Chocolate Disks And Lace Recipes

HOW TO DECORATE WITH MELTED CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Chop the chocolate into small, even pieces. If using a microwave to melt the chocolate, place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and microwave on 50% power in 15-second bursts, stirring after each burst to make sure the chocolate doesn't burn, until melted and smooth. The exact timing will vary depending on the amount of chocolate and the wattage of your microwave but will probably take around 1 1/2 minutes. (You want to be certain that the bowl and implement you use to stir the chocolate are completely dry. The introduction of any water into the chocolate will cause it to seize and not melt properly.) If using a pan on the stovetop to melt the chocolate, place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl placed over but not touching a pan of simmering water and wait, stirring occasionally to make sure the chocolate doesn't burn, until the chocolate is melted and smooth. (You want to be certain that the bowl and implement you use to stir the chocolate are completely dry and that no steam or water from the pan comes into contact with the chocolate. The introduction of any water into the chocolate will cause it to seize and not melt properly.) Remove the pan from the heat.
• Cover a plate or baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper. If making chocolate squiggles or shapes, use a teaspoon and drizzle the chocolate into squiggles or shapes on the paper. If making chocolate letters, pour the melted chocolate into a plastic squeeze bottle or a disposable piping bag (available in most shops in the cake baking sections) or a large resealable plastic bag or a cone that you formed from parchment paper. If using a plastic bag, just snip the end off close to the tip for thin lettering or a little further up for thicker lettering. (Keep in mind that thicker letters are less likely to break once cooled.) Then simply write, er, pipe your letters or words or numbers as desired, gently squeezing the bag from the top toward the tip as you write to keep a slow but continual flow of melted chocolate coming through the tip.☞TESTER TIP: If you make a mistake and one of your letters looks wonky or is uneven, just eat it and try again. If you don't trust your penmanship, before melting the chocolate, print out your words or designs at the desired size and tape the printout onto your work surface beneath the sheet of parchment paper and trace over the lines with chocolate.
• Transfer everything to the refrigerator until the chocolate hardens, 10 to 20 minutes.
• If using a microwave to melt the chocolate, place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and microwave on 50% power in 15-second bursts, stirring after each burst to make sure the chocolate doesn't burn, until melted and smooth. The exact timing will vary depending on the amount of chocolate and the wattage of your microwave but will probably take around 1 1/2 minutes. (You want to be certain that the bowl and implement you use to stir the chocolate are completely dry. The introduction of any water into the chocolate will cause it to seize and not melt properly.)If using a pan on the stovetop to melt the chocolate, place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl placed over but not touching a pan of simmering water and wait, stirring occasionally to make sure the chocolate doesn't burn, until the chocolate is melted and smooth. (You want to be certain that the bowl and implement you use to stir the chocolate are completely dry and that no steam or water from the pan comes into contact with the chocolate. The introduction of any water into the chocolate will cause it to seize and not melt properly.) Remove the pan from the heat.

HAZELNUT LACE SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Cookies:
• Pulse hazelnuts, flour, and salt in a food processor until nuts are finely ground; set aside.
• Cook butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until butter foams, then browns, about 5 minutes. Let cool about 5 minutes, then add granulated sugar, cream, maple syrup, vanilla, and 1 Tbsp. water and stir to incorporate. Return saucepan to medium heat and bring to a boil; cook, without stirring, 30 seconds. Remove pan from heat and stir in hazelnut mixture. Scrape batter into a medium heatproof bowl and let cool, stirring occasionally to reincorporate the butter.
• Meanwhile, place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 325°F.
• Scoop out rounded teaspoonfuls of batter and roll between the palms of your hands into smooth balls. Place on 2 parchment-lined baking sheets at least 3" apart. Because these cookies spread so much during baking, give each ball plenty of space. You should be able to fit 8 per sheet and will need to bake in 2 batches for a total of 32 cookies.
• Bake cookies, rotating baking sheets top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until they spread into thin lacy disks and are deep golden brown around the edges, 10-14 minutes. Let cool on baking sheets. Repeat with remaining batter, using fresh parchment paper on baking sheets.
• Filling and assembly:
• Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter in a medium bowl until light, about 1 minute. Add powdered sugar and beat until pale, about 30 seconds. Add jam about 1 tablespoonful at a time, beating until smooth after each addition, then beat in lime zest.
• Carefully remove cooled cookies from parchment. Using a small offset spatula, spread 1-2 tsp. filling across flat sides of half of cookies. Top with remaining cookies to create sandwiches.
• Do Ahead
• Cookies can be baked 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature, separated by layers of parchment paper to prevent sticking.

CHOCOLATE WAFERS

Steps:

• Beat together margarine (or butter), sugar, egg, and cocoa.
• Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and water. Mix well. Stir in pecans.
• Shape dough into a log 2 inches in diameter. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least for 2 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• Slice dough into 1/2 inch-thick rounds and place on lightly oiled baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool thoroughly.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CRISPIX MIX

Steps:

• In the largest pot, put the first 5 dry ingredients.
• Melt the white chocolate disc in the microwave.
• Pour melted chocolate over dry mix and toss with your hands until well coated.
• Spread mix out on wax paper to dry.
• Break apart and store in ziplock storage bags.
• Yum!

QUEEN ANNE'S LACE CAKE

Steps:

• Sift cake and pudding mixes together.
• In another bowl beat oil, eggs and milk.
• Add to dry mixture and beat well.
• Pour into 3 greased 9-inch cake pans.
• Bake at 325 degrees for 15-25 minutes.
• FOR THE ICING: Beat together cream cheese & sugars until very creamy.
• Fold nuts and chocolate bar pieces into cream cheese mixture.
• Fold in whipped topping.
• Ice layers and top cake.

CHOCOLATE LACE SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with silicone baking mats or aluminum foil, shiny side down.
• Beat melted butter, white sugar, and brown sugar together using an electric mixer in a large bowl. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract. Stir oats, pecans, and baking powder into the batter.
• Drop batter onto the prepared sheets, 1 teaspoon at a time, spaced 3 inches apart; batter will spread out very thinly while baking.
• Bake in the preheated oven, watching very carefully, until edges just start to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Keep cookies on the baking sheets; they will finish baking as they cool and harden. Cool completely before removing from the baking sheets, at least 10 minutes.
• Choose 2 cookies that are the same size. Spread chocolate-hazelnut spread very thinly on 1 cookie and sandwich the other on top. Continue until all the cookies are paired and filled.

LACE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Set aside to cool.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, and salt.
• Add the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla to the dry ingredients. Mix until blended thoroughly.
• On four clean sheet pans covered in parchment paper or silicone mats, drop rounded tablespoons of batter about 2 inches away from each other. You should have 8-10 mounds on each pan.
• Bake for about 8-10 minutes, or until the cookies have spread flat and are a deep golden-brown color. Remove from the oven and cool completely on the pan.
• Using an offset spatula, gently remove each cookie and place on a serving tray.
• Repeat steps 5-7 for the remaining batter.
• If using, decorate the cookies with melted chocolate, making sandwiches or drizzling the chocolate on top. Let cool and harden completely before serving.

CHOCOLATE DISKS AND LACE

Steps:

• Line three cookie sheets with waxed paper. Trace one 8-inch round on each, using cake pan bottom as aid. Invert paper. Melt chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove pan from heat. Spoon 2 1/2 tablespoons chocolate into center of each of 2 traced circles. Spread with spatula to fill circles completely. Spoon remaining chocolate into parchment cone or small pastry bag fitted with fine round tip. Pipe chocolate around traced border of third circle. Pipe chocolate inside circle in thick lacy design, making certain design touches border. Fill in three areas of design with chocolate, if desired. Pipe more chocolate atop pattern to form double thick lace. Freeze disks and lace until firm, about 1 hour (chocolate may curl slightly). (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover tightly.)
• Remove 1 chocolate disk from freezer and invert onto piece of waxed paper. Gently peel top paper off chocolate. Return disk to freezer. Repeat with second disk and chocolate lace. Freeze disks and lace until ready to use.