Directions: How to Make a Chocolate Forest

How to make a chocolate forest

It's Easy.


A step by step guide of how to make a chocolate forest.

You will need a few every-day items, otherwise this is liable to get quite messy.
A sheet of baking paper,
A flat board to move the whole shibang in an out of the freezer (not included in photograph but I'm assuming you have one)
A decorating bag, (or any plastic bag that you can sacrifice)
Some lollypop sticks or barbeque pins.
Chocolate, 100 grams. (Oh yes, I'm going metric) Dark chocolate is best, the light stuff just doesn't set as well.

Melt three quarters of the chocolate in the microwave but be careful that it never becomes so hot you can't put your finger in it without burning yourself, if you do you've overdone it and need to add more chocolate to cool it down.
(there are other ways to melt chocolate but this is the fastest. Just do it bit by bit and stir in between)

When it is almost all melted, add the few blocks of chocolate you saved. The chocolate should be about body temperature, not more... you can check by using your finger or the back of your hand, if you don't feel it then it's ready.
This will ensure that it hardens nicely later and keeps it's color and shine.

Cut a little bit off of the tip of your bag... less is more here, you Really don't want to get overambitious because then you will have a cascade of chocolate you have no control over.

This is your last chance to let the chocolate reach body-temperature.
now you can adjust the opening of the bag, tiny bit by tiny bit untill you are happy with the flow.

 Now just start drawing... be careful to let the chocolate flow thick so that the tree will be steady.
You may also want to intertwine some of the branches so that they will be steadier.

Pop the in the freezer for about 15 to 20 min.
They will set on the table but this is faster.
When you take them out flip them over.

Measure the sticks to make certain they fit.
let them stand 4-5 cm out.

Melt just a little bit more chocolate and cover the tips of your sticks. Let the chocolate set for a few minutes, if it's too hot it will melt your tree trunks.

 Attach to tree and let set.
Just leave it for a few minutes.

This is how it could look.
Just standing there, nonchalant like.

And from the back...

I made a few trees and stuck them in my Early Winter Nights cake. 

And another glorious shot of the back of the trees.


Have fun and please comment on this little tutorial... let me know if and how it worked out for you.
Happy Baking