Chocolate Decor
- 5 ounces (142g) bittersweet chocolate (preferably Valrhona Guanaja 70% cacao), tempered (see opposite)
- Wipe a 12 x 18-inch plastic cutting board with a wet cloth and place a 12 x 18-inch piece of acetate on top (the damp surface will keep the acetate from moving around).
- Smooth the acetate out completely.
- Pour the chocolate into the center of the acetate and use a large offset spatula to spread the chocolate into an even layer that covers the acetate completely.
- Make long, even sweeps with the spatula, from the center out to the sides and corners.
- When the chocolate starts to set but is not yet hard, follow these instructions to make squares, rectangles, or swirls.
- To make squares or rectangles: Score the chocolate into 2 1/2-inch squares or 1 1/2 x 3-inch rectangles with the back of a knife (you dont want to cut through the acetate).
- Cover the chocolate with a piece of parchment, transfer it to a baking sheet, and weight it with another baking sheet.
- Leave it overnight for the best shine.
- To make swirls: Run a cake trowel over the chocolate to create strips.
- Cut the acetate into 2-inch strips that are about 8 inches long.
- Before the chocolate sets, lift the strips with the tip of a knife and curl them so they look like opened toilet paper tubes.
- Set the curls in baguette molds and leave overnight for the best shine.
- Unwrap the acetate just before using.
bittersweet chocolate
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/chocolate-decor-376913 (may not work)