Chocolate Pops Food

FROZEN CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER POPS

Steps:

• Put 4 ounces chocolate in a medium bowl. Bring 1/2 cup heavy cream to a simmer in a small saucepan; pour over the chocolate and let sit 5 minutes. Add the vanilla and salt and whisk until smooth; set aside to cool to room temperature.
• Combine the remaining 1 cup heavy cream, the confectioners' sugar and peanut butter in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Fold the peanut butter whipped cream into the cooled chocolate mixture in three batches until just incorporated but still airy. Freeze until the mixture is firm enough to scoop, about 30 minutes.
• Lightly coat a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop or tablespoon with cooking spray. Scoop balls of the frozen mousse onto a parchment-lined baking sheet (about 1 heaping tablespoon per ball). Gently press a lollipop stick halfway into each ball. Freeze until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, combine the remaining 8 ounces chocolate and the coconut oil in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until the chocolate is melted and smooth; set aside to cool.
• Put the peanuts in a small bowl. Loosen the mousse balls from the baking sheet with a small offset spatula. One at a time, dip the balls into the melted chocolate, letting the excess drip back into the bowl. Return to the baking sheet and sprinkle with the peanuts while the chocolate is still wet. Return to the freezer until ready to serve.

FUDGY AVOCADO POPS

Steps:

• Combine the avocado, coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, maple syrup, cocoa powder and vanilla extract in a blender and blend until smooth.
• Pour into 8 push-up pop molds, then cover and freeze until firm, at least 3 hours.

CHOCOLATE LOLLIPOPS

Steps:

• If desired, add nuts to any or all of the chocolates. Pour the chocolate into the molds, filling them to the top. Set the sticks in place by inserting them just far enough to be secure within the mold you are using. Set the molds aside to allow the chocolate to set. When set, simply pop out the lollipops. If you are using molding compound, roll it into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle on top of a sheet of parchment paper. Using a sharp paring knife, cut out whatever shapes you would like and remove the cutout, leaving the homemade mold. Spray the inside edge of the molding compound with vegetable cooking spray and pour the chocolate into the cut out space. Insert the lollipop sticks and let cool completely before removing the molding compound. When finished, the molding compound can be saved and reused for another day.
• 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 COVERED BANANA POPS

Steps:

• Peel, then cut each banana in half crosswise and insert a craft stick into each half. Place on a tray, cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer until frozen, about 3 hours.
• Place the peanuts in a shallow dish or on a plate. Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over slightly simmering water, over the lowest possible heat, stirring frequently. Make sure the water is not touching the bottom of the top pan. Pour the melted chocolate into a tall glass. Dip each frozen banana into the chocolate, turning it to coat, and immediately roll in the peanuts. Place on a tray covered in waxed paper. Serve immediately or wrap individually in plastic wrap or waxed paper and freeze for up to 2 weeks.

CHOCOLATE LOLLIPOPS

Steps:

• The mold shapes used were bats, witches, gravestones, ghosts and skulls. You can use any molds to make chocolate lollipops.
• To make the lollipop: Pour any of the tempered chocolates directly into the molds, filling them to the top. Tap the molds against the work surface to release the air bubbles. Set the sticks in place by inserting them just far enough to be secure within the mold you are using. Set the molds aside to allow the chocolate to set. When set, simply pop out the lollipops.
• If you do not have any lollipop molds, you can use Play-Doh modeling clay to make your own molds. Roll fresh Play-Doh into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle on top of a sheet of parchment paper. Use a sharp paring knife to cut shapes from the Play-Doh. Remove the cutout leaving the homemade mold. Spray the inside edge of the Play-Doh with vegetable cooking spray. Pour the chocolate into the cutout space. Insert the lollipop sticks and let cool completely before removing the Play-Doh. When finished, the Play-Doh can be saved and reused for another day.

CHOCOLATE POPS

Steps:

• Crush the chocolate into smithereens in the food processor. Heat the cream and milk until just about boiling, add the vanilla and allspice and pour through the funnel over the chocolate. Let stand for 30 seconds. Process for 30 seconds, then crack the egg down the funnel and process for 45 seconds.
• Pour into whatever little cups you're serving in, and sit them in the refrigerator for 6 hours or overnight. But remember to take them out of the refrigerator a good 20 minutes before you want them to be eaten; the chill interferes with their luscious, silky richness.
• This makes 2 cups altogether: enough to fill 8 little pots of approximately 1/4 cup capacity. But if you've got only bigger cups, just augment quantities.