A Bold, Surprising, and Possibly Unnecessary Twist
Yes, you read that right. We’re making a dark chocolate Neapolitan pizza! Bitter, intense, unapologetically rich… and absolutely at odds with everything else on the pizza.
Just picture it: a beautifully blistered Neapolitan-style pizza, its thin, airy crust kissed by the flames of a wood-fired oven. A rich tomato sauce, slightly sweet and tangy, spread lovingly across the dough. Fresh mozzarella melts into perfect pools of creamy, stretchy goodness…
…and then—just when you think perfection has been achieved—someone drizzles unsweetened, melted dark chocolate all over it. Wow, right?
A Flavor Combination Unlike Any Other
Food pairings are a delicate art. Tomatoes and mozzarella? A dream team. Chocolate and strawberries? A classic. But bitter chocolate and tomato sauce? Well, that’s a such a bold combination, we just had to try it!
Unsweetened Dark Chocolate
Unsweetened dark chocolate is the natural choice for this bold experiment because it brings out the full, unfiltered essence of cacao—deep, earthy, and just a touch bitter. Unlike milk chocolate, which is creamy and sweet, dark chocolate lacks sugar and dairy, making it more of a serious ingredient rather than a playful treat. In theory, its intensity could complement the acidity of the tomato sauce, much like how a well-aged balsamic drizzle can add depth to a pizza. We opted to use Simple Truth Organic Unsweetened 100% Cacao dark chocolate.
In practice? Well… let’s just say it’s an experience. If nothing else, using unsweetened chocolate ensures that this creation stays true to its vision: an avant-garde, taste-bud-challenging masterpiece that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about pizza.
How to Make This Dark Chocolate Pizza Recipe
To make our truly visionary chocolate Neapolitan pizza yourself, follow these simple steps:
Ingredients:
- 1 Neapolitan-style pizza dough (check out our AVPN recipe for this)
- We have a number of alternatives too featuring various pizza flours.
- ½ cup San Marzano tomato sauce
- 4 oz fresh mozzarella, torn into pieces
- 1 oz 85% (or darker) unsweetened chocolate, melted
- A deep sense of curiosity (or questionable decision-making skills)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to as high as it will go (or use a pizza stone in a 500°F oven).
- Pre-warm the chocolate by first breaking it into smaller pieces and microwaving until soft (about 30 seconds). Stir the chocolate
- Stretch the dough into a thin circle, admiring its beauty before you ruin it.
- Spread the tomato sauce evenly—because at this point, things still make sense.
- Slice and scatter the mozzarella distributing it around the pizza.
- Bake until the crust is crispy, the cheese is bubbly, and you’re feeling hopeful.
- Remove from the oven and place on a cutting board to rest while you add the chocolate.
- Rewarm the chocolate – put back in the microwave for another 20-30 seconds to get it warm.
- Get brave and drizzle the melted unsweetened chocolate over the top. A little goes a long way!
- Take a bite! …question your life choices, and try not to cry.
Why Did We Make Chocolate Neapolitan Pizza?
Some might call this pizza “adventurous.” Others might describe it as “unexpected.” The most generous among us may even say it’s “certainly a thing that exists.” But one thing is for sure: it will surprise you.
The bitterness of the chocolate clashes magnificently with the acidity of the tomatoes, creating a distinctive experience that will linger on your palate (and in your regrets) for hours. The creamy mozzarella tries its best to mediate the battle between the flavors, but even it knows when to back down.
Final Thoughts
Of course, this is an April Fools’ Day joke—because no one in their right mind would willingly create such a disaster (unless they were hosting a pizza blog and running out of ideas).
But then again, there are people who like Vegemite… and people like that just might like this pizza too!
What’s the strangest pizza you’ve ever tried? Let us know in the comments! And if you want actual, delicious pizza recipes, check out our other posts.
Todd’s cooking skills have revolved around the grill since about age 12, when he developed a love for grilling and took over for Mom at the BBQ. He worked at Wendy’s and at Earl’s Tin Palace (a restaurant chain in Canada) but never really did any sort of baking…until he and Heather started making pizza together! Now he’s often making dough in the mornings and pizza in the evenings.