Are you looking for a quick, delicious treat you can give as a gift that will look & taste amazing? Here are some tips on how to melt the chocolate that can be used to cover and make a variety of treats. Be sure to make extras to keep some for you!
Today, I am going to share with you a few tips on how to make a super easy chocolate coating that dips and hardens effortlessly and makes a yummy, simple treat perfect for gifting!
When I lived in Texas many years ago, I worked in a second-generation chocolate shop around the holidays. One of the best parts of my job was standing in the tiny ice-cold dipping “closet” and hand-dip a variety of treats into creamy melted chocolate.
Filling dozens of trays with chocolate-covered treats in an afternoon. I look back & realize it was then that I fell in love with the aroma and flavor of dark chocolate.
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what can i dip in a melted chocolate coating
At the candy shop, we dipped every treat you could imagine into white, milk, or dark chocolate. Their best sellers were dipped pecan brittle, cherries, strawberries, coconut haystacks, Oreo’s, peanut brittle, and caramels. The melted chocolate they used had just one ingredient….. chocolate.
Here in our home marshmallows, pretzels, peanuts, cashews, and gram crackers are the favorites of my younger kids at the moment. My kids actually will add chocolate to a bowl & melt it in my dehydrator on low heat and make their own chocolate-covered creations.
How do I store or package hand dipped chocolate treats?
Using a box –
When making them as a gift, I like to take a shirt box and tape the flaps down on the inside, cut another piece of cardboard, and cover in parchment paper taping the sides down underneath then placing it inside the gift box as a tray. Just place the box lid on and it’s ready to give to a special person!
Using a mason jar (or metal tin) –
Place your treats in parchment paper cupcake liners and place them carefully inside a glass mason jar.
Cover your lid with burlap or fabric and put it inside of the screw band and attach it to your jar. Wrap some jute or ribbon around the top under the band. Attach a handwritten or printed note and you’re ready to brighten someone’s day!
Storing –
Chocolate covered treats can be stored in any style container with a sealed lid. Most hand-dipped treats will last 2 to 3 days but will taste best on the first day! Condensation can build up in your storage container which can make your treats soggy. Therefore placing them in the refrigerator is not recommended.
Ideas for toppings
The sky is the limit when it comes to how creative you can get with toppings! A few ideas for toppings are mini chocolate chips, coconut, dye-free SPRINKLES, candies, chopped nuts, graham crackers, and powdered cocoa.
Tips on how to melt chocolate
Chill your parchment paper-lined tray prior to laying your chocolate dipped items on
Use items that are completely dry & at room temperature
Work with small amounts of chocolate at a time
Create a makeshift double boiler so your melted chocolate is at an angle easier for dipping
Have everything laid out in advance so your ready to dip once your chocolate has melted
pin & save for later!
ingredients for how to melt chocolate
Water (for the double boiler)
Chocolate (good quality milk or dark chocolate baking bar or chips)
Look for fair trade labels on chocolate as well as coffee and tea in Aldi stores.
*OPTIONAL: additional coverings may be added on the top right before placing your hand-dipped tray in the refrigerator) (We grated a bar of white chocolate on top)
I know some recipes online call for a bit of oil to make the chocolate easier to dip and less “crunchy” when you bite into your dipped treat. If you only have chocolate on hand then using just chocolate will work 100% & is so simple!
Tools
Spoon or dipping tool
Parchment paper
Cookie sheet or tray (one that can fit into your refrigerator)
Double boiler (or 2 different size saucepans)
Directions on How to Melt Chocolate for a simple Coating
Make sure the treats you are dipping are completely dry and room temperature so your heated chocolate doesn’t chunk up in your saucepan.
Fill your bottom pan with about two inches of water depending on the size. Wait to add your top pan till after water is heated. Try to use pans that don’t have a major size difference (unlike mine). Ideally, you don’t want the steam to escape the bottom pan but I used what I had on hand and it worked fine. Turn the stove on high until the water is boiling.
Put your chips or broken up baking bar in the top saucepan so it is ready to place on the bottom pan once the water comes to a boil.
Once the water comes to a boil, shut off your burner and add your top pan. Just make sure the water isn’t rolling and will boil up inside your smaller saucepan. If it does you may need to dump a bit out prior to adding the top pan. Then stir with a dry spoon or spatula until melted.
Using a fork or tongs, dip each piece into the melted chocolate (using a spoon to help spread on if needed)
Gently wipe the bottom of each piece off on the edge of the saucepan so you won’t end up with a thick flat part on your dipped treat. Lay each piece on your cooled parchment paper-lined tray.
No need to place it in the refrigerator unless it is hot in your kitchen. The chocolate will firm up just by cooling on the tray.
Treats for any time of year in any type of weather
Set your creativity loose with ideas from chocolate-dipped ice cream to some of my favorite S’mores treats that are delicious all year round!
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