Chocolate Snowflakes Food

CHOCOLATE CORN FLAKES

Steps:

• Pour the corn flakes into a large mixing bowl, then pour about half of the bittersweet chocolate over them. Using a rubber spatula, mix until they are coated evenly. The chocolate will immediately begin to set. Once the chocolate has set, repeat with the remaining chocolate to give it second coat.
• Quickly scoop the chocolate corn flakes into small mounds onto a parchment-lined sheet pan. (It is easier to use one spoon to scoop the mounds and another spoon to scrape them onto the sheet pan.) It is important to work quickly because the mixture is easier to scoop before the chocolate hardens.
• If your kitchen is very hot, you can place the sheet pan in the refrigerator for about 5 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden, however, do not leave them in the refrigerator for more than 10 minutes. If they get too cold, condensation will form on them when they are removed from the refrigerator due to the difference in temperature between the cold chocolate and the warm air, which will cause the chocolate to turn white. While this doesn't affect the taste, it does ruin the appearance.
• Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry area for up to 2 weeks.
• 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.

SNOWFLAKE PRETZELS

Steps:

• Put a sheet of baking parchment or a non-stick tray liner on a baking tray. Melt the chocolate or candy melts carefully in a microwave or in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water - don't let any water get into the bowl or allow the base of it to touch the water. Turn off the heat but leave the bowl on the pan. Add the pretzels and stir well.
• Lift the pretzels out of the chocolate with a fork, shaking them a little so the excess chocolate drips off, then put them on the tray and in the freezer for 5 mins to set. Dip the pretzels in the chocolate again, then lay four at a time together on the tray and push them together, with the pointy ends in the centre, to make a snowflake shape. Add a blob more chocolate with the end of a teaspoon in the middle of each snowflake so they hold together when set. Before they set, decorate with the sprinkles. Leave somewhere cold to set completely - you can use the freezer if you want to speed up the process.
• If you want to make the pretzel snowflakes into lollipops, melt the extra 50g chocolate as before and make eight well-spaced blobs, the size of a 1p coin, on some non-stick liner. Put a paper lolly stick on each blob so one end is in the chocolate, then press a pretzel snowflake gently on top and leave somewhere cold to set. Will keep for one to two days in a cool place.

WHITE CHOCOLATE SNOWFLAKE MARTINIS

Steps:

• Fill Martini shaker half full of ice
• Add 2 ounces of Vanilla Vodka
• Add 2 ounces of Godiva White Chocolate liqueur
• Add 1 ounce of heavy whipping cream
• Shake vigorously to mix the martini
• Coat rim of the martini glass with Bright White sparkling sugar crystals
• Strain the White Chocolate Snowflake Martini into the prepared glass and serve

WHITE CHOCOLATE-SNOWFLAKE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Prepare cake batter and bake as directed on package for 24 cupcakes. Cool 10 min. (Do not remove cupcakes from pans.) Pierce tops with fork.
• Add boiling water to gelatin mix; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Spoon over cupcakes. Refrigerate 30 min.
• Meanwhile, melt chocolate as directed on package; cool 10 min. Pour into small resealable plastic bag. Cut small piece off one bottom corner of bag; use to pipe chocolate into snowflake patterns on waxed paper-covered baking sheet. Refrigerate 15 min. or until firm.
• Remove cupcakes from pans. Beat cream cheese, marshmallow creme and drink mix in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add COOL WHIP; beat just until blended. Spoon into large resealable plastic bag; cut off one bottom corner, then use to pipe COOL WHIP mixture onto cupcakes. Top with chocolate snowflakes.

WHITE CHOCOLATE SNOWFLAKES

Steps:

• Begin by drawing a snowflake on a white piece of paper, about 2 - 3 inches in diameter. You don't want to make them too big as they'll overwhelm the cupcake and may have trouble standing upright.
• Melt the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for 20 seconds. Stir and microwave again in increments of 10 seconds until completely melted, stirring in between.
• Place melted chocolate into your piping container of choice. When piping the chocolate, it should slightly warm, but not hot. The hotter the chocolate it, the more quickly it will flow out of the bag. If it is too cool, it will clog the hole (ask me how I know). Should that happen, run the bag under some warm water to start it flowing again and wipe the excess water off with a paper towel.
• Cut a small hole in the bottom or corner of the bag.
• Place a piece of wax paper over the snowflake pattern.
• Trace over the pattern with the chocolate.
• Sprinkle shimmer sugar over the snowflake immediately after.
• Transfer to a baking sheet to harden and refrigerate if possible.
• Snowflakes will be a bit sturdier and there for easier to peel if refrigerated before using.
• Gently peel from wax paper and place onto frosted cupcake or cake.

CHOCOLATE SNOWFLAKES

Steps:

• In electric mixer, beat butter and sugar at high speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add egg, baking soda, and salt and beat at medium speed until blended. Add cocoa powder and mix at low speed until incorporated. Add flour and mix at low speed until just combined. Divide dough in half, form into 2 disks, and wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper. Chill until firm, at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
• Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 350°F. Line 2 heavy large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Remove 1 dough disk from refrigerator. On lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/4- to 1/8-inch thickness. Using 3- to 4-inch snowflake cookie cutter, cut out cookies; transfer with spatula to baking sheets. Gather and reroll scraps and cut out additional cookies. Chill cookies 10 minutes.
• Bake until somewhat firm to the touch, about 10 minutes. (Do not overbake or cookies will be bitter.) Cool on pans 2 minutes, then transfer to racks and cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.
• To decorate, lay lacy doily on top of cookies and dust with confectioners' sugar.