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Chocolate Baskets

17/11/2023

Chocolate baskets are a delicious dessert that can be filled with fresh fruit, mousse, ice cream, or any sweet cream you prefer. Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients

  • 200 g of good-quality dark chocolate
  • Balloons (inflated to about 5-7 cm in diameter)
  • A sheet of parchment paper or a silicone mat

Preparation

  1. First, inflate the balloons to the desired size for your baskets. Clean the outside of the balloons if necessary and dry them well.

  2. Chop the chocolate and then melt it in a double boiler or in the microwave, being careful not to burn it. If using the microwave, melt the chocolate in 20-30 second intervals, stirring between intervals until it is smooth and completely melted.

  3. Allow the melted chocolate to cool until it is lukewarm to the touch but still liquid and workable. If it’s too hot it might burst the balloons when they come into contact.

  4. Prepare a tray with parchment paper or a silicone mat and drop small amounts of chocolate onto the sheet to form the base of the baskets.

  5. Then dip the balloons into the melted chocolate to the desired depth for your baskets, and gently place them on the chocolate drops that will serve as a base, making sure they are well centered.

  6. Allow the baskets to harden in the refrigerator for at least one hour.

  7. Once the chocolate is hardened, you can gently deflate the balloons. Begin to do this slowly and carefully, detaching them from the edges of the chocolate if they have stuck. Not all balloons will deflate in the same way, so be patient and gentle to avoid breaking the baskets.

  8. Now you can remove the balloons and your chocolate baskets are ready to be filled with your favorite filling.

Remember: the temperature of the chocolate is very important. If the chocolate is too hot when you dip the balloons, it can cause them to burst; if it’s too cold, the chocolate might not adhere well or could become too thick to work with.

Fun Fact

Chocolate baskets are a great excuse to play with combinations: for example, you can experiment with fillings made of ricotta and berries for an Italian twist or, why not, artisanal stracciatella ice cream. Even the choice of chocolate can make a difference: use milk chocolate for a sweeter taste or a high-cocoa dark chocolate for a more intense and less sugary flavor.

Chocolate Baskets