Best Tempered Chocolate For Marshmallow Chicks Recipes

MARSHMALLOW CHICKS AND BUNNIES

Steps:

• Spread 3/4 cup of the pink sanding sugar in the bottom of an 8-inch square pan. Line a rimmed baking sheet with wax paper and cover it sparsely with 1/3 cup of the yellow sanding sugar. Prepare a piping bag with a 1/2-inch pastry tip.
• Pour 2/3 cup of cold water into the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the powdered gelatin on top. Let sit for 5 minutes.
• Put the granulated sugar and 1/2 cup cold water in a small pot over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved, about 4 minutes. Attach a candy thermometer to the pot, bring the mixture to a boil and boil until the thermometer registers 238 degrees F, about 8 minutes. Brush the sides of the pot with a wet pastry brush if sugar crystals stick to the sides as the syrup boils.
• Carefully pour the hot sugar syrup into the bowl with the gelatin and whisk the mixture by hand for a few minutes to cool it slightly. Then, using the whisk attachment, whisk the mixture on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, 9 to 11 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix for another 30 seconds.
• Put half of the mixture (about 2 cups) into a large bowl. Add about 5 drops of pink gel food coloring and gently fold with a rubber spatula to combine and until no streaks remain. Scrape into the prepared 8-inch square pan and spread into a smooth, even layer. Let sit at least 4 hours, uncovered, so the marshmallow stiffens.
• Add about 5 drops yellow gel food coloring to the remaining marshmallow in the stand mixer, gently folding with a rubber spatula to combine. Transfer the yellow marshmallow to the prepared piping bag. Pipe a chick shape (about 2 1/2-inches long) on the prepared baking sheet by beginning piping close to you, pulling away from you to begin making the chick's body, then doubling back toward yourself. When you reach the end of the body nearest you, double back a bit to make the head, pulling away to create the beak. Repeat, keeping about an inch between the chicks. Let sit at least 4 hours, uncovered, so the marshmallow chicks stiffen.
• To coat the bunnies in sugar: Put the remaining 1/2 cup pink sanding sugar in a medium bowl. Heat a saucepan filled with a couple inches of water to just under a boil, then turn off the heat. Dip the unrimmed edge of a 2 1/2-inch bunny-shaped cookie cutter into the warm water, then press the cutter into one corner of the marshmallow, creating a bunny marshmallow. Nudge the cut bunny out of the cutter and into the bowl filled with pink sanding sugar. Toss the cut bunny with a fork until well covered with sanding sugar. Repeat, dipping the cutter into the warm water each time you cut a bunny.
• To coat the chicks in sugar: Put the remaining 1 cup yellow sanding sugar in a medium bowl. Use an offset spatula to remove 1 chick from the wax paper. Place the chick in the bowl filled with yellow sanding sugar. Toss the chick with a fork until well covered with sanding sugar. Repeat with the remaining chicks.
• To make eyes and a nose for the bunnies, dip a toothpick or pointed skewer into the black gel food coloring and place 2 dots on each face for the eyes and 1 dot centered below the eyes for the nose. To create eyes on the chicks, dip a toothpick or pointed skewer into the black gel food coloring and place 1 dot on each side of each chick's head. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

CHOCOLATE-TOPPED MARSHMALLOW STICKS

Steps:

• In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and 2 teaspoons shortening; stir until smooth., Insert one lollipop stick into each marshmallow. Dip marshmallows in melted chocolate, turning to coat; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper., In a microwave, melt white baking chips with remaining shortening; drizzle over chocolate. Decorate with toppings if desired. Let stand until set., Use to stir servings of hot cocoa. Store in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE-COATED MARSHMALLOW CHICKS

Steps:

• Sift a thin layer of cornstarch onto the bottom of a rimmed baking sheet to cover surface completely. Pipe chicks directly onto cornstarch, and allow to set uncovered for 30 to 45 minutes. Meanwhile, temper the chocolate.
• Line a second baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat (a French nonstick baking mat). Set aside. Dust fingers with cornstarch, and gently pick up a chick, dusting off any excess cornstarch from its bottom; place in bowl of tempered chocolate. Using a free hand or chocolate-dipping fork, cover chick with chocolate; lift out, and let excess drip back into bowl. Gently place on lined baking sheet; touch up any bare spots with a chocolate-coated finger. Allow to set at least 3 hours. Pipe on royal-icing eyes with a 1/32-inch (#1 Ateco) tip. Store in an airtight container until ready to serve, or up to 2 weeks.

TEMPERED CHOCOLATE FOR MARSHMALLOW CHICKS

Steps:

• Chop 1 pound chocolate finely with a serrated knife, and place it in a metal bowl.
• For dark and milk chocolate: Bring a medium saucepan with about 2 inches of water to a simmer, and turn off the heat. Set the bowl of chopped chocolate over the saucepan, and melt the chocolate. Stir gently with a rubber spatula until the chocolate reaches 118 degrees on a chocolate thermometer.
• Remove the bowl from the saucepan, and add the remaining 1/2 pound chocolate in one piece to melted chocolate. Stir with a rubber spatula until the melted chocolate cools to 84 degrees. If necessary, remove unmelted piece of chocolate, and reserve for future baking. Place bowl over pan.
• For dark chocolate, stir until thermometer reaches 88 to 90 degrees. For milk chocolate, stir until thermometer reaches 84 to 88 degrees. Use immediately.

HOW TO TEMPER CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Tempering Chocolate: Tempering is important because it determines the final gloss, hardness, and contraction of the chocolate. When you melt chocolate, the molecules of fat separate. In order to put them back together, you temper it. There are a variety of ways to do it.
• One of the easiest ways to temper chocolate is to place it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time on high power until the chocolate is melted. Be very careful not to overheat it. The chocolate should be only slightly warmer than your bottom lip, and it will retain its shape even when mostly melted. Any remaining lumps will melt in the chocolate's residual heat. You can also use an immersion blender to break up the lumps and start the recrystallization process. Usually, the 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. I like to use a glass bowl because it retains the heat and keeps the chocolate tempered longer.
• Another way to temper chocolate is called seeding. In this method, tempering is achieved by adding 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. I usually use an immersion blender to mix them together.

CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW EGGS

Steps:

• Spray the interior of the egg molds with nonstick vegetable spray. Place the cornstarch in a fine-mesh sieve and lightly dust the interior of the mold, coating evenly. Tap out the excess cornstarch. Set aside.
• Place 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon of the corn syrup in a heatproof bowl. Set aside.
• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar, the remaining 1/4 cup corn syrup, and 1/2 cup of the water. Clip a thermometer to the side of the pan, and place the pan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture registers 110°F.
• While the sugar mixture is heating, combine the gelatin with the remaining 1/4 cup water in the top half of a double boiler. Place over (not touching) boiling water in the bottom pan and heat, stirring occasionally, for a few minutes, or until the gelatin has melted or "bloomed." Do not allow the mixture to boil.
• Pour the hot sugar mixture and the bloomed gelatin into the bowl of corn syrup. Using a wire whisk, beat for about 5 minutes, or until fluffy. Beat in the flavored oil.
• Spoon an equal portion of the mixture into each of the prepared molds. Clips the molds together so that the two halves will come together to form an egg shape. Set aside for 8 hours or up to overnight, until very firm.
• When set, unclip the molds. The whole egg shapes can be easily tapped from the molds.
• Fill a pastry bag fitted with a plain fine tip or a cornet (see tips, below) with tempered chocolate. Decorate the eggs in any design you wish-a child's name, flowers and leaves, or an Easter bunny are just a few ideas. (Or, working with one at a time, place an egg on a dipping fork and dip the entire egg in chocolate, allowing the excess to drip off.) Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet to set until the chocolate hardens completely. The eggs should be eaten within 24 hours.