I saw the most beautiful dark chocolate bar with freeze-dried berries at a local store for $13. Not being one to spend $13 on a chocolate bar, I decided to try to re-create it, and the result was ten pretty little packages for Valentines Day gifts for less than the one bar would have cost.
Ingredients & Supplies
- High quality dark chocolate (70 percent or higher) – I got the large bar at Trader Joe’s
- Freeze dried berries (for the Valentine’s theme, I purchased raspberries and strawberries)
- Parchment paper
- Candy thermometer
- Double broiler or a pan and bowl combo
- Final packaging as desired
Steps
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper and assemble all supplies.
- Gently melt chocolate to desired consistency, using a double broiler, or – in my case – a pan of simmering water with a metal bowl set on top. Make sure that the bowl does not touch the simmering water directly. Stir frequently until desired temperature of about 90 degrees is reached. I have read that it is preferable to remove the chocolate from the heat before all of the chocolate is melted.
- For a shiny, professional appearance, the chocolate will need to be tempered. There are many good articles on tempering chocolate, and this one from Epicurious is worth a read.
- Spread the melted chocolate over the parchment, smoothing until desired thickness and smoothness is reached.
- Sprinkle freeze-dried fruit over the top. Gently pat down with a spatula.
- Set aside until the chocolate is set, usually several hours.
- Break or cut into desired shapes.
Tournesol Adventures 