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Colouring White Chocolate & Painting with it
Article source:
Chocolate Den
Chocolates of all shapes and sizes decorated with colour have become very
popular over the last few years. A box of cherry chocolates with the
cherries painted red, a chocolate Easter bunny with pink cheeks, and a bunch
of chocolate roses in yellow and apricot are examples of how important
colour work has become in chocolate-making. The visual appeal, as well as
the financial value, of the chocolates increase enormously once they have
been painted. Painting your chocolates is great fun and all it takes is a
little powder colouring and a little patience.
Only approved chocolate colourings can be used with coating chocolate. These
are powder colourings that are oil soluble, known as Lake Colours. Other
powder colourings may not be oil soluble and will therefore not dissolve in
your chocolate. Normal liquid food colourings will obviously ruin your
chocolate.
Start by melting your white chocolate in the microwave or double boiler.
Please note that it is impossible to colour milk (brown) or dark chocolate.
Once your white chocolate has melted, divide it up into the four available
spaces in an egg poaching pan. Boiled water from the kettle in the bottom of
the pan helps to keep the chocolate melted while you work with it. If you do
not have an egg poacher, make sure that the containers you use for colours
do not allow the chocolate to come in contact with water or steam.
When you have divided your chocolate into small containers, look at your
moulds and consider what colours you are going to need. Add a pinch of
powder colouring to your melted chocolate and mix it. Continue this process
until you reach the colour you want. If, by mistake, you colour your
chocolate a shade too dark, simply add more melted white chocolate.
You can start painting with your coloured chocolate as soon as a nice smooth
colour has been achieved. With a good quality paintbrush, paint your
coloured chocolate into your chosen mould. The chocolate must be painted in
quite thickly, otherwise the background chocolate will show through. You can
check the results of your painting on the other side of the mould and tidy
up any slips. Paint in all the colours you desire and then leave your mould
for a minute or two to set. When the colours no longer appear shiny on the
inside of the mould, you can spoon in the background chocolate. This top-up
chocolate must not be too hot or it will melt your paint. Remember not to
overfill your mould.
If your chosen mould is a lollipop mould, remember to put your stick into
the chocolate before you put it in the freezer. Tap your mould gently on the
counter to release air bubbles and place it in the freezer to set.
Take note that while working with your colours you do not wash your
paintbrush in water as this will increase your chances of getting moisture
into the chocolate. Simply wipe your brush on paper towels. Only wash it
when you have completed your painting. Never leave your brush in the setting
chocolate because it will be damaged and need to be replaced.
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