I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for fun food gift ideas. I think some cute wrapped chocolate spoons are a great, simple gift for teachers, friends, or whoever. I've been working on these for awhile to try and add flavored extracts for different fun flavors, but the extracts I have are water/alcohol based and there just isn't a good way to mix them with chocolate without it seizing. I tried a ganache method, but the chocolate just never hardened the way I wanted it to on the spoons. Bottom line is that if you want to infuse extracts into melted chocolate and have it harden again, you need an oil based extract. So for these spoons I just embraced simple chocolate and added fun things to make them decorative. These are limited only by your creativity so have fun!
Chocolate Spoons
What you need:
Chocolate for melting
bowls
boiling water
disposable spoons
Other colors of chocolate, sprinkles, candy bits, etc for decorating
In one of the bowls, place about 1 cup of chocolate chips or chopped chocolate. Pour a small amount of boiling water in the 2nd bowl and place the one with chocolate on top to create a type of double boiler. After 30 seconds or so, begin stirring the chocolate until smooth and melted. (You can also do this in the microwave or in a double boiler on the stove, but this method works well too and has less risk of overheating the chocolate.)
Method 1: Prepare disposable spoons ahead of time by propping the handles around the edge of a lined cookie sheet to keep the head of the spoon more flat. Gently spoon a dollop into each spoon. Add any candy or sprinkles at this time before the chocolate hardens. Alternately you can refrigerate it until it hardens and then drizzle on a decorative pattern in another color of chocolate. Allow spoons to harden (this goes fastest in the fridge!) and then wrap with a square of plastic wrap or cellophane and tie with a fun ribbon.
Method 2: Dip the spoons in melted chocolate, gently shake off excess and then place on parchment, wax paper, or a Silpat to harden and follow remaining directions in method 1.
Chocolate Spoons
What you need:
Chocolate for melting
bowls
boiling water
disposable spoons
Other colors of chocolate, sprinkles, candy bits, etc for decorating
In one of the bowls, place about 1 cup of chocolate chips or chopped chocolate. Pour a small amount of boiling water in the 2nd bowl and place the one with chocolate on top to create a type of double boiler. After 30 seconds or so, begin stirring the chocolate until smooth and melted. (You can also do this in the microwave or in a double boiler on the stove, but this method works well too and has less risk of overheating the chocolate.)
Method 1: Prepare disposable spoons ahead of time by propping the handles around the edge of a lined cookie sheet to keep the head of the spoon more flat. Gently spoon a dollop into each spoon. Add any candy or sprinkles at this time before the chocolate hardens. Alternately you can refrigerate it until it hardens and then drizzle on a decorative pattern in another color of chocolate. Allow spoons to harden (this goes fastest in the fridge!) and then wrap with a square of plastic wrap or cellophane and tie with a fun ribbon.
Method 2: Dip the spoons in melted chocolate, gently shake off excess and then place on parchment, wax paper, or a Silpat to harden and follow remaining directions in method 1.
Some of these are dipped and some filled. Don't judge my awesome decorating job! My chocolate was a little thick!
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