Chocolate Bow Recipes

CHOCOLATE BOW

Steps:

• Cut three 6-in. squares from freezer paper. Cut each square into six 1-in. strips. Set aside four strips. Place remaining strips shiny side up on a waxed paper-lined work surface., In a microwave, melt 1 cup vanilla chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Working quickly with a few strips at a time, spread chocolate beyond three sides of the strips onto the waxed paper, leaving 1/2 in. at one short end., Immediately peel each strip from work surface; place on clean waxed paper. Let strips dry just until barely set but still pliable, about 1 minute. (If chocolate strips become to stiff, warm in the microwave for a few seconds.), With paper side out, press ends of chocolate strips together. Stand strips on edges on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Chill until set, about 10 minutes. Carefully remove freezer paper., For ribbons, coat four reserved strips with chocolate; peel strips from work surface. On an inverted 9-in. x 1-1/2-in. round baking pan, place strips, chocolate side down at 90-degree angles to each other and drape 1-1/4 in. over side of pan. (If necessary, use a drop of chocolate under the bottom edge to hold in place. With a toothpick, press the strip onto the dab of chocolate.) Chill until set; remove freezer paper., Melt remaining chips in the microwave. Fill a plastic bag with melted chocolate; cut a small hole in the corner. Place marshmallow half, cut side down, in the center of a piece of waxed paper. Secure six chocolate loops around edge of marshmallow with melted chocolate; press ends down. Layer five more loops on top with ends touching. Secure with chocolate. Coat top of marshmallow with remaining chocolate; place remaining loops in center, pressing down. Let dry for 1 hour or overnight. Carefully peel waxed paper from bow. Place ribbons and bow on top of cake.

CHOCOLATE BOWLS RECIPE

Steps:

• Start by melting the chocolate candy coating or tempering chocolate . You don't want to use untempered chocolate, because it will get soft at room temperature and your bowls might not hold their shape nicely.
• Set the melted coating or tempered chocolate aside to cool so that it is no longer warm to the touch.
• While the chocolate is cooling, blow up a small bag of balloons to the size you want your bowls to be and tie them off. There's a chance some balloons might pop or bowls might break, so make a few extra just in case. Cover a baking sheet with waxed paper or foil.
• Hold the balloon by the knot on top and slowly dip the bottom of a balloon in the room temperature chocolate. Move gently to acclimatize the balloon to the temperature. Dip it until the chocolate is the depth you want your bowls to be.
• Gently remove the balloon from the chocolate, and set it carefully on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until you've dipped all of your balloons, plus your extras.
• Let the balloons sit at room temperature until the chocolate or coating is entirely set. Once the coating is set, refrigerate the tray briefly to make the chocolate hard-this will make it easier to remove the balloons.
• To get the balloons out, first press around the sides gently, breaking the seal between the balloon and the chocolate. Then hold a balloon below the knot and gently cut a slit above your fingertips, so that you can control the flow of air as it escapes. Slowly release the air from the balloon, and as you do, the balloon will pull away from the sides of the bowl. If it pops, peel off a portion of it still stuck to the balloon and continue gently pulling it away. If you have difficulty, let it sit and come back to it later-the balloon will often start peeling away on its own after it sits.
• Once all your chocolate bowls have had the balloons removed, fill them with ice cream, mousse, whipped cream, cold dessert soup, or candies. Store chocolate bowls between layers of waxed paper at cool room temperature.

BAKER'S ONE BOWL CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating with electric mixer on low speed after each addition until well blended. Add vanilla; mix well.
• Add 1/2 cup of the flour, the baking soda and salt; beat until well blended. Add remaining 2 cups flour alternately with water, beating until well blended after each addition. Pour evenly into 2 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.
• Bake 35 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min.; remove from pans. Cool completely on wire racks. Spread with your favorite frosting, if desired. (NOTE: Nutrition information is for unfrosted cake.)