I love making little decorative chocolates and homemade chocolates are my favorites. Of course I will always enjoy some good quality commercially available chocolates, especially those Swiss, French and Belgian ones. We grew up with chocolate, its everywhere in Europe! My favorite ones are the Black 70% Bitter chocolates and the ones with Chilli or with Pistachios. As a child, I had different preferences, let’s say I was on the sweeter side, but by now I tend to eat chocolates in moderation and I choose the ones with less sugar. Since in India good chocolates are a rarity, I had started to make my own. However even the quality and choice has changed immensely in this fast growing country, so I have become a bit lazy in making my own stuff.
The last time in fact was when I clicked this pictures, back in May, just before going back to India. I had made those for my grandfather and of course my father who is a massive chocolate nerd. Since I couldn’t go to France again, I had decided to send my parents with some chocolates to sweeten my grandfathers life. Apparently he loved them and some family members discovered the love for the chilli chocolates as well.
Today I am sharing 4 different chocolate making ideas with you all. Of course you can play around and create your own ones. The aim of this post is to introduce you to this simple art. I thought now was the perfect time to share them with you since Christmas is knocking on the door and often we don’t know what to gift our loved ones, so why not some chocolates that were made by you and with love? Kids can easily make those at home as well. What you will need to follow the “recipes” are different types of chocolate molds. You get those in India, so I bet they will be available everywhere else int he world. Try to use those silicon molds, to make your life easier when taking the chocolates out of their forms. You will have to cool them as well, so that they get nice hard. Oh and try to get hold of some good quality chocolates, that is very important. Otherwise just use a double boiler (Bain Marie) to melt the chocolate or you can even melt it in the microwave, if you have one. Now, you are good to go!
You may follow these Ideas or make your own by using other ingredients such as Almond slices (see picture).
Have you ever made your own chocolates at home?
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Helene,
My girls would adore making these! They look so beautiful. My youngest tried to makeher first chocs the other day but chose something so complicated with caramel and thermometers that it put her off. I must show her your recipes here: far more easy and perfect looking. Merci! xo
oh I know what you mean. 2 years back I had such trouble working with chocolate. I wanted to make something with caramel as well. I was so frustrated, I shopped for some time to work with chocolate. Actually my mum showed me how to make those easily. I am pretty sure your daughter will love those lil chocolates. =)
Helene! what gorgeous chocolates ….. I am so tempted to try them….everyone talks about tempering chocolate else it melts away….is that true? Do you do that also?
Thanks aditi =)
I don’t think so I tempered it “fully”, if such an expression exists. Here I used a double boiler because its easier to control the temperature, but I don’t use a thermometer to control the temperature, and I didn’t cool it and heated it up again. Aditit it is true that chocolate melts faster when not tempered correctly, plus it gives a nice shine and that crack sound, yet this time I thought I ll keep it simple and came up with my easy Chocolate recipe.
Gorgeous chocolates!!!! I had made a batch of mocha chocolates for diwali last week, came out good & was liked by all.. So very keen on trying out more diff flavors & tah dah…here comes such yummy versions of homemade chocolates by my dear friend!!! These looks fab Helena dear..Just wanna grab them off the screen..Lovely clicks too
Thank you Prats! =D I know I have a great timing
I love dark chocolates too and for me the best part is the bit of bitterness (I know I’m weird) hehe. Those are lovely looking chocolates, Helene. Have a wonderful week, my friend!
lol I dont think so you are weird, we all prefer dark chocolate in my family.
I haven’t made homemade chocolate like this in about a year I think – probably around this time last year. These look fantastic and I love all the variations you’ve made. How fun. I will have to try these.
Everything looks fantastic. The white chocolate animals are adorable and I totally want to try the chili chocolate combination!
These are absolutely amazing! If you showed me the picture without the post, I never would have guessed they were homemade! Amazing. Truly. I love the animal ones especially!
What a gorgeous batch of chocolates my friend
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
These are wonderful Helene! I am always looking for new ideas for edible Christmas gifts and I think these are so simple and striking. I am bookmarking for use in the coming weeks
Yummy chocolates. Will try dis. Do u have any chocolate recipe where I can use cocoa powder instead of chocholate bars?
Yeah try them out they are easy and fun to recreate. Ah no you can’t use chocolate powder, that wouldn’t work out.
Lovely Helene! I love good dark chocolate above 74%, and your chocolate ideas are the perfect gift for the festivities….I would eat most of the chocolate while making them! By the way, I bought persimmon fruits and caraway seeds last Friday, then on Sunday I baked a carrot cake…maybe I am addicted to your blog!! Ciao
LOL you are too sweet Rita!
All of these chocolates are fabulous! I especially love the chili chocolate ones. What a great combination! Your molds are so cute. I love the idea of little chocolates for gifts!
Great chocolates! I love the chili chocolates – chocolate goes so well with spicy flavors. And this is the time of year when we tend to eat more chocolate, so this post is extremely timely. Thanks so much.
I haven’t made chocolates yet.. you sure are tempting me! I love these, they’re so cute.. and chili chocolate? That must be so yummy!!
THANKS for teach us so much!!
it’s always a pleasure to visit your blog…it makes me so hungry!!!
Aww thank you ana thats so sweet of you!
I want to eat the screen ! These Christmas chocolates are divine. Thanks for sharing the recipe, Helene!
Your chocolates are just lovely–I’ll have to try the ones with pistachios and chili. Spicy/sweet is one of my favorite flavor combos.
I love to make gifts to give at Christmas. These are all gorgeous and I love the variety of flavours xx
Whoa, you have the knack, Helene! These are gorgeous! Perfect holiday gifts
Today at the kitchen store, I saw these mini molds. I didn’t think it’s for chocolate! Wow homemade chocolate candies seem so fancy and I love how easily you made several kinds! Your friends and family who receive these as gift are lucky!!!
you can use those molds for chocolate and here in goa they use them as well to make colored marzipan for Christmas.
Hi Helene, what a great, and timely post – I’ve been wanting to make my own chocolates at home for some time, though I really want to make my own filled chocolates, with like ganache, or praliné inside, but I have no idea how to make them “hollow”. Any ideas for this? If not I guess I can make solid ones – they’ll be just as delicious. Yours are so pretty – lovely gift idea too!
hey charles! =) Giulia made some once here with a orange ganache. hope that helps! http://masalaherb.com/2012/01/guestpost-chocolates-filled-with-orange-flavored-ganache-by-giulia.html
Thanks for reminding me!
Awwww, the animal chocolates are adorable! AND I love the addition of chili in your chocolates, I love the mix of sweet and spicy:-) Perfect Christmas treat! Hugs, Terra
Helene!
I have made so many chocolates in my life – but am getting tired and the family doesn’t eat like it used to… I still do chocolate cherries every year – and my B52′s! I have never posted them, but hope to this year! Yours are stunning and so much fun! We are getting our house painted. Usually I am getting ready for Christmas in September, but haven’t started yet. You have really got it going on!
V
B52? I thought that was a shot! ^.^ Those chocolates might save you this year, they are really simple and easy to make. In September? wow! Welcome in my “always late” world.
I’ve been wanting to make some as gifts without tempering, but afraid they might melt when I deliver, the weather here is super hot.
Ah in that case you ll require to temper them. Still I can’t guarantee that they won’t melt. In general chocolates are always kept in fridges here in shops. Only those ugly cadbury chocolates are kept outside, but they contain some kind of substance which makes them not to melt. Even Snickers and all melt in the heat. =/ Maybe you can keep them in some kind of isolated bag when you roam, after having them kept in the fridge before. You get those pocket ones in different sizes, just keep them in there so the coolness remains and prevents them to melt. We do that when my mum sends me chocolates from Europe and they don’t melt in that way.
Love these adorable chocolates! Making your own chocolate treats for Christmas is so fun. The white chocolate animals are my favorite!