Best Chocolate Flowersribbon Decoration Recipes

CHOCOLATE DECORATIONS

Steps:

• Use a sheet of textured acetate approximately 11 by 14 inches, purchased from a home improvement center or an art supply store. Place it on a flat work surface in front of you. Pour some tempered white chocolate onto the plastic and spread with an offset spatula to create a layer that is about 1/8-inch thick. You can gently shake the plastic to help the chocolate become smooth. Use a sharp chef's knife to cut the chocolate when it begins to set but before it hardens into 1-inch squares. When the chocolate has set completely, arrange the squares so you can easily print on them with the rubber stamps.
• To print with the rubber stamps: Place a clean dishtowel on a baking sheet and set aside. Place about 1/4 teaspoon powdered food color in small glass bowl. Pour some of the melted cocoa butter into each bowl of color. Mix with a paint brush, you can add more powdered food color if you want a stronger color. You can do as many colors as you want by using separate bowls and dividing the melted cocoa butter between the different colors. Paint some of the colored melted cocoa butter onto the towel. The towel will serve as a blotter. Press the rubber stamp into the color and then delicately onto the chocolate square. The design of the rubber stamp will transfer onto the chocolate. If the colored cocoa butter on the 'blotter' sets and/or becomes to hard, simply heat it with a hair dryer or a heat gun. The chocolate squares are ready to serve.
• How to Temper Chocolate: From Dessert Circus, Extraordinary Desserts You Can Make At Home by Jacques Torres Chocolate is tempered so that after it has been melted, it retains its gloss and hardens again without becoming chalky and white (that happens when the molecules of fat separate and form on top of the chocolate). There are a variety of ways to temper. One of the easiest ways to temper chocolate is to chop it into small pieces and then place it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time on high power until most of the chocolate is melted. Be very careful not to overheat it. (The temperature of dark chocolate should be between 88 and 90 degrees F, slightly warmer than your bottom lip. It will retain its shape even when mostly melted. White and milk chocolates melt at a temperature approximately 2 degrees F less because of the amount of lactose they contain.) Any remaining lumps will melt in the chocolate's residual heat. Use an immersion blender or whisk to break up the lumps. Usually, chocolate begins to set, or crystallize, along the side of the bowl. As it sets, mix those crystals into the melted chocolate to temper it. A glass bowl retains heat well and keeps the chocolate tempered longer.
• Another way to temper chocolate is called seeding. In this method, add small pieces of unmelted chocolate to melted chocolate. The amount of unmelted chocolate to be added depends on the temperature of the melted chocolate, but is usually 1/4 of the total amount. It is easiest to use an immersion blender for this, or a whisk.
• The classic way to temper chocolate is called tabliering. Two thirds of the melted chocolate is poured onto a marble or another cold work surface. The chocolate is spread out and worked with a spatula until its temperature is approximately 81 degrees F. At this stage, it is thick and begins to set. This tempered chocolate is then added to the remaining non-tempered chocolate and mixed thoroughly until the mass has a completely uniform temperature. If the temperature is still too high, part of the chocolate is worked further on the cold surface until the correct temperature is reached. This is a lot of work, requires a lot of room, and makes a big mess.
• A simple method of checking tempering, is to apply a small quantity of chocolate to a piece of paper or to the point of a knife. If the chocolate has been correctly tempered, it will harden evenly and show a good gloss within a few minutes.

CHOCOLATE FLOWERS RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Set a medium bowl over a small pot of simmering water. Add the white chocolate to the bowl and warm for 2-3 minutes, until about two thirds of the chocolate is melted. Stir to melt completely, then remove the bowl from the heat and let cool for about 10 minutes, until the temperature is between 85-90°F (29-32°C).
• Dip the back of a plastic spoon in the melted chocolate to coat. Use the edge of your thumb to wipe away any excess chocolate from the edges of the spoon, then place on the prepared baking sheet, chocolate-side up. Repeat with 10 more of the spoons. To create the smaller, inner petals, dip only the top half of the remaining 3 spoons into the chocolate, wiping away the excess around the edges. Freeze the spoons for 15 minutes.
• Remove the spoons from the refrigerator and repeat the dipping process to create a thicker layer of chocolate (this will make the petals sturdier and easier to handle). Freeze for another 15 minutes.
• Line a 2-inch wide round, such as a small jar lid, with a circle of parchment paper.
• Remove the spoons from the freezer and let thaw for about 5 minutes (this will make the chocolate easier to release). Working one at a time, gently slide the chocolate petals off of the spoons and onto the baking sheet (you may need to use your fingernail to gently release the chocolate from the spoons).
• Add a dollop of melted chocolate to the center of the parchment paper circle. Arrange 5 petals around the outer edge of the lid with the narrow ends facing outwards, pressing into the melted chocolate to secure. Add another small dollop of white chocolate to the center and arrange 3 more petals on top of the first layer. Add another dollop of melted chocolate and arrange the 3 small petals around the center. Add one more small dollop of melted chocolate to the center of the petals and fill with yellow sprinkles to resemble the center of a flower. Transfer the flower to the refrigerator to set for 30 minutes.
• Carefully peel the flowers away from the parchment paper and use to decorate cakes or cupcakes.
• Enjoy!

EASY CHOCOLATE DECORATIONS

Steps:

• To temper the chocolate, bring a few inches of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Fill a large bowl with cold water and add a few ice cubes; set aside. Combine three-fourths of the chocolate and all of the shortening in a medium heatproof bowl and set it over the saucepan, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water.
• Turn off the heat under the double boiler. Let the chocolate sit over the hot water and melt, stirring it occasionally, until it reaches 100 degrees F. Transfer the bowl to the prepared bowl of cold water; stir in the remaining chocolate until melted and the chocolate drops to 82 degrees F. Place the medium bowl back over the simmering water until the chocolate reaches 90 degrees F. Remove from the heat.
• Lay the chocolate transfer sheets on a cool work surface with the design-side facing up (plastic-side facing down). Spread the chocolate into a thin and smooth layer on the chocolate transfer sheets with a small offset spatula. Set aside at room temperature until the chocolate is just set (the chocolate shouldn't stick to your fingers when touched), 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stamp shapes-without removing them yet-in the chocolate with an assortment of 1 1/2- to 2-inch cookie cutters, firmly pressing through the chocolate but not through the plastic. Place up to 2 sheets on the back of a baking sheet and freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Place the transfer sheets chocolate-side down on a cool work surface. Peel off the plastic backing to reveal the pattern on the chocolate. Gently remove the chocolate shapes you stamped, then decorate the cupcakes with the shapes, as desired. Alternatively, wrap the chocolate decorations in plastic and freeze until ready to use.