Ask most people what their favorite type of dessert or sweet is and the emphatic answer will most often be, “Chocolate!” no matter where in the world one is doing the asking. Made from the fermented and roasted seed of the tropical cacao tree, chocolate has been around in one form or another for longer than 3,000 years. Chocolate cookbooks however are a recent phenomenon and give the home cook some help making delicious chocolate desserts and foods. Here are our favorites:

When seeking indulgent recipes using this most divine ingredient, look to the professionals–chocolatiers, that is. One of the very best cookbooks in this category is “The Ghirardelli Chocolate Cookbook: Recipes and History from America’s Premier Chocolate Maker,” which provides comprehensive instruction regarding the different varieties of chocolate and their uses. It also contains 80-plus recipes ranging from simple cookies and brownies to elegant desserts such as Chocolate Ganache Tart and Individual Chocolate Lava Cakes.

A wonderful option for the chocolate fanatic who is a kitchen novice is “Hershey’s Chocolate Lover’s Cookbook.” This must-have guide features 175 decadent, mouth-watering recipes with color photographs and easy-to-follow instructions for classics such as Deep Dark Chocolate Cake, S’mores, Chocolate Kiss Mousse, Fudgey Fondue, and Cool ‘n Creamy Chocolate Pie. There are also more than enough recipes featuring chocolate and peanut butter to satisfy even the most demanding connoisseur of this classic combination.

The best way to learn everything there is to know about chocolate and then some is “The Great Book of Chocolate” by David Lebovitz. In it, he discusses all things chocolate, from the history of the dark seed to the modern distribution system. This book provides a glossary of chocolate-related terminology and a fascinating description of the chocolate-making process. He also explains how to evaluate and purchase chocolate along with profiles of some of the world’s most prominent chocolate producers and consumers. Delicious recipes included in this book are classic combinations of chocolate and complementary flavors such as Orange and Rum Chocolate Mousse Cake, Homemade Rocky Road Candy, and Mocha Pudding Cake.

Another great choice for recipes to help chocolate addicts get their daily fix is “Chocolate: From Simple Cookies to Extravagant Showstoppers.” This massive collection of more than 360 chocolate-filled recipes by Nick Malgieri covers all the basics of preparing perfectly chocolaty hot or cold treats for any taste or occasion. This tome is undeniably the quintessential guide to everything chocolate.

While it has always been most popular in desserts and sweets, chocolate is finally coming into its own as a savory ingredient due to its recent surge in popularity and chefs exploring new culinary avenues for common foods. Another more recent trend for this captivating ingredient is the use of savory spices in chocolate sweets, such as the pairing of chile, ginger, salt, basil, rosemary and even wasabi or curry with sweet or dark chocolate. Let these chocolate-centered cookbooks and others open the door to culinary exploration of this most valuable and versatile flavor.

Here is a link to Amazon if you are in the mood to buy one of them right away.