With their delicate appearance and rich chocolate flavor, chocolate curls are the perfect garnish for any dessert. Whether you're decorating a cake, cupcake, or ice cream sundae, these elegant shavings add a touch of sophistication and sweetness. While store-bought chocolate curls can be expensive, they are easy to make at home with just a few simple tools. In this article, we'll show you how to make chocolate curls using a vegetable peeler, a knife, and a microplane grater, so you can add a touch of elegance to your desserts without breaking the bank.
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HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CURLS
Chocolate curls take minutes to make! Use them to garnish to take a simple dessert from ordinary to extraordinary!
Provided by Holly Nilsson
Categories Dessert
Time 5m
Number Of Ingredients 2
Steps:
- Melt chocolate & butter in the microwave on 30% power until smooth.
- Pour onto a baking pan and using an offset spatula, spread chocolate as thin as possible.
- Place in the freezer for 3-4 minutes or until firm. Use a spatula or scraper to scrape the chocolate off the pan and make curls. If the chocolate begins to soften too much, pop it back into the freezer for a couple of minutes.
- Once curled, place the pan back in the fridge until ready to use. Transfer the curls to your dessert using a spatula.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 ounce, Calories 200 kcal, Carbohydrate 15 g, Protein 2 g, Fat 15 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 12 mg, Sodium 39 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 10 g
CHOCOLATE CURLS
Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network
Categories dessert
Time 20m
Yield about 20 curls
Number Of Ingredients 2
Steps:
- Place the chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl with the vegetable shortening. Throw it in the microwave until the shortening is melted and hot, 30 to 45 seconds. Stir with a fork to combine thoroughly.
- Next, pour the melted chocolate over the underside of a clean cookie sheet. Then, with an offset spatula or a knife, spread the chocolate in a thin layer. Keep going until it's very, very thin. Then...and this is the key...stick it in the freezer for a few minutes.
- After a few minutes, check that the chocolate is ready by pressing it with your finger tip; it should leave the slightest mark, but not an actual depression.
- Next, get a somewhat sharp-edged spatula and begin to scrape the chocolate from the bottom of the pan. When the chocolate is just the right temperature, it'll curl instead of break. If it gets too soft, stick it back in the freezer for a minute.
- Pretty soon you'll have a bunch of fun little chocolate curls.
- Important: As soon as possible, transfer the curls to a cold pan or plate, and then stick them in the freezer to harden. Store in the freezer in a zip-top bag until you need them. Use them to adorn pies, cakes or platters of fruit. You'll feel instantly fancy!
TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CURLS
Steps:
- Rub the underside of a baking sheet with an oiled paper towel, then peel back one piece of paper to expose a square of gold leaf. Don't dally: It is whisper-thin, so it practically flies away if you breathe on it. Holding the rest of the book in your hand, invert the gold onto the oiled baking sheet and lift off the remaining piece of paper the gold leaf was sandwiched against. (Wrinkles are okay.) Repeat the process with eight more gold squares.
- Next, melt the chocolate and spread it over the gold leaf as thinly and evenly as possible with the offset spatula.
- Now comes the tricky part. The chocolate needs to set to the right consistency. If it isn't firm enough, it won't curl; if it's too firm, it will break into shards (which have their own beauty). Chill the chocolate for about seven minutes before trying a test curl. Brace the baking sheet against the kitchen wall and, holding the putty knife at an angle, scrape the chocolate (and gold leaf) away from you. If it curls, you've got it! The correct angle is really just a matter of feel.
- Carefully transfer the curls with the putty knife to a paper towel-padded box and keep them cold until you're ready to use them.
CHOCOLATE CURLS
Delicate chocolate curls to garnish desserts, or to decorate cakes. Method found in an old issue of Good Housekeeping magazine. This recipe should provide enough curls to entirely cover a 2-layer cake. Adjust as necessary for desired amount of curls. ***NOTE***After submitting this recipe, I was informed that single ingredient recipes are not approved for this site. Therefore, the toothpick was added to the ingredient list. This toothpick is only used as a tool to lift the curls, as the heat of your hands will melt the delicate chocolate. The curls will not stand up to being punctured by the toothpick. They are adhered to the cake using the fresh frosting as glue.
Provided by Ms B.
Categories Dessert
Time 2h
Yield 1 cake
Number Of Ingredients 2
Steps:
- In a heavy 1-quart saucepan over low heat, heat 5 squares of chocolate, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth.
- Pour melted chocolate into a 15 1/2" by 10 1/2" jelly roll pan; use a rubber spatula to scrape all of the chocolate from the saucepan.
- With the same rubber spatula, spread the chocolate to evenly cover entire bottom of pan.
- Refrigerate until firm, but not brittle, about 10 minutes.
- Place jelly-roll pan on damp cloth on work surface (damp cloth keeps pan from moving while working).
- Holding teaspoon at a 30 degree angle, scrape chocolate into curls (if chocolate softens and sticks to spoon, place pan in refrigerator several minutes).
- With toothpick, transfer curls to another jelly-roll pan; refrigerate.
- Repeat 4 more times to make 5 batches of curls in all.
- To Garnish Cake with Curls: Using a toothpick as a tool to lift the delicate curls (the heat of your hands will melt or mar them), carefully press chocolate curls onto fresh frosting. (The gooey fresh frosting is the glue that holds the curls in place.)
CHOCOLATE CURLS
Use these to garnish any dessert, such as our Milk-Chocolate Pudding Cupcakes, Tiramisu Ice Cream Cake, or Mint Parfait.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes
Yield Makes 8 ounces
Number Of Ingredients 2
Steps:
- Melt chocolate with the shortening in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally.
- Divide chocolate mixture between two 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheets; smooth with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until chocolate is set but not brittle.
- Holding a sturdy metal spatula or a bench scraper at a 45-degree angle, scrape chocolate away from you to form curls. If chocolate is too brittle, let stand at room temperature 1 to 2 minutes. If too soft, refrigerate briefly. Curls can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.
WHITE-CHOCOLATE CURLS
Use these curls to decorate our Lamb Cake with White-Chocolate Buttercream.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes
Yield Makes enough for 1 lamb cake
Number Of Ingredients 1
Steps:
- Melt chocolate, stirring, in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Turn off heat. Let cool slightly. Spread 1/4 of the chocolate over the back of a rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate until just starting to set, 15 minutes.
- Using a bench scraper held at a 45-degree angle, scrape chocolate into 1/2-inch-wide curls. (If chocolate breaks, let it stand to warm slightly. If chocolate is too soft, refrigerate until just starting to set.) As you work, transfer curls to a rimmed baking sheet in the refrigerator. Repeat with remaining chocolate. Refrigerate curls until firm.
CHOCOLATE CURLS
Categories Candy Chocolate Dessert Quick & Easy Chill Simmer Double Boiler Gourmet
Yield Makes 2 cups
Number Of Ingredients 2
Steps:
- Chop bittersweet chocolate and in a double boiler or small metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water heat until melted. With a metal spatula spread melted chocolate onto a baking sheet (not non-stick) as thinly and evenly as possible. Cool chocolate until firm to the touch but not hard. (Alternatively, chill melted chocolate on sheet; if it becomes too hard let it soften slightly at room temperature.) With a pastry scraper or metal spatula held at an angle scrape chocolate slowly from sheet, letting it curl. Carefully transfer curls as formed to a plate lined with waxed paper. Make more curls with milk chocolate in same manner. Chocolate curls may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, loosely covered.
Tips:
- Use high-quality chocolate. The better the chocolate, the better the curls will be. Look for chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 70%.
- Temper the chocolate. Tempering helps to stabilize the chocolate and make it less likely to seize. To temper chocolate, melt it slowly over a double boiler or in the microwave in short bursts, stirring constantly. Once the chocolate is melted, stir in some unmelted chocolate until the temperature reaches 88-90°F (31-32°C).
- Use a sharp knife or vegetable peeler. A dull knife will tear the chocolate instead of slicing it smoothly.
- Work quickly. Chocolate curls will start to soften and melt if they are worked with for too long.
- Use a variety of techniques. There are many different ways to make chocolate curls, so experiment until you find a method that you like.
Conclusion:
Chocolate curls are a beautiful and delicious way to decorate cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts. They are also a great way to add a touch of elegance to a gift basket or party favor. With a little practice, you can easily make chocolate curls at home.
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