Homemade chocolate - recipes

lbt_2

Hi All

I spent Saturday afternoon making home made chocolates. I used milk and white chocolate and added hazelnuts, brazil nuts, rice crispies etc (anything I could find in the cupboard!), but I would love to hear if anyone has any yummy chocolate filling ideas. I am happy using shop bought chocolate but it would be good to make different centres.

These were so successful that we are going to make them as Christmas presents. I just need to find somewhere that sells small square boxes that don't cost too much - any recommendations would be great.

Thanks

floyd

I made some chocs with soft ganache centres using silicone ice cube trays in various shapes.
I used the guide here for making and filling the trays and they worked really well (I used Baileys and white choc) http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=276311

I am going to make some of these using Baileys with white choc, Frangelico with milk choc and peppermint extract with dark choc.

I bought some small bags from here http://www.cakecraftshop.co.uk/shop/9/231/283/345/index.htm to pack up my chocs

HariboJunkie

When I made chocs last year I just gave them in small kilner jars or wrapped in cellophane with pretty ribbons. It worked out much cheaper than boxes but if you do want boxes, Tesco often sell DVD gift boxes for under £1 at this time of year.

HariboJunkie

floyd wrote: »

I made some chocs with soft ganache centres using silicone ice cube trays in various shapes.
I used the guide here for making and filling the trays and they worked really well (I used Baileys and white choc) http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=276311

I am going to make some of these using Baileys with white choc, Frangelico with milk choc and peppermint extract with dark choc.

I bought some small bags from here http://www.cakecraftshop.co.uk/shop/9/231/283/345/index.htm to pack up my chocs

The idea for the silicon ice cube trays is pure genius. :T :T :j :A

I nearly talked myself into Lakeland's chocolate moulds recently but decided that my freeform chocs were far more MSE but I don't mind buying ice cube trays as I can use them all year.

lbt_2

hi floyd

Thanks - I love the tutorial. I was wondering how to cover the bases and now I know.

Thanks HB. I like the idea of bags - hadn't thought of those. I only wanted really small boxes so I could put in five or six chocolates. That sounds really tight doesn't it?!!!! :rotfl: My little one has so many friends she wants to give to, that it would work out really expensive to give too many ... will give more to the teachers and family friends etc.

lbt_2

HariboJunkie wrote: »

The idea for the silicon ice cube trays is pure genius. :T :T :j :A

I nearly talked myself into Lakeland's chocolate moulds recently but decided that my freeform chocs were far more MSE but I don't mind buying ice cube trays as I can use them all year.

Those are the ones I have!! I have to say that they are really really good. The silicone is strong but much thinner than the silicone ice cube trays so it makes the chocolates really easy to turn out. I am going to buy the other shapes because we plan to give them to a lot of our friends, so it will work out cheaper to buy the moulds than to buy presents for everyone. Have I been spending too long on MSE? :eek:

You could probably use these moulds for ice cubes too - I know they are okay to go in freezer, oven and dishwasher.

Butterfly_Brain

My hubby's all time favourite is morello cherries soaked in Brandy - lucky that Aldi have a big jar for 99p and I have some left over from the Christmas Cakes - Oh yes he will be one happy man ( Makes a change!):p

JoolzS

Does this http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=286293 thread help at all? If you google for "free box templates" (without the quotes) it'll bring up loads of sites that have just simple templates or pretty printable ones which you can use if you have a colour printer. If you only need a box to hold a few choccies then you don't need to use cardboard for them - a strong paper would probably be sturdy enough. If you have a craft shop anywhere near you, especially a branch of The Range, then there are some absolutely beautiful 12" by 12" scrapbooking papers available that would make lovely boxes.

Julie

purpleivy

http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/mirkwooddesigns/templates.htm Some nice ones here

pennypinchingmum

hi, i also love making homemade chocolates. I made origami boxes last year and filled them with homemade chocolates for xmas pressies.
I find one of the best fillings is Peanut Butter. It may sound a little strange but it works fabulously. I also like raisons and mixedspice.
with reguards to boxes have you
considered buying floristry cellophane from ebay and wrapping them in that decorated with nice ribbons. Will probably work out cheaper.

lbt_2

Thanks Penny, I would never have thought of peanut butter - do you just add a small dollop to the middle?

I am going to buy a box tomorrow then get some card to make my own too.

Thanks