Let’s face it—chocolate is one of those treats primarily taken in the pure form—velvety, smooth, and sweet. There’s so much more, though, to experience when it comes to infusion in homemade chocolates with spices. Adding spices takes your chocolate to another world and gives a multifaceted array of tantalizing surprises on the palate. Learn how to make unique-flavored chocolates at home using spices and ingredients commonly found in the supermarket in your neighborhood.
The Art of Making Homemade Chocolate
Before we play mix-and-match with flavors, let’s first have a basic understanding of how homemade chocolates are made. Truth be told, making homemade chocolates is very simple, but at the same time, a bit intimidating. You really just need good-quality chocolate, whether dark, milk, or white, a heatproof bowl, and a few molds to shape your creations.
- Choose Your Chocolate: The type of chocolate you choose will have the biggest influence on the flavor your end product will have. Dark chocolate is perfect for making cocoa for those who enjoy a strong flavor, whereas milk chocolate adds a rich sweetness. If you are an experimenter when it comes to white chocolate, you will love using it as a blank canvas.
- Melt the Chocolate: Melting chocolate can be done successfully with the double boiler technique. Pour some water into a pot and heat it until it simmers. Then place the heatproof bowl on top, not allowing the bottom of the latter to touch the water. Add your chopped chocolate and stir it gently until it all melts in completely and smoothly.
- Preparing Your Molds: While the chocolate is melting, prepare your molds. Silicon works very well to get them out easily, but you can use paper cups or even ice cube trays.
Spicing Up Your Chocolates
Once you have your chocolate melted, now is the time to explore the wonderful world of spices.
- Cinnamon: A warm spice can be an old friend to chocolate. Sweeter and warmer, cinnamon mixes well with both dark and milk chocolate. Add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon to your melted chocolate, and then taste and adjust as desired.
- Chili Powder: Add a little heat and some pleasant contrast for the people who like a little spice but with the sweetness of the chocolate. Sprinkle a pinch of cayenne or a dash of your favorite chili powder to bring out some heat. Do not overdo it; you can always add more when needed.
- Ginger: You can add some fresh ginger or ground ginger, which gives a refreshing zing to your chocolates. Grate a small amount of fresh ginger and stir it into your melted chocolate; otherwise, add half a teaspoon of ground ginger for milder flavor.
- Cardamom: This spice has an interesting floral aroma that adds an intensity to the chocolate. Try adding a pinch of ground cardamom to the melted chocolate for an interesting flavor profile.
- Nutmeg: Nutmeg is a nutty addition that is warm and enriches the chocolate. Blend ground nuts in small pinches into your chocolates to beautifully elevate your recipes, especially around the fall and winter seasons.
- Vanilla: Although vanilla is technically an extract rather than a spice, it’s a fabulous supplement to round out flavors. Add a splash of pure vanilla extract to your melted chocolate for comforting depth.
Playing with flavor combinations
One of the beauties of making flavored chocolates in the house is that there really aren’t any rules. Feel free to mix and match spices to discover new flavor profiles.
- Spicy Chocolate: Mix some chili powder with cinnamon to be able to create a warm, spicy, and strong flavor of chocolate. Ginger and Cardamom
- Delight: Add the fresh ginger combined with ground cardamom for an exotic feel.
- Nutmeg and Vanilla Cream: Nutmeg and vanilla extract will give that soothing, comforting flavor.
Texture
Add texture to your chocolates with your spice. Nuts, seeds, dried fruits, or even rice crisps do the trick. Example: Add chopped nuts like almonds or walnuts to your chocolate mixture before pouring the mixture into molds for added crunch. Dried cranberries or cherries will add a sweetness on top of a tart flavor, but rice crisps are the most interesting combination.
Cooling and Storage of Chocolates
Once you have included your choice of spices as well as other ingredients you want to add, fill prepared molds with this chocolate mixture. Let chocolates stand at room temperature for approximately 10 minutes, and then store them in the refrigerator for them to set fully. This takes approximately 30 minutes on average.
Let your chocolates set, then carefully remove your candies from the molds. Store your homemade chocolates in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Enjoy fresh for two weeks.
Shopping for Ingredients
The majority of spices and chocolate types will be available at the local supermarket. Do not be afraid to wander through that international aisle; sometimes it’s there you find the inspiration to be your next chocolate masterpiece. For quality chocolate or specialty spices, you might find what you’re looking for at your local supermarket.
Conclusion
Add spices to your homemade chocolates, and a whole new world of flavors awaits you. Such small ingredients, coupled with a bit of creativity, can turn something as simple as chocolate into something extraordinary. So get the supplies, head to your supermarket, and start experimenting with flavors today! Your taste buds shall thank you for that.