Chocolate Glaze And Curls Recipes

THE BEST CHOCOLATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Melt cocoa and butter together in a small saucepan over low heat, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract. Stir in hot water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until glaze is thick and smooth.

CHOCOLATE GLAZE

Steps:

• Melt chocolate and butter in a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat, and stir in milk and corn syrup. Use immediately.

CHOCOLATE CURLS

Steps:

• In a heavy 1-quart saucepan over low heat, heat 5 squares of chocolate, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth.
• Pour melted chocolate into a 15 1/2" by 10 1/2" jelly roll pan; use a rubber spatula to scrape all of the chocolate from the saucepan.
• With the same rubber spatula, spread the chocolate to evenly cover entire bottom of pan.
• Refrigerate until firm, but not brittle, about 10 minutes.
• Place jelly-roll pan on damp cloth on work surface (damp cloth keeps pan from moving while working).
• Holding teaspoon at a 30 degree angle, scrape chocolate into curls (if chocolate softens and sticks to spoon, place pan in refrigerator several minutes).
• With toothpick, transfer curls to another jelly-roll pan; refrigerate.
• Repeat 4 more times to make 5 batches of curls in all.
• To Garnish Cake with Curls: Using a toothpick as a tool to lift the delicate curls (the heat of your hands will melt or mar them), carefully press chocolate curls onto fresh frosting. (The gooey fresh frosting is the glue that holds the curls in place.)

CHOCOLATE CURLS

Steps:

• Place the chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl with the vegetable shortening. Throw it in the microwave until the shortening is melted and hot, 30 to 45 seconds. Stir with a fork to combine thoroughly.
• Next, pour the melted chocolate over the underside of a clean cookie sheet. Then, with an offset spatula or a knife, spread the chocolate in a thin layer. Keep going until it's very, very thin. Then...and this is the key...stick it in the freezer for a few minutes.
• After a few minutes, check that the chocolate is ready by pressing it with your finger tip; it should leave the slightest mark, but not an actual depression.
• Next, get a somewhat sharp-edged spatula and begin to scrape the chocolate from the bottom of the pan. When the chocolate is just the right temperature, it'll curl instead of break. If it gets too soft, stick it back in the freezer for a minute.
• Pretty soon you'll have a bunch of fun little chocolate curls.
• Important: As soon as possible, transfer the curls to a cold pan or plate, and then stick them in the freezer to harden. Store in the freezer in a zip-top bag until you need them. Use them to adorn pies, cakes or platters of fruit. You'll feel instantly fancy!

CHOCOLATE GLAZE AND CURLS

Steps:

• Place chocolate in double boiler set over, but not touching, simmering water. Stir with rubber spatula until melted, about 3 minutes.
• Pour 1/4 cup melted chocolate into a clean 11-by-17-inch flat baking sheet. Repeat with second sheet. Use an offset spatula to spread chocolate as evenly as possible on each sheet. Transfer the baking sheets to the refrigerator to chill, about 20 minutes.
• Transfer baking sheets to a flat surface. Use a bench scraper to firmly scrape along bottom of sheet in direction away from your body. Hold bench scraper at a slight angle to sheet; push to form curls. If chocolate is too cold, it will splinter. Let sheet sit 2 to 4 minutes at room temperature. Scraps of chocolate may be melted and used again. Refrigerate best curls for cake.
• Use remaining 3/4 cup melted chocolate to spread on three banana-cake layers.

TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CURLS

Steps:

• Rub the underside of a baking sheet with an oiled paper towel, then peel back one piece of paper to expose a square of gold leaf. Don't dally: It is whisper-thin, so it practically flies away if you breathe on it. Holding the rest of the book in your hand, invert the gold onto the oiled baking sheet and lift off the remaining piece of paper the gold leaf was sandwiched against. (Wrinkles are okay.) Repeat the process with eight more gold squares.
• Next, melt the chocolate and spread it over the gold leaf as thinly and evenly as possible with the offset spatula.
• Now comes the tricky part. The chocolate needs to set to the right consistency. If it isn't firm enough, it won't curl; if it's too firm, it will break into shards (which have their own beauty). Chill the chocolate for about seven minutes before trying a test curl. Brace the baking sheet against the kitchen wall and, holding the putty knife at an angle, scrape the chocolate (and gold leaf) away from you. If it curls, you've got it! The correct angle is really just a matter of feel.
• Carefully transfer the curls with the putty knife to a paper towel-padded box and keep them cold until you're ready to use them.

GLAZED CHOCOLATE DONUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Spray 11 donut cups with cooking spray.
• Mix flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. Beat in 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk, eggs, 2 tablespoons melted butter, and vanilla extract using an electric mixer. Beat until well blended.
• Pour batter into a zip-top bag and cut off 1 corner. Fill each donut cup about 3/4 full using the zip-top bag.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into a donut comes out clean, about 10 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, 5 to 10 minutes.
• While donuts cool, combine 1/4 cup butter, cream, milk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until butter is completely melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and stir in bittersweet and semisweet chocolate until melted, 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar to combine. Dip each cooled donut into the glaze and let cool and set, about 15 minutes.

CHOCOLATE CURLS

Steps:

• Melt chocolate in a double boiler over water.
• Spread out on cutting board so that it's about 1" thick and in a rectangular shape.
• When chocolate as cooled enough to stiffen but not harden, cut crosswise at a 45 degree angle in very thin slices with a chef knife.
• Let harden, then place on top of cake in a tepee shape.

FRUIT SALAD WITH BLUEBERRY GLAZE AND DARK CHOCOLATE CURLS

Steps:

• *NOTE: Balsamic glaze is available in specialty stores. For easier preparation, use about the amount of vinegar indicated in the recipe and heat on the stove top. Reduce by about 1/3 until syrupy.
• Use a vegetable peeler to shave the dark chocolate. Set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the peaches, nectarines, raspberries and blackberries.
• Puree the blueberries with the honey, balsamic glaze and ginger. Pour half the blueberry glaze over the fruit and toss gently.
• Divide and arrange the mixed fruit onto 4 salad plates. Garnish each serving with 1 tablespoon of chocolate curls.
• Serve the remaining blueberry glaze on the side.