A simple chocolate decoration that will take your breath away

No, because it''s one of those types of creations that is actually very simple and doesn''t take much time.

Which chocolate is best for decorating?

If you''re not a particularly discerning type, you can decorate your chosen confectionery with regular dark, semi-sweet or milk chocolate. However, if you want the chocolate to melt nicely and your chocolate decoration to be lump-free, use a chocolate that is specifically designed for decorating. Chocolate coating is also called couverture, and it is very handy for decorating because it contains more cocoa butter than other types of chocolate. The cocoa butter in the chocolate not only gives it its rich and creamy flavour, but also makes the chocolate shine when it hardens and crackles gently when you bite into it.

Which decorations are the easiest to make?

If you''re new to the kitchen, you can start by using a decorating bag filled with melted chocolate to create simple letters, geometric shapes or your favourite patterns on waxed paper. This way, if you get a pattern or letter wrong, you won''t ruin the whole cupcake, cookie, cake or whatever you''re creating, you''ll simply create a new decoration and decorate the dessert when you''re completely satisfied with your creation.

How to start decorating?

1. Melt the chocolate in a water bath

Break the chocolate pieces into a small jar and place it in the larger jar you filled with water earlier. Make sure that the smaller jar does not touch the water. Heat the water slowly over a medium heat, while gently stirring the chocolate until it is completely melted.

2. Fill the decorating bag with the melted chocolate

If you don''t have a decorating bag, you can also use a freezer bag with a snap closure, cut one of the corners at the bottom with a knife beforehand, or use an empty plastic container with a pointed top.

3. Start creating

As mentioned above, you can create as you like on wax paper and let your imagination run wild. You can also use the decoration templates to help you create letters and patterns in the right shapes and to help you give the impression of being a real chocolate master.

Never mind, because this is one of those types of creations that is actually very simple and doesn''t take much time.

Once you''re done, place the decorations in the fridge to set nicely. Then carefully take them off the waxed paper so they don''t fall apart and decorate a cake, cupcakes or other dessert with them. When you apply them, be careful not to press them too hard as they can fall apart quickly. If, during the actual decorating process, your decorations start to lose their shape due to too high a temperature, you can put them back in the fridge for a short time to harden again.

Here are a few more useful tips to brighten up your dessert:

• Chocolate is extremely versatile and flexible to create, but you need to handle it very carefully. It has a low melting point, so when creating with it, it is important to pay attention to the temperature of the environment you are creating in; the ideal temperature for creating with chocolate is around 20 °C.
• Chocolate is very storable and can last for over a year under the right conditions (although it is hard to believe that it can stay intact for that long). Just make sure it is protected from heat, moisture and strong smells.
• It is best stored at around 17 °C in a dry, dark place. When exposed to high temperatures, it may start to bloom, which occurs when the cocoa butter in the chocolate comes to the surface and white spots appear on the chocolate. While these are not harmful, they will certainly not make your chocolate decoration shine as beautifully as it would otherwise.
• A variety of candies and sprinkles, nuts, cream or fruit are always a nice addition to any chocolate decoration . Especially red fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and cherries, also orange, which can be included as a flavouring in the chocolate coating itself, or used as a colour contrast in the decoration.

The more colourful it is, the nicer your chocolate decoration will look. Although chocolate decorating is a simple and relatively quick solution to brighten up many a dessert, it will make you feel
will take everyone''s breath away.