Chocolate Curl Cake Food

CHOCOLATE CURLS

Steps:

• In a heavy 1-quart saucepan over low heat, heat 5 squares of chocolate, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth.
• Pour melted chocolate into a 15 1/2" by 10 1/2" jelly roll pan; use a rubber spatula to scrape all of the chocolate from the saucepan.
• With the same rubber spatula, spread the chocolate to evenly cover entire bottom of pan.
• Refrigerate until firm, but not brittle, about 10 minutes.
• Place jelly-roll pan on damp cloth on work surface (damp cloth keeps pan from moving while working).
• Holding teaspoon at a 30 degree angle, scrape chocolate into curls (if chocolate softens and sticks to spoon, place pan in refrigerator several minutes).
• With toothpick, transfer curls to another jelly-roll pan; refrigerate.
• Repeat 4 more times to make 5 batches of curls in all.
• To Garnish Cake with Curls: Using a toothpick as a tool to lift the delicate curls (the heat of your hands will melt or mar them), carefully press chocolate curls onto fresh frosting. (The gooey fresh frosting is the glue that holds the curls in place.)

CHOCOLATE CURLS

Steps:

• Place the chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl with the vegetable shortening. Throw it in the microwave until the shortening is melted and hot, 30 to 45 seconds. Stir with a fork to combine thoroughly.
• Next, pour the melted chocolate over the underside of a clean cookie sheet. Then, with an offset spatula or a knife, spread the chocolate in a thin layer. Keep going until it's very, very thin. Then...and this is the key...stick it in the freezer for a few minutes.
• After a few minutes, check that the chocolate is ready by pressing it with your finger tip; it should leave the slightest mark, but not an actual depression.
• Next, get a somewhat sharp-edged spatula and begin to scrape the chocolate from the bottom of the pan. When the chocolate is just the right temperature, it'll curl instead of break. If it gets too soft, stick it back in the freezer for a minute.
• Pretty soon you'll have a bunch of fun little chocolate curls.
• Important: As soon as possible, transfer the curls to a cold pan or plate, and then stick them in the freezer to harden. Store in the freezer in a zip-top bag until you need them. Use them to adorn pies, cakes or platters of fruit. You'll feel instantly fancy!

CHOCOLATE CURLS FOR DEVIL'S FOOD CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Use a vegetable peeler to slice strips from a slightly warm block of good-quality chocolate (heat in microwave for 5-second intervals, checking after each, until just warm to the touch; do not overheat). To produce tight curls, start from the far edge of the chocolate and move the peeler toward you. The delicate curls are best used immediately; you can even shave the curls right onto a cupcake.

WHITE-CHOCOLATE CURLS

Steps:

• Melt chocolate, stirring, in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Turn off heat. Let cool slightly. Spread 1/4 of the chocolate over the back of a rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate until just starting to set, 15 minutes.
• Using a bench scraper held at a 45-degree angle, scrape chocolate into 1/2-inch-wide curls. (If chocolate breaks, let it stand to warm slightly. If chocolate is too soft, refrigerate until just starting to set.) As you work, transfer curls to a rimmed baking sheet in the refrigerator. Repeat with remaining chocolate. Refrigerate curls until firm.

CHOCOLATE CURLS

Steps:

• Melt chocolate with the shortening in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally.
• Divide chocolate mixture between two 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheets; smooth with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until chocolate is set but not brittle.
• Holding a sturdy metal spatula or a bench scraper at a 45-degree angle, scrape chocolate away from you to form curls. If chocolate is too brittle, let stand at room temperature 1 to 2 minutes. If too soft, refrigerate briefly. Curls can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

CHOCOLATE GLAZE AND CURLS

Steps:

• Place chocolate in double boiler set over, but not touching, simmering water. Stir with rubber spatula until melted, about 3 minutes.
• Pour 1/4 cup melted chocolate into a clean 11-by-17-inch flat baking sheet. Repeat with second sheet. Use an offset spatula to spread chocolate as evenly as possible on each sheet. Transfer the baking sheets to the refrigerator to chill, about 20 minutes.
• Transfer baking sheets to a flat surface. Use a bench scraper to firmly scrape along bottom of sheet in direction away from your body. Hold bench scraper at a slight angle to sheet; push to form curls. If chocolate is too cold, it will splinter. Let sheet sit 2 to 4 minutes at room temperature. Scraps of chocolate may be melted and used again. Refrigerate best curls for cake.
• Use remaining 3/4 cup melted chocolate to spread on three banana-cake layers.

CHOCOLATE CURL CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven as directed on cake mix.
• Prepare cake mix as directed with water, oil, and egg whites.
• Fold into batter 2 squares unsweetened coarsley shaved chocolate.
• Bake the prepared cake mix as directed in 2 layer 8-9x1 1/2-inch cake pans.
• Allow the cakes to cool completely.
• In a medium saucepan, mix together sugar, light cream, butter, and chocolate.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until chocolate and butter are melted.
• Stir at least half of hot mixture into egg yolks; stir into remaining hot mixture in sauce pan.
• Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
• Boil and stir 1 minute.
• Remove from heat; cool completely.
• Once cakes are cooled top 1 cake with the chocolate filling.
• Top with remaining cake.
• Shave unsweet chocolate.
• Frost top and sides of cake with vanilla frosting, then sprinkle with shaved chocolate on top of the cake.

TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CURLS

Steps:

• Rub the underside of a baking sheet with an oiled paper towel, then peel back one piece of paper to expose a square of gold leaf. Don't dally: It is whisper-thin, so it practically flies away if you breathe on it. Holding the rest of the book in your hand, invert the gold onto the oiled baking sheet and lift off the remaining piece of paper the gold leaf was sandwiched against. (Wrinkles are okay.) Repeat the process with eight more gold squares.
• Next, melt the chocolate and spread it over the gold leaf as thinly and evenly as possible with the offset spatula.
• Now comes the tricky part. The chocolate needs to set to the right consistency. If it isn't firm enough, it won't curl; if it's too firm, it will break into shards (which have their own beauty). Chill the chocolate for about seven minutes before trying a test curl. Brace the baking sheet against the kitchen wall and, holding the putty knife at an angle, scrape the chocolate (and gold leaf) away from you. If it curls, you've got it! The correct angle is really just a matter of feel.
• Carefully transfer the curls with the putty knife to a paper towel-padded box and keep them cold until you're ready to use them.

CHOCOLATE CURLS

Steps:

• Chop bittersweet chocolate and in a double boiler or small metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water heat until melted. With a metal spatula spread melted chocolate onto a baking sheet (not non-stick) as thinly and evenly as possible. Cool chocolate until firm to the touch but not hard. (Alternatively, chill melted chocolate on sheet; if it becomes too hard let it soften slightly at room temperature.) With a pastry scraper or metal spatula held at an angle scrape chocolate slowly from sheet, letting it curl. Carefully transfer curls as formed to a plate lined with waxed paper. Make more curls with milk chocolate in same manner. Chocolate curls may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, loosely covered.