Dark Chocolate Sweetheart Panini…plus a Sweet Giveaway!

It’s something I’ve learned from my kids, but I’ve found it works on me too – food suddenly becomes much more appealing when it’s heart-shaped.

Of course, it hardly takes any convincing at all to get most of us to try a sandwich filled with dark chocolate spread. Dark Chocolate Sweetheart Panini are my homage to Valentine’s Day this year, along with a “sweet” giveaway: one lucky winner will receive a trio of Nudo Italia Dark Chocolate Spreads. Read on to see how I pulled together these panini and to enter the chocolate spread giveaway!

Dark Chocolate Sweetheart Panini

My inspiration for these panini came from a pin I saw on Pinterest from a German blog called der Design & Food Blog, featuring the cutest little sandwich with a heart cutout that had been filled in with colorful sprinkles. I made (and instagrammed) those sandwiches about 10 minutes later to the great delight of my two little kids.

As you can see, they’re incredibly easy to make – just spread your chocolate on a slice of bread, butter another slice of bread (for extra-nice grill marks), punch out a heart and assemble your sandwich. I opted to trim the crusts on mine because I liked how the square panini looked, but that’s completely up to you. Then it’s just a few minutes on the panini press to toast the bread and you’re done.

The Nudo Italia spreads remind me a lot of Nutella, but they’re olive oil-based (yes, chocolate and olive oil are a match made in heaven!), made with dark cocoa and come in several different flavors. They’re almost mousse-like in texture and are perfect for adding a deep, rich chocolaty finish to panini like the ones I’m sharing today, as a crepe filling or even a dip for strawberries.

And now for the chance to WIN some…

WIN a set of Nudo Italia Dark Chocolate Spreads!

 ** Win a Nudo Italia Dark Chocolate Spread Trio!! **

Nudo Italia would love to send one Panini Happy reader their Trio of Chocolate Crema (mandarin, chili and lemon flavors).

Here are four ways to enter, you can do any or all of them for a maximum of four entries (please leave separate comments for each entry):

The giveaway will close on Friday, February 15 at 5:00 PM PST. I will use random.org to select one winner and announce the winner in this post. I will contact the winner via e-mail – if I don’t receive a response within 5 days I will draw another name. My apologies to international readers, the prize can only be shipped to U.S. addresses.

Dark Chocolate Sweetheart Panini

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Dark Chocolate Sweetheart Panini

Recipe by Kathy Strahs, PaniniHappy.com

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 8 minutes | Total time: 18 minutes

Yield: 4 panini

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
  • 8 slices rustic white or wheat bread, sliced from a dense bakery loaf
  • 4 to 8 tablespoons chocolate spread, such as Nudo Italia or Nutella

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Heat the panini press to medium-high heat.
  2. For each sandwich: Spread butter on one slice bread, then flip it over and spread 1 to 2 tablespoons of chocolate spread on the other side (if you’re planning to trim the crusts, it isn’t necessary to spread the chocolate all the way to the edges of the bread). Butter a second slice of bread; with a heart-shaped cookie cutter, punch a heart out of the center of the bread. Position the bread slice with the heart “window” on top of the first bread slice, creating a sandwich, so that the chocolate spread appears through the heart. If you’d like, trim away the bread crusts.
  3. Grill two panini at a time until the bread is toasted, 3 to 4 minutes.

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Thanks to Nudo Italia for providing chocolate spreads for this giveaway.

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KathyPanini Happy, online since 2008, is more than just a sandwich blog. Here, you'll find hundreds of my original panini recipes, my guide to choosing a panini press and a whole lot of other creative uses for the panini press.
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88 Comments

  1. Angel S. wrote:

    This looks yummy! I will be making a special dinner for my family and celebrating our oldest coming home from college for the weekend!

    Posted 2.13.13 Reply
  2. Angel S. wrote:

    I subscribe via rss!

    Posted 2.13.13 Reply
  3. grace wrote:

    i’m having a root canal for valentine’s day! seriously!

    Posted 2.13.13 Reply
  4. sara wrote:

    I’ll be spending Valentine’s Day at a local restaurant with my boyfriend! 🙂

    Posted 2.13.13 Reply
  5. sara wrote:

    I like on FB.

    Posted 2.13.13 Reply
  6. sara wrote:

    I follow on Pinterest

    Posted 2.13.13 Reply
  7. sara wrote:

    i subscribe to the rss feed

    Posted 2.13.13 Reply
  8. Madeline wrote:

    I’m spending Valentines with my husband – we’re eating heart-shape ravioli, passionfruit glazed chicken, and canoodling together, heehee 🙂

    Posted 2.13.13 Reply
  9. Madeline wrote:

    And I subscribed to your emails!

    Posted 2.13.13 Reply
  10. Madeline wrote:

    I also liked you on FB 🙂

    Posted 2.13.13 Reply
  11. Madeline wrote:

    And I follow you on Pinterest too!

    Posted 2.13.13 Reply
  12. jessica w wrote:

    We will spend valentines day at home just hanging out together( Me and the hubs)

    Posted 2.13.13 Reply
  13. jessica w wrote:

    I am Subscribed to Panini Happy via RSS feed

    Posted 2.13.13 Reply
  14. jessica w wrote:

    I “Like” Panini Happy on Facebook

    Posted 2.13.13 Reply
  15. jessica w wrote:

    I Follow you on Pinterest

    Posted 2.13.13 Reply
  16. MaryB wrote:

    Hubby’s out of town at a business meeting so his mom, who is visiting from out of town and a girlfriend and I will be having a girls’ night out to celebrate.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  17. MaryB wrote:

    I follow Panini Happy via RSS feed.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  18. MaryB wrote:

    I like Panini Happy on Facebook.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  19. MaryB wrote:

    I follow you on Pinterest.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  20. Hope wrote:

    I’ll be spending valentines day at work, then at the chiropractor, and then at Fazoli’s with my husband.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  21. Susan Christy wrote:

    Babysitting for friends kids so they can go out.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  22. Susan Christy wrote:

    Email Subscriber

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  23. Susan Christy wrote:

    Like you on FB

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  24. Susan Christy wrote:

    Follow you on Pinterest

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  25. Christine wrote:

    like on fb & just started following on pinterest.
    Low key night tonight–gymnastics & school stuff for the kids. Tomorrow pm hubby & I will have clam cakes & chowder–YUM!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  26. I’m staying home and making a nice meal for my family. We’re having a date night on Friday-yay!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  27. Babs wrote:

    Spending Valentine’s Day at work and then home making Shrimp Scampi for myself and my husband. Our favorite!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  28. Babs wrote:

    Subscribe via email.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  29. kristin wrote:

    we will be spending the evening at home, eating sweet potato burgers and drinking wine.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  30. kristin wrote:

    i follow your blog via google reader

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  31. We had our valentine’s day dinner last week at No. 9 Park in Boston, so we’re staying in today!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  32. I follow your RSS

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  33. I follow you on Pinterest

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  34. I like you on FB

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  35. Alexandra S. wrote:

    I will spending valentines day with my beloved family at homeenjoying homemade pizza, a good romantic comedy, and enjoying each others company. It gets no better than that for us 🙂

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  36. Alexandra S. wrote:

    Facebook fan

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  37. Alexandra S. wrote:

    I subscribe to the newsletter 🙂

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  38. Alexandra S. wrote:

    Following on pinterest 🙂 ty! Happy Valentines Day

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  39. Alexandra S. wrote:

    Last but not least, i already subscribe to your email newsletter 🙂

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  40. Jacqui wrote:

    I am spending Valentine’s Day with my mom, dad and sister this year. We have not seen each other in awhile, so I am looking forward to the four of us going out to dinner!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  41. Jacqui wrote:

    I am subscribed to Panini Happy via email updates

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  42. Jacqui wrote:

    I like Panini Happy on Facebook

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  43. Jacqui wrote:

    And I follow you on Pinterest!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  44. I’m completely intrigued!! My son adores Nutella, however it has quite a bit of dairy in it and his lactose intolerant system doesn’t process it well. Curious about the dairy content of this Italian treat. I’m going to have to do some research.
    Valentine’s day?? It’s a family day this year… orthodontist, dance photos, driving, etc. Luckily husband comes home from a trip later today!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  45. I’m a facebook follower!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  46. And… I follow you on Pinterest and pinned this post.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  47. Erin R. wrote:

    Oh, my gosh! How cute! And what a gorgeous bread you used. We never do anything after work during the week so we’ll probably just have toast for dinner or something. 🙂

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  48. Erin R. wrote:

    I also have an e-mail subscription. Thanks!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  49. Chelsea wrote:

    YUM! Looks so delicious. And, lucky for me, Valentine’s Day falls on date night 🙂 We will be heading out to dinner.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  50. Erin H. wrote:

    I will be spending Valentine’s tonight with my husband. There is nothing like being together! We just moved in to our first home, so we look forward to raising a family one day. 🙂

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  51. Erin H. wrote:

    I subscribed to e-mail.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  52. Erin H. wrote:

    I’m a facebook fan. 🙂

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  53. Erin H. wrote:

    Following on Pinterest.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  54. Kathy – this looks incredible! I’m just hanging out with my best (single!) girlfriends tonight, and eating copious amounts of chocolate. 🙂

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  55. Already subscribed via email. And those spreads…look…soo…good!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  56. I already “like” you on FB as well 🙂

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  57. I also follow on Pinterest! Happy VDay 🙂

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  58. Shelly wrote:

    I’ll be spending it with my 2 year old daughter making Valentine treats!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  59. Shelly wrote:

    I’m an email subscriber.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  60. Shelly wrote:

    I like you on FB

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  61. Shelly wrote:

    I follow you on Pinterest.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  62. adorable and looks delicious!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  63. Belinda wrote:

    I’m spending the day hiking in the sunshine with my 2 furry family members (dogs), sending fun e-cards to my family who live all over teh country and having dinner with a long time friend to celebrate our friendship over the years! 😉

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  64. Marissa Kubinski wrote:

    I’m spending Valentine’s Day evening with my husband and going out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  65. Laura R wrote:

    Spending Valentine’s day with my Hubs, our Fist as Husband and Wife!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  66. Laura R wrote:

    I subscribe viA RSS!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  67. Rose Scott wrote:

    I will be baking heart shaped pizzas that I bought at a local pizzaria. To follow, we’ll have mint ice cream laced with Fanny Mae mint.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  68. Laura R wrote:

    I also like on Fb

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  69. So cute, Kathy!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  70. barbara n wrote:

    I am having a romantic dinner for two at home!

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  71. barbara n wrote:

    I am an email subscriber to panini happy

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  72. Jeanette wrote:

    These are adorable Kathy! Made some fun foods for the kids for Valentine’s Day and my hubby and I are headed out for a nice dinner alone ;).

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  73. Jeffrey wrote:

    I spent Valentines Day in a class and then went on a run with my wife and kids, its our Thursday family time.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  74. Jeffrey wrote:

    I get your emails at jefflammers@rocketmail.com

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  75. Jeffrey wrote:

    I like you on Facebook.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  76. Jeffrey wrote:

    I follow your Pinterest boards.

    Posted 2.14.13 Reply
  77. Debbie Godshalk wrote:

    Never thought about chocolate panini but sounds great! Anything with chocolate… Hubby and I are going out to dinner and braving the crowds. Giving my Breville a break for the evening …smile…

    Posted 2.15.13 Reply
  78. Erin wrote:

    I worked the night before so I slept all day and then made a lovey dinner and spent the evening with my amazing husband.

    Posted 2.15.13 Reply
  79. Erin wrote:

    I subscribe via google reader.

    Posted 2.15.13 Reply
  80. Erin wrote:

    I follow on facebook.

    Posted 2.15.13 Reply
  81. Erin wrote:

    I follow on pinterest.

    Posted 2.15.13 Reply
  82. So Darn Cute!!

    Posted 2.15.13 Reply
  83. Corisa wrote:

    i worked!

    Posted 2.15.13 Reply
  84. MaryBeth wrote:

    After work, we’ll spend a quiet evening with a nice dinner, exchange cards and eat chocolate 🙂

    Posted 2.15.13 Reply
  85. Elena wrote:

    My husband and I went out for dinner

    Posted 2.15.13 Reply
  86. Elena wrote:

    Follow you on Pinterest

    http://pinterest.com/elena8

    Posted 2.15.13 Reply
  87. JulieD wrote:

    Sooo cute, Kathy!! I love these, so clever!

    Posted 2.15.13 Reply
  88. adorable! Fabulous idea!

    Posted 2.18.13 Reply