You may have started to catch on that I like entertaining…particularly entertaining with ways that add pizzazz and are easy to do! I’m not sure if it’s just me but I tend to put in so much effort into the appetizers and main dish that I prefer to have a quick easy dessert to serve – usually a pie my husband picks up from our local bakery or some yummy ice cream. Although it totally works and is delicious, I always feel like I want to add on my personal touch (while still keeping it simple – entertaining can be a lot of work!).
Introducing……CHOCOLATE DESIGN SHAPES! They are so simple to do, can be made ahead of time (my favourite phrase I think) and add that extra touch to a simple dessert. You can personalize the desserts with everyone’s initials (how fun!) or theme it (hearts for Valentine’s Day, shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day etc) – the possibilities are endless!
As I mentioned above these are super easy to make and can be made ahead of time which is perfect when preparing for a crowd. Leave them hardening in the fridge/freezer and take them out just as you are serving the ice cream. These can also be added to various desserts as long as it has not been warmed otherwise the chocolate will melt very fast! Alternatively if the item is hot you can just added onto the plate and that will work as well! Chocolate design shapes work great on ice cream, cheesecake, cake, brownies, whipped cream and so much more!
To start:
1. Figure out what shapes you would like to have displayed on your dessert. I decided to do some letters, flowers and hearts but you can essentially trace anything you would like to display. Using your computer – print out your page with the letters/shapes you choose. Make sure to leave some space in between so the chocolate doesn’t touch together. Be creative and use some fun fonts and shapes you find!
2. Choose your chocolate – I just went with a dark chocolate bar I had at home but feel free to use any chocolate that you prefer!
3. Setup your work station – grab a baking sheet and some parchment paper. Now I repeat – grab some PARCHMENT PAPER – not wax paper! Do not grab wax paper! Did I make that clear enough? HA! Wax paper will stick to the chocolate and not come off easily. You will end up getting frustrated, throwing everything away and telling your guests to leave early – it’s just not right my friends! Place your printed paper underneath and you are good to go. Exhibit A below.
4. Start melting your chocolate – this is a slow process as you want your chocolate to melt evenly and not burn. I setup a small pot with some water and placed a heat safe bowl on top of it (if you happen to have a double boiler that’s even better!). I placed a few chunks of chocolate into the bowl and put the pot on. Once the water started to boil I put it on a low simmer as the chocolate was melting. Make sure to keep stirring the chocolate the whole time so it does not burn and slowly add in more chocolate as able to.
5. Once the chocolate has melted, let it sit for a few minutes to cool and transfer to a small ziplock bag. Don’t transfer right away – the bag will melt and make a mess. Not speaking from personal experience of anything! If the chocolate still seems too runny wait a few more minutes before transferring.
6. Now the fun begins! Don’t worry if your hand is shaky and the first one is a little crazy. It’s like the first pancake – never fully correct! The M below was my first pancake- but it got slightly better from there! Ha!
7. Once I was done I placed the whole baking sheet into my freezer and waited for the chocolate to harden for a few minutes. You can keep it in for longer or use it right away to decorate your dessert.
Now that you know how simple it is to make these chocolate shapes – I hope you surprise your guests with a personalized dessert for your next gathering!
What is your favourite dessert to serve to guests?
