Have you had success making your own chocolate Easter eggs?

MSE_Laura_F

I'm a little ahead of time, hope you don't mind.

Have you had success making your own chocolate Easter eggs? Do you have tips or pictures you can share?

This topic has come up a lot in the past:

• Make your own easter eggs
• Easter
• Anyone here thinking of making Easter eggs or cupcakes?
  

A few people mention using a specially-designed kit, eg, the Dr Oetker one. Any thoughts?

Thank you,

MSE Laura F

weenancyinAmerica

When I was a bit younger, I bought the molds from a candy shop (many department stores here sell them as well). I used them to make Diabetic chocolates for Easter, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day and other occasions to make money for several years. We used a warming tray to melt the chocolate. The main thing to remember to to either stir the melted chocolate or bang it lightly on the counter to get the air bubbles out. I also made regular chocolates. Still have a box of the molds and use them occasionally.

Rosa_Damascena

Years ago I bought some giant Easter egg moulds RTC at Sainsburys, for about £2 each I think. The plan was to make them with my little niece as soon as she was old enough, which of course has been scuppered over the last 2 years. This thread has reminded me of happier times to come.

CapricornLass

Yes, I have, I used the moulds.  I used to brush the chocolate on (it had deep indentations in it.) and used to do several coats to build the thickness up.  I also used to let it cool a bit, and then turn it mould side up, so that the edges would become thicker.  

Rosa_Damascena

CapricornLass said:

Yes, I have, I used the moulds.  I used to brush the chocolate on (it had deep indentations in it.) and used to do several coats to build the thickness up.  I also used to let it cool a bit, and then turn it mould side up, so that the edges would become thicker.  

Assuming they were not silicone moulds. how did you remove the set chocolate? Did you brush with oil (not keen on the idea of this? I am thinking of using clingfilm but appreciate its not going to give a smooth finish.

thriftwizard

Not me exactly, but my two twenty-something DDs generally make all their eggs by hand, using moulds. We do now have some silicone moulds but this all started with clear plastic moulds - they're still just soft enough to pop the chocolate out by pressing gently at the back. We never oiled them or used any kind of lining. As far as I remember all the moulds originally came from L@keland; the clear plastic ones seemed very flimsy at first but we've had them about 15 years and they're still usable!

weenancyinAmerica

I never lined any of the plastic moulds with anything - they just can be popped out after they have set in the freezer. You don't want to use any material that will affect the shape or the finish. It is fun to pop them out and see your finished product. Especially if you have painted in different colors of chocolate. My favorite things to make were mini-cameos. I would paint in the white chocolate for the figure and then add apricot- or peach-flavored peach colored "chocolate" candy to make the backing. Sold a lot of these for weddings.

CapricornLass

I used the plastic moulds that the others have mentioned, and I never used oil.  Provided the chocolate is thick enough, there aren't any problems with getting them out.  Having thick enough edges to be able to join the two halves together with chocolate was usually more of a problem for me.  I used to disguise the join by piping royal icing round.  Royal icing also acted as the glue to stick on pre-made sugar flowers, and to pipe writing.

If you polish the insides of the moulds before  you use them, then the eggs acquire a fantastic shine.

CapricornLass

I wouldn't  personally put the chocolate in the freezer either.  It wouldn't like the extreme temperature change - I always used high quality chocolate, never baking chocolate.

Rosa_Damascena

Aah...mine are actually ?aluminium so I'm going to have to have a think about this.

MSE_Laura_F

A lot of brilliant tips here. Love the thought of painting in different colours of chocolate, @weenancyinAmerica, and polishing up the moulds @CapricornLass.

Anybody got any photos?