Chocolate Covered Jellies Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Prepare the cake mix as directed; pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, combine the butter and cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large bowl if using a handheld electric mixer). Mix on medium-high speed until combined and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add in the confectioners' sugar. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until fluffy and combined, about 2 minutes.
• Crumble the cake into a large bowl. Add 1/4 cup of the frosting and mix with your hands until smooth and combined.
• Line a 15 1/2-by-10 1/2-inch jelly roll pan with plastic wrap. Put the cake "dough" on top. Cover with another sheet of plastic wrap and pat the mixture into an even rectangle that fills the pan. Transfer the mixture in the plastic to a work surface (the shorter side facing you) and roll out just enough so that the surface is smooth. This helps make the dough even and not patchy. Press the flat side of a ruler against all the sides of the dough so they are straight. The dough should be about 10-by-15 inches.
• Put the freeze-dried strawberries in a spice grinder and pulse until finely ground. Add to the bowl with the remaining frosting and beat until combined.
• Remove the top sheet of plastic wrap from the dough. Add the strawberry frosting and spread out evenly with a small offset spatula, leaving about a 1 1/2 inch border on the short side furthest away from you.
• Roll the dough away from you into a jelly roll shape, using the plastic to roll tightly until it's covered by the plastic. Place it on a baking sheet. Freeze while you make the chocolate coating.
• Combine the dark chocolate and coconut oil in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until melted and smooth, about 6 minutes. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and set aside until cooled and thickened slightly, about 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, unwrap the jelly roll cake and place on a rack set over a baking sheet.
• Pour the chocolate over the cake until completely covered. Decorate the top with freeze-dried strawberries. Freeze until the chocolate is set, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and cut into slices. Serve chilled.

Steps:

• 1. soften cream cheese in microwave -- don't melt, simply soften -- about 30 seconds
• 2. begin to add powdered sugar by cup fulls -- work into cream cheese until it gets to be like a firm batter -- play dough would be a good example of the consistency you are looking for -- and you will end up having to do it with your hands
• 3. separate the ball into as many different flavors as you would like to make -- I used to make at least 4 or 5 at a time. (Suggested flavors that people liked: vanilla, almond, mint, anise, chocolate, rum, cherry, orange, lemon, etc -- whatever you have in your cupboard or desire to purchase for this project.)
• 4. To Flavor: make a deep thumb print in one of the balls and put in a drop or 2 of coloring and a tsp of flavoring -- begin working the ball with your hands until the color is smoothly distributed -- add more powdered sugar to bring back to workable dough that is not sticky. (I liked the colors to be pastel which I always thought were more appetizing so I never added more than 1 or 2 drops of food coloring -- you may do as much as you want.)
• 5. After each ball is colored and flavored I used to decide on a different shape for each flavor so I could tell which ones were which after they were all coated with chocolate. Such as: tiny balls for one flavor, little squares for another, oblong balls for another, rectangles for another, flattened balls for another, etc.
• 6. Slowly & carefully melt chocolate on low heat on stove top (or in microwave if you are comfortable with that -- I like the stove top because I have more control over the process) -- then dip each ball or shape into the chocolate and place on waxed paper covered cookie sheets. They will harden very quickly. I did not like to get my hands all chocolate covered so I always used a spoon to dip, and roll in the chocolate, then scoop out and place on waxed paper.
• 7. After I had made these over the years, I also began to experiment with chocolate coating things that were already made (I was getting lazy LOL). One of my most favorite things was to chocolate coat gum drops. Candy manufacturers used to make chocolate covered "jellies" which I always loved... but they began to disappear over the years... gum drops were a perfect solution for someone who missed them!!
• 8. I also found that I could chocolate coat dried pineapple, or mix peanuts with the chocolate to make little peanut heaps. We used to make "hay stacks" by dumping those hard canned Chinese noodles into chocolate and making little stacks. My sister used to like a Chunky candy bar and we made our own with peanuts and raisins in chocolate dropped by spoonfulls on waxed paper.
• 9. Other people like to coat pretzels and crackers and cookies... once you get started with chocolate coating things you will find lots of individual and unique ways to make Christmas gifts that your friends will get from no other source. They will be clamoring for your home made creations. Enjoy!

Steps:

• For the maple cream layer: Line a 10-inch square cake pan with plastic wrap so that the plastic falls over the edges of the pan. Then place a square of parchment paper over the plastic in the bottom of the pan.
• In a small bowl, combine the gelatin with just enough water to cover and mix until incorporated. In a small saucepan bring the half-and-half to a simmer. Add the sugar and maple syrup, and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the gelatin. Stir until incorporated. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake pan. Refrigerate until set, about 45 minutes.
• For the brandy layer: When the maple cream layer is completely set, begin on the brandy layer. In a small bowl, combine the gelatin with just enough water to cover and mix until incorporated. Bring the simple syrup to a simmer, then add the gelatin and whisk until melted together. Remove from the heat and stir in the brandy. Pour the brandy layer over the maple cream layer in the cake pan. Refrigerate until set, another 45 minutes.
• Using the plastic wrap as handles, carefully lift the layered gelatin from the cake pan. Slice into 1-inch squares. Fill a large saucepan with about 3 inches of water and bring to a boil. Fit a large glass or metal mixing bowl into the pot, making sure that the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Place the chocolate in the bowl and, using a heat resistant spatula, stir as the chocolate melts. Once fully melted, stir until a candy thermometer inserted in the chocolate reads 120 degrees F. Then pour the chocolate onto a clean, cool surface and push it back and forth with a spatula or bench scraper. You're looking to push it around to cool it down to 82 degrees F. This is tempering the chocolate. Transfer the chocolate to a clean bowl. Use a fork to dip the gelatin squares into the chocolate, tapping a bit to remove excess chocolate. Then place the squares chocolate-side up on a sheet pan fitted with a cooling rack. Repeat for the remaining gelatin squares. Garnish with the candied pecans while the chocolate is still hot so they stick to the candies.

Steps:

• In the top of a double boiler mix semi sweet chocolate pieces, semi sweet morsels and butter and parafin.
• Place top over boiling water.
• Stir chocolate mixture until melted.
• Remove pan from heat, but keep over the hot water.
• Using a wooden toothpick, dip the Fruit Gems into the chocolate.
• Place candy on waxed paper lined cookie
• Let stand until chocolate is set.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 2 15x10x1-in. baking pans with foil. Arrange crackers in pan; set aside., In a large heavy saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 3-4 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Spread evenly over crackers. , Bake at 350° for 15-17 minutes (cover loosely with foil if top browns too quickly). Sprinkle with chocolate chips; let stand 5 minutes. Spread chocolate over top. If desired, sprinkle with salt. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 1 hour. , Break into pieces. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until set. Store in an airtight container.