Modeling Chocolate Food

MODELING CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water.
• (Or use a double boiler.) Stir in the corn syrup, and the chocolate will stiffen immediately.
• Stir until completely combined.
• Wrap in plastic, and cool to room temperature.
• When it's time to work with it, just knead it like dough.
• It will soften to just the right texture from contact with the warmth of your hands.
• Roll with a rolling pin, or pass it through a pasta machine, beginning with a wide aperture,then gradually decreasing the size of the opening until it reaches your preferred thinness.
• Shape it any way you want!

MODELING CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Note: To prevent the corn syrup from sticking to the measuring cup or spoons, spray with Pam or grease with vegetable oil before measuring.
• Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or metal bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir the chocolate until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir until smooth and cooled a bit.
• Stir in the corn syrup. The chocolate will stiffen almost immediately. Stir until completely combined. Transfer the chocolate to a sturdy plastic freezer bag and refrigerate until firm (about 2 hours).
• When the dough is firm, remove from the refrigerator, and knead it until it is soft enough to work with. If it is too hard, cut off small pieces and knead until pliable. Grease the counter where you are working with oil or spray with Pam so the chocolate won't stick.
• At this point you can make the chocolate into whatever shape you want. Some ideas: It can be formed into a long rope or braid and wrapped around the base of a cake. It can also be placed around the outside top edge of the cake.
• This dough can also be used to make ribbons to cover a cake. To do this pat your dough into a disk shape and roll dough out to desired thickness using a rolling pin or else use a manual pasta machine. This dough can also be used to make flowers, leaves or any other decorations.
• Well wrapped it will keep for months. If it gets hard to work with, knead in a little more corn syrup until it is pliable again.

MODELING CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Melt candy melts in a plastic or microwave-safe bowl in the microwave or stove-top sauce pan.
• Warm corn syrup and add food coloring. Remember that your final product will be lighter than the color of your corn syrup. You can also add color later if you want.
• Fold mixture together with a spatula until mixture starts to seize and resembles soft serve ice cream.
• It is important to not over-mix or your modeling chocolate will get oily.
• Wrap in plastic and let set until chocolate is firm but still pliable. Usually a couple of hours depending on how hot it is in your room.
• Unwrap chocolate and knead until smooth, smashing any hard lumps with your fingers.
• Re-wrap chocolate and place back in plastic wrap to set up until hard.

MODELING CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Place chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Melt to 110 degrees.to 115 degrees.
• Place light corn syrup in small heavy-bottomed saucepan; heat to 95 degrees. and pour into melted chocolate. Add cocoa butter; stir well to combine. Set mixture aside in a cool, dry place, stirring occasionally until firm and pliable, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Wrap mixture tightly in plastic wrap. Shape into a flat disk, and chill until firm, about 1 hour. Transfer mixture to a clean work surface; knead to a smooth consistency. If modeling chocolate is sticky, sift a light layer of cocoa powder over work surface prior to rolling out. Store wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to 1 month.

MODELING CHOCOLATE FOR CAKE DECORATING

Steps:

• Melt white chocolate in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, 1 to 3 minutes.
• Heat corn syrup until almost as warm as the melted chocolate and combine with chocolate; it may begin to harden and be difficult to stir, but be sure to fully incorporate. Let rest in a cool place, such as a refrigerator or countertop, until very stiff, about 2 hours.
• Break off a piece in the size you need and begin to play with it; the warmth of your hands will make it a Play-Doh consistency. Mix in gel food coloring as desired.
• Dust the countertop and a rolling pin with cornstarch and place a ball of modeling chocolate on top; roll to desired size. To cover a cake, roll the chocolate up on the rolling pin for easier transfer to the cake.