Chocolate Caramel Easter Eggs Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the butter, vanilla, and cream cheese. Stir in confectioners' sugar to make a workable dough. For best results, use your hands for mixing.
• Divide the dough into four parts. Leave one of the parts plain. To the second part, mix in peanut butter. Mix coconut into the third part, and cocoa powder into the last part. Roll each type of dough into egg shapes, and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate until hard, at least an hour.
• Melt chocolate chips in a heat-proof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until smooth. If the chocolate seems too thick for coating, stir in a teaspoon of the shortening or oil until it thins to your desired consistency. Dip the chilled candy eggs in chocolate, and return to the waxed paper lined sheet to set. Refrigerate for 1/2 hour to harden.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the pudding mixes, butter and milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Cook and stir 1-2 minutes longer or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in sugar and peanut butter. Cool slightly. , Shape 1/2 cupfuls into egg shapes. Place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet; refrigerate until set., In a microwave or heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip eggs in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Return eggs to waxed paper to set. Decorate with icings and candies as desired. Store in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Carefully separate the Easter egg in half along the seam. (Use a knife dipped into a bowl of hot water to cut through the seam rather than slicing, as it may break the chocolate.)
• Tip the digestive biscuits into a bowl or food bag and bash to crumbs with the end of a rolling pin. Stir in the melted butter until the mixture resembles damp sand. Spoon this into the Easter egg halves and pack down gently using the back of the spoon. Chill until needed.
• Mix the mascarpone, soft cheese, icing sugar and cocoa together in a medium bowl with a wooden spoon until smooth. In a separate bowl, beat the double cream to soft peaks using an electric whisk. Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture, then carefully spoon the cheesecake filling over the chilled biscuit bases in the Easter eggs. Gently level the surfaces with a palette knife or spatula, then chill for at least 2 hrs or overnight until firm and set. You may be left with extra cheesecake filling, depending on the size of your Easter eggs - this can be spooned into glasses over extra digestive crumbs for another treat.
• Scatter the set cheesecake-filled eggs with mini chocolate eggs or other Easter treats, then drizzle with caramel or melted chocolate to serve.

Steps:

• To make egg shells:
• Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Melt chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently until smooth and candy thermometer registers 115°F for bittersweet and 105°F for white chocolate. (If making both bittersweet chocolate and white chocolate eggs, melt chocolates separately in two double boilers.) Remove chocolate from over water. Spoon chocolate into 1 set of large egg molds, filling molds completely (do not fill decorative base section of mold). Turn mold over above prepared cookie sheet, allowing excess chocolate to spill out. Shake mold to produce uniformly thick shell. Turn mold right side up. Run fingertip gently around edge of eggs to remove excess chocolate. Refrigerate.
• Tilt foil-lined sheet with melted chocolate over top of double boiler, scraping chocolate into double boiler. Reheat to 115°F for bittersweet and 105°F for white chocolate, stirring frequently. Repeat coating process with remaining 2 large egg mold sets and 2 small egg mold sets, removing chocolate from over water while working and reheating chocolate after each set of egg molds is coated. Refrigerate molds. (If using white chocolate, the molds will need a double coating. Refrigerate molds after first coating is cold. Refill with barely lukewarm chocolate, shake out excess and wipe edges clean, creating double-thick shell.) Return remaining chocolate on foil to top of double boiler and set aside. Refrigerate molds while making caramel filling.
• To make caramel filling:
• Stir sugar and water in heavy large saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, washing down sides of pan with pastry brush dipped into water and swirling pan occasionally, Remove from heat. Add whipping cream and butter (mixture will bubble vigorously) and whisk until smooth. Whisk in sour cream. Let caramel filling stand just until barely cool (mixture will be sticky), stirring occasionally, about 50 minutes.
• Spoon 2 scant tablespoons caramel into each small egg half. Spoon 1/4 cup caramel into each large egg half. Refrigerate while making chocolate filling.
• To make chocolate filling:
• Bring whipping cream and butter to simmer in heavy medium saucepan, stirring until butter melts. Add chocolate and whisk until smooth and melted. Remove chocolate filling from heat. Whisk in sour cream. Let stand until cool but still pourable, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Spoon filling over caramel in all egg halves, filling to 1/16 inch below top edge. Chill until set, about 40 minutes.
• To assemble:
• Rewarm reserved melted chocolate in top of double boiler to 115°F for bittersweet and 105°F for white chocolate. Remove chocolate from over water. Working quickly, spread enough melted chocolate (use bittersweet for dark eggs and white chocolate for white eggs) atop 1 set of filled eggs just to cover. use icing spatula to scrape excess chocolate from eggs and clean sides. Place mold in refrigerator. Repeat with remaining egg molds. Refrigerate all molds until chocolate is firm, about 1 hour.
• Line cookie sheets with aluminum foil. Remove 1 egg mold from refrigerator. Turn mold over onto foil. Gently bend and twist mold side to side several times to release halves of chocolate eggs. Repeat unmolding process with remaining eggs.
• Rewarm remaining melted chocolate in top of double boiler until warm to touch. Turn bottom half of 1 egg over so flat sides face up. Spread small amount of melted chocolate over flat side of egg, leaving 1/4-inch border. Working quickly, cover bottom half of egg with corresponding top half of egg and press together gently. Refrigerate whole egg. Repeat with remaining egg halves and melted chocolate. (Can be prepared 2 weeks ahead. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.)
• To decorate:
• Wrap ribbons around seam of each egg and tie bow at top. Refrigerate until ready to eat. Serve eggs chilled.