Chocolate Glaze And Curls Recipes

Steps:

• Place the chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl with the vegetable shortening. Throw it in the microwave until the shortening is melted and hot, 30 to 45 seconds. Stir with a fork to combine thoroughly.
• Next, pour the melted chocolate over the underside of a clean cookie sheet. Then, with an offset spatula or a knife, spread the chocolate in a thin layer. Keep going until it's very, very thin. Then...and this is the key...stick it in the freezer for a few minutes.
• After a few minutes, check that the chocolate is ready by pressing it with your finger tip; it should leave the slightest mark, but not an actual depression.
• Next, get a somewhat sharp-edged spatula and begin to scrape the chocolate from the bottom of the pan. When the chocolate is just the right temperature, it'll curl instead of break. If it gets too soft, stick it back in the freezer for a minute.
• Pretty soon you'll have a bunch of fun little chocolate curls.
• Important: As soon as possible, transfer the curls to a cold pan or plate, and then stick them in the freezer to harden. Store in the freezer in a zip-top bag until you need them. Use them to adorn pies, cakes or platters of fruit. You'll feel instantly fancy!

Steps:

• Melt cocoa and butter together in a small saucepan over low heat, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract. Stir in hot water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until glaze is thick and smooth.

Steps:

• Melt chocolate with the shortening in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally.
• Divide chocolate mixture between two 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheets; smooth with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until chocolate is set but not brittle.
• Holding a sturdy metal spatula or a bench scraper at a 45-degree angle, scrape chocolate away from you to form curls. If chocolate is too brittle, let stand at room temperature 1 to 2 minutes. If too soft, refrigerate briefly. Curls can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

Steps:

• Place chocolate in double boiler set over, but not touching, simmering water. Stir with rubber spatula until melted, about 3 minutes.
• Pour 1/4 cup melted chocolate into a clean 11-by-17-inch flat baking sheet. Repeat with second sheet. Use an offset spatula to spread chocolate as evenly as possible on each sheet. Transfer the baking sheets to the refrigerator to chill, about 20 minutes.
• Transfer baking sheets to a flat surface. Use a bench scraper to firmly scrape along bottom of sheet in direction away from your body. Hold bench scraper at a slight angle to sheet; push to form curls. If chocolate is too cold, it will splinter. Let sheet sit 2 to 4 minutes at room temperature. Scraps of chocolate may be melted and used again. Refrigerate best curls for cake.
• Use remaining 3/4 cup melted chocolate to spread on three banana-cake layers.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Spray 11 donut cups with cooking spray.
• Mix flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. Beat in 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk, eggs, 2 tablespoons melted butter, and vanilla extract using an electric mixer. Beat until well blended.
• Pour batter into a zip-top bag and cut off 1 corner. Fill each donut cup about 3/4 full using the zip-top bag.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into a donut comes out clean, about 10 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, 5 to 10 minutes.
• While donuts cool, combine 1/4 cup butter, cream, milk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until butter is completely melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and stir in bittersweet and semisweet chocolate until melted, 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar to combine. Dip each cooled donut into the glaze and let cool and set, about 15 minutes.

Steps:

• Melt chocolate, stirring, in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Turn off heat. Let cool slightly. Spread 1/4 of the chocolate over the back of a rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate until just starting to set, 15 minutes.
• Using a bench scraper held at a 45-degree angle, scrape chocolate into 1/2-inch-wide curls. (If chocolate breaks, let it stand to warm slightly. If chocolate is too soft, refrigerate until just starting to set.) As you work, transfer curls to a rimmed baking sheet in the refrigerator. Repeat with remaining chocolate. Refrigerate curls until firm.

Steps:

• In a double boiler over hot, but not boiling water, combine chocolate chips, butter, and corn syrup. Stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth, then add vanilla.
• Spread warm glaze over top of cake, letting it drizzle down the sides.