolate gravy recipe -- a dear friend from Eastern Kentucky becomes positively rapsodic when he talks about eating it as a kid.

[Kim]

I grew up on chocolate gravy (in East Tennessee) - LOVE IT! There is a marina in Tennessee (Dale Hollow) that actually has it on their menu. If you ever get a chance to try it, check it out...just gravy and biscuits with a sweet twist!!!!! A must for chocolate lovers!

[Zach @ The Bitten Word]

Kim -- That's exactly where my grandparents live! They're in Livingston!

I know exactly the marina you're talking about. I've eaten there many times, although somehow I don't think I've ever had the chocolate gravy there.

Thanks for commenting!

[SHJ]

Hello--I googled "chocolate gravy" and simply had to follow the link here!

I've been in contact w/ a cookbook author, and a well-researched Southern author at that, and she has never heard of chocolate and biscuits! Believe me, I'm clueing her in on this yummy dish!

Your recipe is almost exactly like mine, though I don't use vanilla. My Gramma used to make it with water, but it was yummy, too.

By the way, my family is from northeast NC, so we've had it this far north, but that's as far as I know of it.

I think I'll fix some in the morning!

shj

[Lizz]

Wow, a lot of the people I know... do not know what chocolate gravy is. I'm actually writing a paper for my college English class on biscuits and chocolate gravy. I live in NE Tennessee and I am proud to say that I am the fourth generation in my family to make chocolate gravy. It is my favorite breakfast dish when put with anything from biscuits to sausage, eggs to hash browns... I got curious one day and tried it with every single breakfast food that I eat. Delicious.

[Zach @ The Bitten Word]

@ Lizz -- You'll HAVE to send us your paper! Anything inspired by chocolate gravy will be a masterpiece!

[angela campuzano]

I'm from CA and so is my family... but originally my Grandma was from Oklahoma and made Chocolate gravy all the time for us....my mom made it too for my father who loves it. My kids also love it. But people who hear me talk of it think it sounds absolutely gross....guess you have to try it. Oh my goodness...it's the greatest !!!!