Handmade Valentine’s Chocolate Set
Super Simple Valentine’s Day Chocolate Set for the Holidays
Valentine’s Day is overlapping with the holidays this year, making it tricky to prepare chocolates. That’s why I’m sharing a super easy, quick chocolate set recipe. You can whip this up in no time and show your loved ones how much you care with these homemade delights.
Nuts- A handful of walnuts (lightly toasted for extra flavor, optional)
- A handful of almonds (lightly toasted for extra flavor, optional)
- A handful of macadamia nuts (lightly toasted for extra flavor, optional)
- A handful of pecans (lightly toasted for extra flavor, optional)
Chocolate- Dark chocolate (couverture or regular dark chocolate), 70g
- Milk chocolate (couverture or regular milk chocolate), 100g
- Dark chocolate (couverture or regular dark chocolate), 70g
- Milk chocolate (couverture or regular milk chocolate), 100g
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s try ‘tempering’ the chocolate for a smooth, glossy finish. First, finely chop the dark and milk chocolates separately. Place each type of chopped chocolate into separate bowls. Then, set these bowls over simmering water (double boiler method) to gently melt the chocolate. Once fully melted, remove the bowls from the heat and place them over a bowl of ice water. Stir continuously until the chocolate cools down to around 27-28°C (be careful not to let it get too cold). Finally, return the bowls to the warm water bath and gently heat them up to 31-32°C for dark chocolate (or 30-31°C for milk chocolate). This process, called tempering, results in chocolate that melts beautifully in your mouth and has a wonderful sheen. Maintaining the correct temperatures is key to success!
Step 2
Pour the tempered chocolate carefully into your chocolate molds. Place your chosen nuts one by one onto the chocolate to set them in place. Alternatively, you can spoon a moderate amount of chocolate into small paper liners and decorate them with the nuts or dried fruits (like raisins or cranberries) you’ve prepared. This allows you to create unique, personalized chocolates. Using various mold shapes or a mix of toppings can help you assemble a more elaborate chocolate set.
Step 3
Allow the chocolates to set completely. Place them in the refrigerator or a cool place until firm. This usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your environment. Once the chocolates are solid, gently unmold them. If you used paper liners, they can be packaged as is. Now, package them beautifully and present your sweet gift to your loved one!
