March 27, 2025
Biscuits and gravy are quite a popular breakfast in America. In the South, particularly in Arkansas and Oklahoma, people enjoy that gravy to be chocolate. But what exactly is chocolate gravy?
The recipe of the month is provided by our Congregate Social Recreation Supervisor, Lexi Stewart, who grew up eating this sweet breakfast in Oklahoma and still enjoys it today.
The origins of chocolate gravy in America are unclear, but legend has it, it’s been around since as early as the 16th century when Spanish Louisiana traded goods with the Tennessee Valley.
Though its origins are historically Appalachian, this family recipe comes from the quaint town of Coalgate, Oklahoma—located in Choctaw Nation. Lexi’s grandma, Mawmaw Julia, is the author of this recipe.
For the first few years of life, Lexi lived in Oklahoma with her family. She has fond memories of her grandmother’s cooking, and to this day, she follows Mawmaw’s recipes which she’s copied onto index cards.
“We’ve all been trying to make chocolate gravy the way Mawmaw does, and I’ve come close once. But the labor of love of a grandma just adds that extra something,” Lexi Stewart, Congregate Supervisor
A typical breakfast at Mawmaw Julia’s includes buttery, flaky biscuits (made from scratch), scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and of course plenty of warm, sweet chocolate gravy to pour on top of the biscuits. The extra sauce also makes a perfect dip for the salty sausage or bacon. In making this recipe, you can share a sweet, cozy moment with loved ones.
Ingredients for Chocolate Gravy
¼ cup of cocoa
2 cups of sugar
½ cup of flour
¼ teaspoon salt
4 to 6 cups cold water
1 can of evaporated milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla
Preparation Instructions
Mix the cocoa, sugar, flour, salt and water and add to a pot. Cook the mixture at medium/high heat. When it is almost boiling, add the evaporated milk. Cook until thickened while stirring constantly. Once ready and thickened to the desired consistency, add vanilla and butter (optional).
Serve with biscuits and other breakfast items of your liking.
Recipe provided by Mawmaw Julia
We hope you enjoyed this meal shared from one generation to the next. At Meals on Wheels Central Texas, we strive to help homebound adults feel nourished and connected, for an overall better experience as they age in place in their homes. Now more than ever, our homebound neighbors need this care.
Want to support this care for older adults across Central Texas? You can share the love by making a gift to support our variety of life-enriching programs, like home-delivered meals, or experience The Power of the Knock first hand by delivering hot, nourishing meals and friendly smiles to neighbors.