Homemade Filled Chocolates Food

HOMEMADE FILLED CHOCOLATES

Steps:

• CHOCOLATE MOLD
• On low heat place the 5 ounces of dark chocolate (I did half and half) (broken into pieces) in a small-medium bowl over a pot of water (make sure bowl does not touch the water). Melt until smooth, stirring often with a fork or whisk. Remove from heat, let cool down (10-15 minutes).
• Then coat the chocolate molds swirling it around (I used a pastry brush to fill in the empty spots) and then tip it over to empty out the excess chocolate (I let it drain for approximately 5-10 minutes over a cookie rack), place the mold in the freezer for approximately 10 minutes, remove and coat one more time with the melted chocolate. This time refrigerate while making the Chocolate Filling.
• CHOCOLATE FILLING
• Chop the white chocolate (or milk chocolate) into small pieces, mix together with the powdered sugar, in a small saucepan heat to hot but not boiling the cream, and pour over the white chocolate mixture, stir until smooth (you may have to place the bowl over a pot of boiling water if it doesn't completely melt).
• Let sit approximately 15-20 minutes until cooled and thickened. Remove the mold from the fridge, place the chocolate filling in a pastry bag (or use a small spoon) and fill the molds 3/4 full, tap mold down a few times on counter top to remove air bubbles, top with remaining melted dark chocolate, and again tap mold lightly on counter top to remove air bubbles remove excess chocolate with a spatula and refrigerate 30 minutes to 1 hour until firm. Remove chocolates carefully from mold and serve. Enjoy!
• Keep stored in cool dry place, in air tight containers. I actually made mine in advance and froze them.

ALICE'S FONDANT FILLING FOR CHOCOLATES

Steps:

• Combine ingredients in heavy saucepan. Boil until it reaches a soft ball stage. Pour into buttered dish to cool.
• After mixture is cooled, pour on clean surface and beat with wooden paddles until light and airy. Just as mixture "turns" mix in flavoring until thoroughly blended inches.
• Refrigerate to cool completely. Form into balls. Dip in desired chocolate.
• Variations:.
• Peppermint (peppermint extract to taste).
• Maple Walnut (maple flavoring to taste and finely chopped walnuts).
• Orange (orange extract to taste--a few drops to 1/2 teaspoon).
• Cherry (Maraschino cherries drained and quartered--pat dry).
• Cherry-almond (as above but add almond extract to taste).
• Almond (almond extract with a sliced almond on top of finished chocolate).
• Coconut (fine coconut plus vanilla).
• Rum (rum extract plus 1-2 teaspoons butter).

GANACHE, SOFT FILLING FOR CHOCOLATES ETC...

Steps:

• To make chocolate cases: melt 200g ( 7 oz) chocolate over a pan of warm water, do not overheat, when three quarters of it is melted, remove from heat and stir vigorously, this should distribute the heat and melt the remaining chocolate without it getting too hot and going "grainy".
• Take a small teaspoon of melted chocolate and " paint" the inside of your mini muffin paper or the insides of your silicone ice block forms. If coverage is a bit skimpy don't panic. these set in the fridge in minutes and a second coat is easier and works better than trying to get one very thick coat. Put them in the fridge to harden. Reserve enough of your chocolate to cover the bottom of your forms once they have been filled with the ganache filling.
• Put butter and cream in a saucepan and bring to boil, stirring all the time.
• Remove from heat and add chocolate and liqueur.
• Stir well until smooth (heat of mixture will melt chocolate) leave to cool a little, then let cool.
• Use as soft filling for chocolates and tartes.
• This does thicken up over time, and good chocolate is never refrigerated, just kept in a cool dry place. If these are refrigerated the filling gets very firm over time.
• By now your ganache filling mixture should be cool enough to put into the chocolate cases, using a piping bag or a teaspoon, fill them with the ganache, (but not quite to the very top of the chocolate case) Then put them back into the fridge for a while, and once set a little solid, put a "top" of melted chocolate on them to seal them closed and refrigerate until the top too is solid. I like to keep these in the fridge for a least a few hours or somewhere nice and cool overnight before I try and get them out of the forms.
• If using mini muffin papers, peel away the papers from the chocolates (this can be fiddly, don't press too hard as you peel them or your chocolate will break), If using the silicone ice cube forms, GENTLY easy the chocolates out of the forms, they will just pop out -- plate up and amaze your guests with these divine triumphs !