Chocolateleavesleavesyouwantingformore Recipes

CHOCOLATE LEAVES

Steps:

• Place the metal leaf template onto parchment paper. Using a small offset spatula, spread bittersweet chocolate over the template. Remove the stencil and allow to harden. If you don't have a stencil, use a paintbrush to spread bittersweet chocolate over a real leaf on the shiny side, keeping the thickness to about 1/8-inch. Allow the chocolate to set completely then gently peel back the leaf from the chocolate.
• How to Temper Chocolate(From Dessert Circus, Extraordinary Desserts You Can Make At Home by Jacques Torres):
• Chocolate is tempered so that after it has been melted, it retains its gloss and hardens again without becoming chalky and white (that happens when the molecules of fat separate and form on top of the chocolate). There are a variety of ways to temper.
• One of the easiest ways to temper chocolate is to chop it into small pieces and then place it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time on high power until most of the chocolate is melted. Be very careful not to overheat it. (The temperature of dark chocolate should be between 88 and 90 degrees F, slightly warmer than your bottom lip. It will retain its shape even when mostly melted. White and milk chocolates melt at a temperature approximately 2 degrees F less because of the amount of lactose they contain.) Any remaining lumps will melt in the chocolate's residual heat. Use an immersion blender or whisk to break up the lumps. Usually, chocolate begins to set, or crystallize, along the side of the bowl. As it sets, mix those crystals into the melted chocolate to temper it. A glass bowl retains heat well and keeps the chocolate tempered longer.
• Another way to temper chocolate is called seeding. In this method, add small pieces of unmelted chocolate to melted chocolate. The amount of unmelted chocolate to be added depends on the temperature of the melted chocolate, but is usually 1/4 of the total amount. It is easiest to use an immersion blender for this, or a whisk.
• The classic way to temper chocolate is called tabliering. Two thirds of the melted chocolate is poured onto a marble or another cold work surface. The chocolate is spread out and worked with a spatula until its temperature is approximately 81 degrees F. At this stage, it is thick and begins to set. This tempered chocolate is then added to the remaining non-tempered chocolate and mixed thoroughly until the mass has a completely uniform temperature. If the temperature is still too high, part of the chocolate is worked further on the cold surface until the correct temperature is reached. This is a lot of work, requires a lot of room, and makes a big mess.
• A simple method of checking tempering, is to apply a small quantity of chocolate to a piece of paper or to the point of a knife. If the chocolate has been correctly tempered, it will harden evenly and show a good gloss within a few minutes.

CHOCOLATE MINI-LOAVES

Steps:

• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Generously spray the inside of a mini-loaf baking pan with the cooking spray and set aside.
• Put the butter, coffee, cocoa and milk in a small microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high until the butter melts, about 3 minutes. Whisk to combine.
• Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, chile powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Beat the sour cream, eggs and vanilla in a small bowl. Whisk the hot cocoa mixture into the dry ingredients; stir in the sour cream mixture, until just combined. Divide the batter equally among the loaves, filling each about ¾ of the way. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Allow the loaves to cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around each loaf to loosen, remove the loaves and let cool completely on a rack.
• To serve, dust the tops of the loaves with confectioners' sugar. If you like, cut out small hearts or other festive stencils and place them on the loaves before dusting.

CHOCOLATE LEAVES

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with waxed paper or parchment paper..
• Place the candy coating in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it until melted, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating.
• Dip the paintbrush in the melted candy coating and brush a thick layer of chocolate on the underside of the leaf. The underside typically has more pronounced veins, and will give you a better pattern on your leaves. Make sure that you're generous with the layer of candy coating-if it's too thin, the chocolate leaf will crack when you to remove it.
• Set the leaf, chocolate side up, on the waxed paper, and repeat with the remaining leaves. You can use different colors of candy coating to make a variety of leaves, if you'd like.
• Once all of the leaves are covered with chocolate, refrigerate the tray to set the coating, for about 20 minutes.
• When the chocolate is fully set, remove the tray from the refrigerator. Carefully peel the leaves back from the chocolate, trying not to handle the leaves too much to prevent your body heat from melting the chocolate.
• If you'd like to give your leaves a metallic shine, use luster dust to decorate them when they're finished. Dip a clean, dry paintbrush in luster dust, and brush a thin layer of dust along the edges. For a more dramatic look, brush a layer of dust over the entire leaf.

CHOCOLATE LEAVES FOR ORANGE SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Gently clean leaves using a damp paper towel. Let dry completely on a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
• Heat chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water until almost melted. Remove from heat; stir until smooth. Transfer one-third of the chocolate to a small bowl; tint green. Tint remaining chocolate pale pink.
• Using a pastry brush, generously coat undersides of 20 small leaves with pink chocolate and 10 large leaves with green chocolate. Place leaves, chocolate sides up, on baking sheets lined with parchment. Freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Starting at stem ends, peel leaves from chocolate; discard leaves. Transfer chocolate leaves to baking sheets lined with clean parchment paper; refrigerate until ready to use.

CHOCOLATE LEAVES

Steps:

• Line large baking sheet with foil. Melt chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth and instant-read thermometer inserted into chocolate registers 115°F. Brush chocolate over veined side (underside) of 1 leaf, coating thickly and completely. Arrange chocolate side up on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining leaves and chocolate, rewarming chocolate if necessary to maintain 115°F temperature. Chill leaves until firm, about 45 minutes. Starting at stem end, carefully pull back green leaf, releasing chocolate leaf; return leaves to same baking sheet. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.) Using small artist brush, carefully brush some leaves with gold dust, if desired.
• *Available at cake and candy supply stores, or by mail from Jane's Cakes and Chocolates at 800-262-7630.

WHITE CHOCOLATE LEATHER

Steps:

• Put chocolate in a dry wide metal bowl that fits snugly over a 3- to 4-quart saucepan. Fill saucepan halfway with 120°F. water and immediately set bowl over water. Let chocolate stand undisturbed 15 minutes, or until melted. Stir chocolate just until smooth and remove bowl from pan.
• Add corn syrup to chocolate and stir with a rubber spatula until mixture thickens and forms a dough. Halve dough and wrap each half in plastic wrap. Let white chocolate leather stand at room temperature until it firms to consistency of clay, about 1 hour and up to overnight, depending on temperature of kitchen. If your kitchen is very warm, leave leather in a cooler place but do not refrigerate. If leather becomes too firm to roll out, try to knead leather in your hands until malleable. If leather is still too firm, microwave at 50% power to 2 to 5 seconds, or until just soft enough to roll out.

CHOCOLATE LEAVES - LEAVES YOU WANTING FOR MORE:)

Steps:

• Break the chocolate into pieces.
• Keep aside in a bowl.
• Heat water in a pan.
• Place the bowl with chocolate in it making sure that water does not spill into the bowl.
• Double boil it until the chocolate melts.
• Line a tray with grease-proof paper.
• Gently dip the back of each bay leaf in the chocolate and place it on the tray with the chocolate side of the leaf on top.
• Chill the leaves for 30 minutes and peel off the bay leaves to make yum chocolate leaves.