Chocolate Coated Marshmallow Chicks Recipes

MARSHMALLOW FOR PIPING

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/3 cup cold water. Allow gelatin to soften, about 5 minutes.
• In a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup water and sugar, and stir over medium-high heat until sugar is dissolved. Stop stirring, and place a candy thermometer into sugar water; wipe sides of pan with a wet brush if sugar crystals have splattered up. Boil sugar until temperature reaches the soft-ball stage (238 degrees). Remove syrup from heat; add to softened gelatin. Using the whisk attachment of an electric mixer, hand-stir the mixture a few minutes to cool; place bowl on the mixer stand. Beat on medium high with the whisk attachment until soft peaks form and the marshmallow mixture holds shape, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Transfer marshmallow mixture to a large (14-inch) pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch (No. 11 Ateco) tip, and use immediately.

TEMPERED CHOCOLATE FOR MARSHMALLOW CHICKS

Steps:

• Chop 1 pound chocolate finely with a serrated knife, and place it in a metal bowl.
• For dark and milk chocolate: Bring a medium saucepan with about 2 inches of water to a simmer, and turn off the heat. Set the bowl of chopped chocolate over the saucepan, and melt the chocolate. Stir gently with a rubber spatula until the chocolate reaches 118 degrees on a chocolate thermometer.
• Remove the bowl from the saucepan, and add the remaining 1/2 pound chocolate in one piece to melted chocolate. Stir with a rubber spatula until the melted chocolate cools to 84 degrees. If necessary, remove unmelted piece of chocolate, and reserve for future baking. Place bowl over pan.
• For dark chocolate, stir until thermometer reaches 88 to 90 degrees. For milk chocolate, stir until thermometer reaches 84 to 88 degrees. Use immediately.

CHOCOLATE-COATED MARSHMALLOW CHICKS

Steps:

• Sift a thin layer of cornstarch onto the bottom of a rimmed baking sheet to cover surface completely. Pipe chicks directly onto cornstarch, and allow to set uncovered for 30 to 45 minutes. Meanwhile, temper the chocolate.
• Line a second baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat (a French nonstick baking mat). Set aside. Dust fingers with cornstarch, and gently pick up a chick, dusting off any excess cornstarch from its bottom; place in bowl of tempered chocolate. Using a free hand or chocolate-dipping fork, cover chick with chocolate; lift out, and let excess drip back into bowl. Gently place on lined baking sheet; touch up any bare spots with a chocolate-coated finger. Allow to set at least 3 hours. Pipe on royal-icing eyes with a 1/32-inch (#1 Ateco) tip. Store in an airtight container until ready to serve, or up to 2 weeks.

MARSHMALLOWS DIPPED IN CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Heat the chocolate in separate bowls over simmering water or on a low setting in the microwave. Allow to cool a little.
• Put your chosen sprinkles on separate plates. Push a cake pop or lolly stick into a marshmallow about half way in. Dip into the white or milk chocolate, allow the excess to drip off then dip into the sprinkles of your choice. Put into a tall glass to set. Repeat with each marshmallow.

ROYAL ICING FOR MARSHMALLOW TREATS

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine confectioners' sugar and meringue powder with scant 1/4 cup water on low speed. Mix until fluffy yet dense, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Color the icing as needed starting with a small amount of gel food coloring.Transfer to a small pastry bag fitted with a 1/32-inch pastry tip (#1 Ateco).
• If making marshmallow treats, pipe faces as desired, or pipe eyes on both sides of coated chicks and two eyes and a nose on bunnies. Pipe one eye on flat bunnies and chicks. Store the royal icing in an airtight container up to a week, and stir before using.

CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW CUTOUTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Refrigerate, covered, 1 hour or until firm enough to shape., Preheat oven to 350°. Shape level tablespoons of dough into balls; place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until cookies are set, 6-8 minutes. Using a 1-1/4-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter, score the center of half of the cookies. Cool completely on pans on wire racks., Using the same heart-shaped cookie cutter, gently cut scored cookie tops and remove the center of each. Spread marshmallow creme over the bottom of the solid cookies; cover with remaining cookies., Freeze option: Freeze shaped balls of dough on baking sheets until firm. Transfer to airtight freezer containers; return to freezer. To use, bake cookies as directed.

CHOCOLATE COVERED MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval. Do not overheat or chocolate will scorch.
• Dip the marshmallows in chocolate using a toothpick or fork to hold them. Place on waxed paper or aluminum foil, and freeze. Let marshmallows sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving.

SUGAR-COATED MARSHMALLOW BUNNIES AND CHICKS

Steps:

• Fill a rimmed baking sheet or several shallow bowls with sugar. Pipe shapes onto sugar. If desired, color white crystal sugar by stirring in luster dust or sparkle dust a little at a time.
• For bunnies, pipe a 1 1/4-inch mound about 1/2 inch tall onto sugar. Pipe a small mound on one side for the tail; pipe a larger mound for the head on the opposite side. With a damp finger, pat down the spikes formed from piping the body, tail, and head. Pipe the ears, starting from the top of the head, and pipe onto the body, pulling forward and off to finish. Pat down the spikes on the ears. Working quickly so the marshmallow surface does not dry, use a spoon to cover the entire surface with sugar. Allow to sit a few minutes to set, and lift out of sugar with a spoon or small offset spatula. Pipe on royal-icing faces with a 1/32-inch (#1 Ateco) tip; place in a parchment-lined airtight container until ready to serve, or up to 2 weeks.
• For chicks, pipe an oval shape about 1 inch wide, tapering the end and pulling upward to finish with the tail. On the opposite end, for the neck and face, pipe a mound about the width of the body, pushing toward tail and up. Pull away from the face to form the beak. Working quickly so the marshmallow surface does not dry, use a spoon to sprinkle sugar over the surface. Allow shape to sit a few minutes to set; lift out of sugar with a spoon or small offset spatula. Make large and small chicks by changing the dimensions. Pipe on royal-icing eyes with a 1/32-inch (#1 Ateco) tip; place in a parchment-lined airtight container until ready to serve, or up to 2 weeks.