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Easily create your own chocolate decorations in any shape or size to garnish cakes, cupcakes and more at home.
Making your own chocolate garnish for cakes and cupcakes just like you see in the fancy bakeries is easier than you think! Today I’m going to show you how to use it for Valentines with hearts and the word Love but you can use it for so much more! Once you have the technique the possibilities are endless! Here are a few ways that I have used them in the past:
What Kind of Chocolate Do I Use?
I usually use Wilton Melts because they melt easily and smoothly. You can also use chocolate chips but you may need to add a little vegetable oil to the melted chocolate chips to make them smooth enough to pipe.
How to Make Chocolate Decorations
- Melt chocolate or chocolate melts in the microwave.
- Spoon into a piping bag with a small round tip. You can also use a plastic squeeze bottle.
- Don’t forget to close off the end or you will end up with a mess like I did because I forgot to close off the end!!
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or wax paper.
- Hold the bag upright and at a slight angle and write. Use a nice even pressure on the bag as you write. Be sure that all of your letters are connected so they dry as one piece. Write words or make shapes. Use your imagination!
- Make a template of the words or shapes you want and put it under the wax paper if you are afraid to do it freehand.
- After you are done, put them in the refrigerator to harden up and after they are hardened, remove from the wax paper and store in an airtight container. I keep mine in the refrigerator until I am ready to use them.
Just think of all the fun things you can make!
Here are a few ways I used the chocolate garnish:
Charlene S Sullivan says
I tried making chocolate decorations once. The chocolate would get hard before I could pipe very many decorations. How do I get the chocolate where I can pipe it without it getting so hot I can’t handle it? Your decorations are beautiful!
Leigh Anne says
Charlene, If you find it is too warm for you to handle try doubling the bag to make it easier.
JP Ditson says
I love cooking and especially using my crockpot. I look forward to your recipes.
Jennifer says
Every time I melt chocolate, it is too warm to spoon into a bag and handle. As it cools, it is too hard to pipe. What in the world am I doing wrong? I follow the decorations, the consistency looks perfect, but is too hot for a bag.
Leigh Anne says
What kind of bag are you using? I use a freezer zip loc bag because they are thicker and it can handle the warm chocolate.
Jennifer says
I have used a freezer ziploc. Maybe I have trust issues and don’t trust that the chocolate will stay malleable once cooled a little more. I will try again. Darn, I will have to bake something to try this. 🙂
Jennifer says
I thought I responded to this…weird. I do use freezer ziploc bags, but the chocolate is still too hot to handle. I am hesitant to let the chocolate cool down in case it won’t be as easy to pipe. Guess I will try again. Thanks!
Eddah says
Hi, Leigh
You have a beautiful site and i love what you have shared above. I wish you the best with everything <3
Is it possible to just use aluminum foil instead of wax paper?
I had used the normal cadbury's chocolate and melted it and wrote on foil and placed it in the fridge but it melted. Would you, by any chance know why? I had taken them straight from the fridge and tried to decorate the cake with it…is there a time needed in the fridge?
Just trying to figure out why mine couldn't stay hard, but instead gelled with the frosting
Thank you for your time
Leigh Anne says
Don’t know why it didn’t work for you. Maybe try a different type of chocolate? Maybe there is more of something in the chocolate that prevents it from setting up.