Chocolate Dipped Fruit Bouquet Recipe No Tempering Required Food

FRUIT BOUQUET

Steps:

• Put the semisweet and white chocolate chips in separate medium glass bowls. Fill 2 medium saucepots with 2 inches of water and set over medium-low heat. Place a glass bowl on top of each of the saucepans and melt the chocolate until smooth.
• Place 2 rectangular Styrofoam blocks inside 2 loaf pans to anchor them. These will hold the dipped apples while drying.
• Insert a skewer lengthwise into each apple slice. Dip each slice into the semisweet chocolate, coating it completely with a thin layer. Poke the end of each skewer in the Styrofoam for the slices to set completely, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Once set, drizzle the apples with a thin stream of melted white chocolate using a spoon and return them to the Styrofoam to set.
• Use flower cookie cutters to cut 8 to 10 flower shapes out of the pineapple rounds, leaving the core of the pineapple rounds as the center of the flowers. Skewer the rounds going completely through the core and top with a single blueberry. Next, continue to skewer the remaining fruit according to your own preference, including: 1 strawberry per skewer, 3 to 5 grapes per skewer and 1 to 3 cantaloupe cubes per skewer, each topped with a blueberry if desired.
• To build: Place a Styrofoam ball in each of 2 mugs to anchor the skewers. Use pieces of kale to cover the Styrofoam. Cut the skewers to desired length with clippers. Place the skewers into the Styrofoam and arrange like a flower bouquet. If not presenting right away, cover lightly with plastic wrap or a 2-gallon resealable freezer bag and refrigerate for up to 48 hours.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED FRUIT

Steps:

• Finely chop a 4-ounce bar of dark chocolate; microwave on 50% power until almost melted, about 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Dip dried mango, papaya and/or apricot pieces in the chocolate, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill until set, about 10 minutes.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Cut a strip of baking parchment and leave to one side. To melt the dark chocolate, fill a small pan with 2cm water and bring to a simmer. Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and rest it on top of the pan, ensuring the bowl isn't touching the water. Stir the chocolate to gradually melt it. Or, melt the chocolate in 20 second blasts in the microwave, stirring after each blast until melted. Put the melted chocolate in a small deep bowl.
• Gently hold the strawberries by the leafy top and dip into the chocolate. Tap off any excess chocolate and put on the parchment to set. If you have any leftover chocolate, pour it onto another strip of parchment and leave it to set, it can be used again.
• If you'd like to decorate the strawberries, melt the white and milk chocolate and drizzle lightly over the fruit.

DIPPED CHOCOLATE ANYTHING

Steps:

• Melt 1 1/2 pounds chocolate in top of a double boiler (or clean metal bowl set over simmering water). Remove chocolate from heat when it reaches between 110 and 115 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• To bring into tempering range, add remaining chocolate to the mixture and stir constantly with a rubber spatula until the thermometer registers 82 to 84 degrees. Put chocolate back over the hot water and bring temperature to between 88 and 91 degrees. Be careful not to let the temperature fall too far or you will have to gently re-warm the mixture; if the temperature rises above 91 degrees in the tempering step, you will have to start the process over.
• Once tempered, use immediately for dipping. Store tempered chocolate at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED FRUIT

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with foil. For the chocolate coating: In a small heatproof bowl set over hot (not simmering) water, melt the semisweet chocolate with 1 teaspoons of oil. In another small heatproof bowl set over hot (not simmering) water, melt the white chocolate with the remaining 1 teaspoons oil. Leave both bowls over the hot water.
• Pick up one piece of fruit at a time and dip it into the melted dark or white chocolate, coating about half of each piece of fruit. If desired, drizzle the dipped portion with a contrasting color of chocolate and sprinkle with some chopped nuts. Place the fruit on the foil-lined baking sheet. Work quickly to coat the remaining fruit.
• Refrigerate for 5 minutes or until the chocolate is set. Keep in a cool place until ready to serve. (Fresh fruit should not be held for more than 4 hours before serving).

HOW TO TEMPER CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• 1. Finely chop 1 1/2 to 2 pounds chocolate. Smaller amounts make it difficult to control the temperature changes.
• 2. Place two-thirds of the chocolate in a double boiler or metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Place a candy thermometer or digital thermometer in the chocolate and stir frequently with a rubber spatula.
• 3. Do not let the temperature of the chocolate exceed 120°F for dark chocolate or 105°F for milk or white chocolate. When the chocolate has fully melted, remove the bowl from heat. Wipe the bottom of the bowl to get rid of any condensation.
• 4. Stir in the remaining third of the chocolate a little at a time. Let it melt before adding more.
• 5. Let the chocolate cool to about 82°F. It it is warmer, keep stirring and let it cool some more. If it is cooler, begin reheating in the next step.
• 6. Once the chocolate is 82°F, place it back over simmering water. For dark chocolate, reheat to 88°F to 91°F. For milk and white chocolate, reheat to 85°F to 87°F. Remove the bowl from heat once you have reached the right temperature.
• 7. Spread a small spoonful of chocolate on a piece of wax paper. If it looks dull or streaky, re-temper the chocolate, starting with step 2. If it dries quickly with a glossy finish and no streaks, the chocolate is in temper.
• Keeping chocolate in temper
• Once melted chocolate has been tempered, it must be used before it cools and sets. If it cools to about 84°F to 86°F and is still fairly liquid, it can be reheated to a liquid consistency. If it has completely cooled and solidified, it should be re-tempered. Heat it for 5 to 10 seconds at a time, stirring and checking the temperature before reheating. For dark chocolate, reheat to 88°F to 91°F. For milk and white chocolate, reheat to 87°F to 88°F. If you keep your chocolate within these temperature ranges, it will stay in temper and be liquid enough to use.
• Easy alternatives to tempering chocolate
• Several products exist for those who do not want to temper chocolate. They are called confectionery coatings, coating chocolate, summer coating, or chocolate bark coatings. They are usually made of vegetable fats that melt smoothly and set up quickly to a finish that is very similar to tempered chocolate. They may not contain actual chocolate. Nothing can perfectly duplicate the taste and mouth-feel of tempered chocolate, but quality coatings can be good substitutes. They can be cooled and reheated quickly, and as often as necessary.