Chocolate Cupcake Toppers

As I mentioned in my last post, one of my good friends is getting married this fall and her bridesmaids hosted a bridal shower for her. I brought the desserts, and jazzed up these mini red velvet cupcakes with Ks (for her future last name) and hearts. These little toppers are really easy to make, and add a touch of fancy whimsy to any dessert. You can use this method to make any topper that goes with the occasion you are baking for.

Chocolate Cupcake Toppers

Ingredients:

- 2 c semisweet chocolate chips

* you can adjust the amount of chocolate depending on how many toppers you need to make

*feel free to substitute in your favorite type of chocolate...dark chocolate is always a personal favorite

Instructions:

1. Using a double boiler, melt the chocolate.

2. Place into a sandwich bag (or piping bag if you have one) and cut the tip off the corner of the bag.

3. Pipe desired designs onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.

4. Place baking sheet into the freezer and allow chocolate to harden.

5. Jazz up your cupcakes!

Pictures and Tips:

Step 1. To create a double boiler, bring water to a simmer in a medium-sized sauce pan. Place a heat proof bowl over the top and add your chocolate chips. This method allows the chocolate to melt gently.

Use a spatula to stir the chocolate chips around and help them melt evenly. The melted chocolate will be shiny and creamy.

Step 2. Use a spoon to place the chocolate into a sandwich bag. Seal the bag tightly and work the chocolate into one corner of the bag.

Use a scissors to cut the corner off the bag. The cut you make will help determine the thickness of your decorations, so cut carefully.

Step 3.  Pipe your desired shapes onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Keeping even pressure on the sandwich bag as you squeeze the chocolate out will make this process easier. Don't worry about perfection...the unique lines make these decorations wonderfully homemade.

Step 4. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and allow the chocolate to freeze. You can see the how the chocolate has deepened in color in the above photo. The decorations will come right off the parchment sheet once they have been frozen.

 Step 5. Jazz up your cupcakes!

These little toppers are a great way to incorporate desserts into a theme and to make everything a little more special. Baking is an expression of love, so spread it around with these cupcake toppers. This is a very versatile method to have in your repertoire. See how I put them to work in my next post, featuring Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Tarts.

Happy dabbling,

-The Delicious Dabbler