Monday 16 February 2015

47. Chocolate Caramel Hearts

I found some heart shaped ice cube molds in our local shop the other day so I thought I'd give homemade chocolates a try. What a success! Rustic, delicious, and a great way to use up some of that salted caramel spread.


Chocolate Caramel Hearts
Makes 14 hearts

500g milk chocolate, chopped into small bits
300g salted caramel spread

one awesome heart shaped silicone mold

Start by tempering your chocolate. Well tempered chocolate is key when making homemade chocolates: it ensures a lovely shiny finish and a good snap when eaten. To achieve this, heat 350g of your chocolate over a bain-marie until melted and a thermometer reads 50ºC. Remove from heat and stir in your remaining 150g of chocolate. Continue stirring to cool your chocolate to 27ºC. This may take 10-20 minutes depending on how cool your room temperature is. Once you've reached 27ºC, pop your chocolate back on to your bain-marie and reheat slightly to between 29 to 30ºC. Your chocolate is now ready to use.


Make sure your mold is clean and dry. Fill each hole with chocolate, tap it slightly against your work surface to remove any air bubbles, then turn onto a cooling rack set over a plate or bowl and allow your chocolate to drip out for about 1 minute. Once your chocolate has finished dripping, scrape the top of your mold to remove any excess chocolate, then allow to set slightly for 10-15 minutes.



Once your chocolate has set, fill with salted caramel to 1mm below the edge of your mould. If your filling seems too stiff, warm it slightly in the microwave or over your bain-marie. Freeze for a minimum of 30 minutes until your caramel has set.

Reheat your chocolate, fill each gap and scape the top of your mould, making sure the edges of your chocolates are lovely and clean. Allow to set in the fridge for at least 15 minutes. Gently unmold your chocolates. If your feeling fancy, use some of your leftover chocolate to drizzle overtop. Eat straight away or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month.


No comments:

Post a Comment