Chocolate Bouquet Recipes

Steps:

• Put the semisweet and white chocolate chips in separate medium glass bowls. Fill 2 medium saucepots with 2 inches of water and set over medium-low heat. Place a glass bowl on top of each of the saucepans and melt the chocolate until smooth.
• Place 2 rectangular Styrofoam blocks inside 2 loaf pans to anchor them. These will hold the dipped apples while drying.
• Insert a skewer lengthwise into each apple slice. Dip each slice into the semisweet chocolate, coating it completely with a thin layer. Poke the end of each skewer in the Styrofoam for the slices to set completely, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Once set, drizzle the apples with a thin stream of melted white chocolate using a spoon and return them to the Styrofoam to set.
• Use flower cookie cutters to cut 8 to 10 flower shapes out of the pineapple rounds, leaving the core of the pineapple rounds as the center of the flowers. Skewer the rounds going completely through the core and top with a single blueberry. Next, continue to skewer the remaining fruit according to your own preference, including: 1 strawberry per skewer, 3 to 5 grapes per skewer and 1 to 3 cantaloupe cubes per skewer, each topped with a blueberry if desired.
• To build: Place a Styrofoam ball in each of 2 mugs to anchor the skewers. Use pieces of kale to cover the Styrofoam. Cut the skewers to desired length with clippers. Place the skewers into the Styrofoam and arrange like a flower bouquet. If not presenting right away, cover lightly with plastic wrap or a 2-gallon resealable freezer bag and refrigerate for up to 48 hours.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
• 2. If desired, tint the wooden skewers with the green food coloring, and set aside to dry.
• 3. Knead together the flour and cookie dough. Finely chop 1 cup of SNICKERS®Brand Miniatures and gently knead the candy into the dough.
• 4. Shape the dough into slightly flattened 2 1/2-inch circles. Insert the skewers into the sides of the dough, and bake until golden brown (about 10-12 minutes). Remove the pan from the oven, and lightly press an unwrapped DOVE® Chocolate Heart in the middle of each cookie. Let cool completely.
• 5. To wrap the cookies, poke a tiny hole in the center of each sheet of cellophane. Slide a skewer through each hole, and have the cellophane "collar" the cookie. Completely cover each cookie by bringing the cellophane up and around, tying it on the top with a ribbon. Cut small leaves from the construction paper, and glue them onto the stems.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the milk, egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle., On a lightly floured surface, roll out half of the dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut out with a floured 3-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets., Place skewers on top of each cookie with one end of each skewer about 1 in. from top of each heart. Gently press into the dough. Place a little extra dough over each skewer; press into cookie to secure. , Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until firm. Let stand for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool., Roll out remaining dough on a lightly floured surface. Cut out with a floured 3-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter. Cut out centers with a 1-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter. , Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until firm. Let stand for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool., In a small bowl, combine the butter, confectioners' sugar and enough cherry juice to achieve spreading consistency. Gently spread frosting over cookies with skewers; top with cookies with cutout centers.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars until smooth. Add lemon zest. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add to wet ingredients slowly. Cover and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out dough on floured surface to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.