Simple Chocolate Button Egg Food

SUPER CHOCOLATEY BUTTONS

Steps:

• Position racks in the lower and upper third of the oven. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. (If you don't have 3 pans, simply cool the pan between batches.)
• Put the butter, unsweetened chocolate and 4 ounces semisweet chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat at 75 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 2 minutes. Stir and heat again until melted, up to 2 minutes more. (Alternatively, put the chocolates and butter in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching the water, and stir occasionally until melted and smooth.)
• Stir the granulated and light brown sugars and vanilla into the chocolate mixture with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs and buttermilk and beat vigorously until thick and glossy.
• Whisk together the flour, 1/2 cup cocoa and the salt in another bowl. Add them to the egg mixture and stir until just mixed. Stir in the remaining chip-size semisweet chocolate. Cover and refrigerate the dough until firm enough to scoop, about 1 hour.
• Roll the dough into scant 1 tablespoon (about 3/4 inch) balls and place 1 inch apart on the baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put the remaining 1/2 cup cocoa powder and the confectioners' sugar in two separate bowls for rolling. Roll the dough balls in the confectioners' sugar, then in the cocoa powder and place on the baking sheets. Bake until the cookies set but are soft and fudgy on the inside, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, and then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE EASTER EGGS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the pudding mixes, butter and milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Cook and stir 1-2 minutes longer or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in sugar and peanut butter. Cool slightly. , Shape 1/2 cupfuls into egg shapes. Place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet; refrigerate until set., In a microwave or heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip eggs in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Return eggs to waxed paper to set. Decorate with icings and candies as desired. Store in an airtight container.

REALLY ENORMOUS CHOCOLATE BUTTONS

Steps:

• Ask a grown-up to tear off some big sheets of baking parchment. Draw around a glass or saucer with a pencil to make big button shapes. Turn the paper over.
• Spoon a blob of chocolate into the middle of each circle and use a paint brush to spread it to the edges of the circle. Don't worry if it isn't neat.
• Decorate each button with sprinkles, sweets or blobs of other coloured chocolate.
• Leave the buttons to cool and set really hard, in the fridge if the room is hot. Once they are hard, peel them off the paper carefully and wrap up or eat.

EASTER HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Pour boiling water from the kettle into a heatproof mug to warm it up. Heat the milk and cocoa in a small pan, or in blasts in the microwave, until steaming. Discard the hot water in the mug, and tip in the chocolate egg pieces. Pour over the hot milk. Stir for 30 seconds or until the chocolate has melted. Top with the cream, sprinkle over the mini eggs or broken egg pieces and marshmallows to serve.