- HubPages»
- Food and Cooking»
- Dessert Recipes
Melted Chocolate – Dipping and Drizzling Homemade Treat Ideas
Melting, Dipping and Drizzling Chocolate
I have melted a lot of chocolate in my lifetime. For many years, I used to make chocolates using candy molds and sell my special treats at craft fairs and other venues.
However, you do not need candy molds for the creations in this article. Here, you will find attractive, interesting and simple ideas for dipping and drizzling your melted chocolate. Be creative and have fun. No doubt, your family and friends will be impressed!
Buying Chocolate for Melting
There are many different brands of chocolate that you can use to melt. If you are thinking of using a chocolate bar, be sure it has cocoa butter added to it so it melts smoothly to cover all the nooks and crannies of whatever you decide to dip. The higher the cocoa butter content, the smoother the chocolate.
You could use something like Nestle’ or Hershey’s chocolate morsels. Another option is to use Wilton Candy Melts.
My preference has always been to use chocolate wafers made by the Merckens Chocolate Company that I buy from my local cake and candy supply store. They are available in 1, 5 or 10 pound bags.
Merckens chocolate is available in a variety of rainbow colors and flavors similar to the Wilton table I created below. I like the taste of Merckens chocolate better than any other brand of chocolate wafers.
Merckens Chocolate on Amazon (Author's Favorite)
Colors and Flavors Available in Wilton Candy Melts
Color
| Flavor
|
|---|---|
Light Brown
| Light Cocoa
|
Dark Brown
| Dark Cocoa
|
Dark Brown
| Chocolate Mint
|
Tan
| Chocolate Peanut Butter
|
Red
| White Chocolate
|
Yellow
| White Chocolate
|
Blue
| White Chocolate
|
Green
| White Chocolate
|
White
| White Chocolate
|
Lavender
| White Chocolate
|
Orange
| White Chocolate
|
Pink
| White Chocolate
|
Vibrant Green
| White Chocolate
|
Wilton Candy Melts on Amazon
Double Boiler on Amazon
Chocolate Melting Pot on Amazon
How to Properly Melt Chocolate
There are three main methods to melt chocolate. These methods can also be used when a recipe calls for additional ingredients to be added to the melted chocolate such as shortening, etc.
First, let me give you some important tips. No matter what melting method you use:
- Be patient and do not rush the melting process.
- Be sure to never get water or moisture in your chocolate. Any moisture or condensation on your utensils or in the pot with chocolate will cause it to stiffen, become lumpy and not melt properly. All equipment must be completely dry. Also avoid splashing water from your double boiler into the chocolate.
- If you happen to get moisture in the chocolate, stir in a teaspoon at a time of shortening or vegetable oil (not margarine or butter) until the chocolate becomes smooth again.
- Always use low heat to keep the chocolate from scorching.
- Chocolate chips or wafers tend to retain their shape even when they are melted, so be sure to continuously stir during the melting process.
1. Double Boiler
This method is the best if you are concerned about scorching the chocolate. You simply place water in the bottom of the double boiler, enough so that it comes to about 1 inch below the top pan. Place your chocolate in the top pan and move the double boiler to a low heat on your stove.
As the water in the bottom pan heats and starts to steam, the chocolate begins to melt. Do not let the water boil, only steam. Constantly stir the chocolate until it is melted. Remove from heat.
This is the method that I prefer. It takes a little longer but eliminates the possibility of the chocolate being scorched.
2. Microwave Oven
Place chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave uncovered on high for 15 second intervals. Stir often to check its consistency.
3. Direct Heat
Place chocolate in a heavy saucepan on very low heat. Stir constantly until the chocolate begins to melt. Remove the pan from the heat and continue stirring until smooth.
Making Special Treats with Melted Chocolate
There are so many things you can dip in chocolate or drizzle chocolate on top. Be creative with your chocolate colors too. Here are some fun ideas to spark your creativity.
Chocolate Covered Marshmallows
What you need:
- Melted chocolate
- Marshmallows
- Candy sprinkles if desired
- Lollipop sticks if desired
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
What you need:
- Melted chocolate
- Pretzels - any shape
- Candy sprinkles if desired
Chocolate Covered Bacon
Yes, some people consider this a delicacy!
What you need:
- Melted chocolate
- Thoroughly cooked, crisp bacon
Chocolate Covered Cheesecake
What you need:
- Melted chocolate
- Cheesecake squares
Check out my recipe Mom's Famous Cheesecake Squares
Chocolate Covered Snowmen
What you need:
- Melted chocolate
- Nutter Butter cookies by Nabisco
- Green and/or red plain M&M's
- Candy sprinkles
Chocolate Covered Popcorn & Peanuts
What you need:
- Melted chocolate
- Popcorn
- Peanuts
Chocolate Covered Bananas
What you need:
- Melted chocolate
- Peeled bananas
- Skewers or lollipop sticks
- Candy sprinkles if desired
Chocolate Covered Oreos
What you need:
- Melted chocolate
- Oreo cookies or any type cookie
- Candy sprinkles if desired
Chocolate Bird Nests
What you need:
- Melted chocolate
- Chow Mein noodles
- Jelly beans or malted milk eggs
- Marshmallow Peeps candy
Chocolate Covered Coconut
What you need:
- Melted white chocolate
- Melted milk or dark chocolate
- Chocolate cups molded in a muffin pan
- Coconut
Mix white chocolate and coconut. Spoon into dark or milk chocolate pre-made cups. Drizzle with chocolate.
Chocolate Covered Peanut or Raisin Clusters
What you need:
- Melted chocolate
- Peanuts or raisins
Substitute other nuts such as almonds or cashews. My favorite that I use are red-skin Spanish peanuts.
Chocolate Dipped Biscotti
What you need:
- Melted chocolate
- Biscotti
Substitute any type of homemade cookie.
Chocolate Wafer Decorations
Instead of melting your chocolate wafers, a great idea is to cover cake sides or decorate the top of cupcakes.
Drizzle Chocolate on a Dessert Plate
No matter what type of dessert you are going to serve, simply decorate your dessert plate first with a drizzle of melted chocolate. It's elegant and certainly adds to your display.
Additional Ideas for Dipping and Drizzling Melted Chocolate
- Chocolate covered spoons for dipping in coffee
- Chocolate covered graham crackers
- Other fruits covered in chocolate: orange slices, cherries, etc.
- Chocolate covered potato chips
- Drizzle chocolate over a cup of coffee or hot chocolate
- Use a chocolate fountain for dipping whatever you desire
Hint: My favorite food dipped in a chocolate fountain is angel food cake. Seriously, try it, you will love it!
This is Sharyn's Slant
No double boiler? No problem! Try this!
Comments
- Author
Thank you so much Vellur! I hope you have a great holiday!
Great hub, photos and instructions. Delicious ideas too, voted up.
- Author
Hi imtiaz ~ thank you for your compliments. I'm so glad you enjoyed this.
Sharyn
Excellent writing + excellent recipe ideas. Yummy yummy yummy dessert all around. Thanks
- Author
Hi Vicki ~ Aww, thank you SO much. I appreciate your feedback and votes. Thanks for stopping by.
Sharyn
Your hubs are also so beautiful and well laid out. Especially this one! Mouth-watering, too! Many votes!
- Author
Hey TT ~ well, I think that means that you approve, ha. Thanks so much for sharing this article. Enjoy some chocolate!
Sharyn
- Author
Hi Pamela-anne ~I certainly hope you had wonderful dreams the other night. If you do try the chocolate covered bacon, please let me know what you think. I appreciate you stopping by, thank you.
Sharyn
- Author
Hi Michelle ~ So you are a chocoholic? :) I'm so glad you like these ideas. I appreciate you stopping by.
Sharyn
Now this is what I'm talkin' 'bout! :)
I want to jump in and eat my way down to the end of the hub yum yum I know I will be dreaming of a world covered in chocolate tonight thanks for the yummy hub; the bacon and choc actually sounds good I know I love both. Something to try in future for sure!
Wow, I love anything dipped in chocolate, be it marshmallows or a good old grape!! Chocalicious! Thanks for sharing, Sharon!!
- Author
Hi Torrilynn ~ Thank you so much for you feedback. Chocolate covered strawberries would make a great treat for yourself for the upcoming Valentine's Day. Take care,
Sharyn
I really enoyed your hub. I love all things that are chocolate or has to do with chocolate. Everything looked very yummy and I will try the melted chocolate strawberries soon enough. Thanks and voted up.
- Author
Hi adity5 ~ Thanks for stopping by and for the compliments. Very much appreciated!
Nice hub :) Loved it !!
- Author
Hi Diana ~ Thanks so much! It's really difficult to not like chocolate, ha. I appreciate you stopping by.
Sharyn
I love this hub. Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate! Voted up.
- Author
Hi SINewsome ~ well thanks. I guess that means you like this article :) Thanks for stopping by.
Sharyn
This hub is heavenly!
- Author
Paula ~ Of course my intent was to temp readers but not drive them insane with their chocolate addiction. Oooops, sorry, hope you are okay, ha. But I'm glad you liked this hub and it made you perspire a little :)
Mary ~ Homemade dipped chocolate treats make awesome gifts for family and friends. I've never added paraffin but I bet it helps the consistency. I agree about the double boiler. That is the only way I melt my chocolate too.
Kelley ~ I know, I wouldn't like the bacon either. But some people do. Thank you for all the shares and pin.
vespawoolf ~ You are welcome for the tips. The Wilton Candy Melts are okay but I still prefer the Merckens chocolate. Chocolate covered biscotti is great. You can buy it that way, but it is much better with freshly melted chocolate.
learner365 ~ You really can be very creative with melted chocolate. The bird nests are adorable. I also make a candy where you use the Chow Mein noodles in melted butterscotch chips and add peanuts. My mom used to make those for us years ago.
vibesites ~ Thank you for your "fantabulous" feedback. I hope you try some of these ideas.
B. Leekley ~ Thank you so much for all the shares. And I really appreciate you adding this to your party hub. That's awesome!
Thank you everyone for your great feedback! Happy New Year!
Sharyn
- Author
Rebecca ~ I think the snowmen are cute too. If you were going to make them, I recommend putting them on a "cooling rack" so that when you coat with the chocolate, it drips below onto a cookie tray. Thanks for sharing and pinning.
CC ~ Chocolate heaven? YAY! I'm looking forward to those pictures. Let me know, I'll link them.
Gypsy48 ~ I hope you got your chocolate fix :)
Dr. BJ ~ Great idea for melting chocolate - IN THE MOUTH, ha. Glad you enjoyed these ideas!
Pamela ~ One of my favorites is the cheese cake squares too. Anything with cheese, I'm right there!
Sunnie D. ~ Chocolate covered anything is good, I agree. I also agree to skip the bacon, ha.
OanaBoteanu ~ it's great to meet you. I'm glad you enjoyed this hub. Thanks for the votes!
Tammy ~ I love your idea! Ritz cracker, peanut butter and chocolate = WIN! Thanks for your compliments too.
Penelope ~ I hope that the chocolate you can find where you live has cocoa butter. As long as you can melt it, you can make these delicious treats. Thanks for sharing.
Eddy ~ Thanks for your feedback. Glad to hear you added this to your recipe book :)
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! Sorry it has taken me so long to respond. It's been a busy beginning to the year ~ HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Sharyn
- Author
Hi Carol ~ One of my favorites is the chocolate covered cheesecake too. Thank you so much for stopping by to read and comment.
Sharyn
- Author
Hi Ruchira ~ So glad I could make you drool, ha. Thank you so much for stopping by. Happy New Year!
Sharyn
Up, Useful, Interesting, Yummy, and shared with followers and on social networking sites. You are gifted. I have added this hub to a links capsule in my How to Host a Poetry Night Party with a Wines and Chocolates Potluck hub.
Very fantabulous ideas! I love them all! I haven't eaten chocolate with bacon yet though I know that bacon is also incorporated into sweets. Thanks for sharing this hub. Voted up, awesome/useful and shared! :D
This looks absolutely wonderful. There are indeed many ways where you can use melted chocolate and have fun with it. I really liked your idea of chocolate bird nests. As they look so adorable :)
Thank you for sharing such an interesting Hub with us. My vote up and awesome !!!
Wow, this is a load of great ideas. I love the quality of Wilton products but have never tried their chocolate melting wafers. I'm making a mental note for next time I order something from the U.S. Here in Peru, Hershey's large bars are probably the best quality chocolate we have access to. The chocolate covered bacon sounds really interesting, but I will most likely do the chocolate covered biscotti just because I love it. : ) Thank you for the chocolate melting tips, too.
Chocolate covered bacon ahhhhh yuck! Wow this is a fabulous hub. I pinned and shared all over. Hope to get to make some of these (beside the bacon) real soon!
Great Hub. I gave lots of chocolate covered candy balls for Christmas gifts. I put a little paraffin in my melted chocolate. That works well for me. Also I use a double boiler for the best results.
I voted this UP, etc.
- Author
Hi Billy ~ so, you think nine million views, well I hope so, ha! I am glad that I wrote a hub on one of your essential food groups! Thanks for stopping by.
Sharyn
- Author
Hi Maria ~ I know, I wouldn't like the bacon either, ha. I hope you took the time to experiment since you have the ingredients. Thank you for stopping by. Happy New Year to you and your family. Sending hugs,
Sharyn
Sharyn....Yeah sure....go ahead, tempt me, drive me insane.....encourage my chocolate addiction.....mmmmm Yum. Chocolate, light, dark, sweet, melted, drizzling......Candy. OMG....how do we read this and scroll down the sinful photos without going mad???......My heart is pounding, I'm shaking and perspiring. Are you proud of yourself?
Of course you are! You should be. Another excellent, delicious hub.
Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!..Up & Oh YES!
Mmm another great one for that recipe book of mine.
Here's to a great New Year for you Sharyn.
Lots of love.
Eddy,
This is great though we have different chocolate here. Lots of Swiss and Belgian and English (Cadburys). It's really good and your ideas are so pretty. Thank.s voting and sharing!
- Author
Hi MO ~ All of these treats are so easy to make. And there are so many colors you can choose from too. I know, that bacon is kind of weird but I had to add it, ha. It is a delicacy in some places. And you mentioned chocolate covered potato chips that I included in my additional ideas at the bottom. Yeah, they are good too. If you try to make them, use a thick ruffle chip. The combo with the salt it really good. Thank you so much for your great feedback and for sharing this article!
Sharyn
You have literally covered everything here! What a beautiful and delicious hub. This year I had something new that would really fit in here. Take two Ritz crackers and spread peanut butter between them and dip that into white chocolate. MMM... This looks like a hub of the day to me. :)
Yammi only the sight of those pictures make me want chocolate!!! SunnieDay seems like we are having the same problem here :)
Thanks Sharyn for this hub, very informative, great tips and lots of recipe ideas.
Voting up.
Oh my goodness these pictures are making my mouth water..I love chocolate covered in most anything but strawberries to me are the best..Although bananas are not bad either...think I will have to pass on the bacon..hehe Thank you!
I must agree that anything covered in chocolate is wonderful. The cheesecake squares really caught my eye. I have never done anything like this, but it doesn't look too hard. I appreciate the directions. Great hub. Voted up!
Anything that is chocolate covered or drizzled is my kind of treat, Sharon, although I'm not sure about the bacon. You omitted my favorite method to melt chocolate though. In my mouth! Thanks for all these delicious choclatey ideas.
Chocolate covered marshmallows and coconut sound so good. I need some chocolate now, awesome hub!
I am in chocolate heaven. Yep, heaven! What a delicious hub you've written here. I haven't melted a lot of chocolate in my time but you've inspired me to try to I'll take pictures while I'm at it. :)
These are such attractive desserts! I love the snowmen. The marshmallows are good, I'll bet, and really easy. What a colorful Hub! Shared and pinned for sure!
Second time commenting. Hope it works this time. I love these ideas ..You presented them so easily and so deliciously. Chocolate pretzels and I love the chocolate cheese cakes...a Yummy Hub...Voting up and pinning.
I agree with Bill. Sharon you have hit the right nail, my friend.
I was drooling while reading this hub :) happy holidays!
LOL...this is one of those subjects that is guaranteed to have nine million views....everyone loves chocolate, right? I know it is one of my essential food groups. :)
Oh Sharon,
This looks absolutely fabulous except for the bacon...that needs to be kept with the eggs in my humble opinion!
But what a wonderful guide for some creative masterpieces that look delectable and beautiful as well...I will look forward to doing some experimenting over these snowy couple days, as I have the ingredients!
Voted UP and UABI...have a peaceful and cozy new year, my friend!
Oh my! The temptation! You HAD me at chocolate. Lots of great ideas Sharon. These look fantastic, fun and easy to make. I'm glad to see there are a variety of colors available out there too. The chocolate covered cheesecake really caught my eye - YUM! I'm not too sure about chocolate covered bacon hehe. I did see chocolate covered potato chips once. Shared!
49