CHOCOLATE
Chocolate Showpiece:
STEP-BY-STEP WITH VANESSA GREELEY
Chocolate showpieces are giving ornate occasion cakes a run for their money when it comes to stopping people in their tracks. But you don’t have to be the next Picasso to create a stunning chocolate showpiece; nor do you have to use decorated chocolate strictly for showpieces. Check out this step-by-step from Vanessa Greeley, pastry chef and Food Network Challenge participant, to learn how a few simple steps can help you create dramatic painted chocolate that can be used to create showpieces, to top cakes, cupcakes and cookies, to serve mousses, and more.
1
Place an acetate sheet over parchment paper. Warm up cocoa base colors. Pour drops of cocoa base colors over the acetate sheet.
2
Use a clean brush to spread the colors from left to right over the acetate sheet to create various shades of colors. Let it crystallize.
3
With a soft sponge, apply antique silk luster dust on the entire sheet to produce a satin effect on the chocolate.
4
A quick look at the acetate sheet before adding tempered chocolate.
5
Pour tempered chocolate over the acetate sheet and spread evenly with the help of an offset spatula.
30 · BAKING BUYER · APRIL 11
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of bakingbuyer - April 2011