Creating 3D Chocolate Bunnies

New Page 1 Rabbits, chicks, lambs, eggs, baskets, flowers, fancy dresses, little girls' bonnets, egg hunts, sunrise services, special brunches, children, family, vacation, and celebration - all are words associated with Easter. So what comes to your mind?

Did you say CHOCOLATE BUNNIES?

If you are planning treats for an Easter basket, the word "chocolate bunny" should come to mind! This year, don't settle for buying all your chocolate at the store. It's not too difficult to create FUN CHOCOLATE! And a 3-D Rabbit is just what you need to complete the perfect Easter basket.

You will need:

3-D chocolate mold
coco confectionery coating (amount depends on mold and how many bunnies you intend to create)
glass measuring bowl or cup
clamps (you may use large office binder clips)
colored confectionery coating (optional)
hobby brush
Lorann flavoring
Colored Candywriters

A hint for beginning candymakers - use confectionery coatings. This coating can be melted in the microwave and when mistakes are made – it can be remelted. Provide an ample amount of coating. Pick from milk chocolate, dark chocolate or white confectionery coating. Place the desired amount of coating in a glass bowl or measuring cup. Put in the microwave and heat for approximately 30 seconds and stir. Repeat this heating and stirring process until the coating is entirely melted. Don't rush the procedure - you can ruin the coatings through overheating. Also, water is dangerous to coating. Drops of water can make the coating seize and you will have to throw it out!

Instructions:

Supply a few colored confectionery coatings to paint bunny ears and noses. Color livens up the chocolate bunnies. Use a small hobby brush to paint the chosen areas of the mold with pink or white coating, let set, then fill the entire mold cavity with the chocolate coating. An alternative to using a brush to add detail is a candy writer. Just place the candywriter tube in warm water to melt and squeeze the tube to apply the color onto the already molded chocolate. Let the coating harden.

Hint: If your coating seems too thick, add a small amount of paramount crystals to thin.

You can create solid chocolate bunnies or hollow chocolate bunnies.

For hollow mold - melt coco confectionery coating in the microwave. While melting the coatings, flavor the chocolate with a Lorann flavoring. Pour into one half of the rabbit. Do not pour directly onto already coated area, as this may cause the colored coating to melt again. Snap mold halves together and clamp with metal clips. Rotate and invert mold numerous times as to coat entire area of cavity with coating. Place clamped mold in freezer to harden for approximately 5 minutes. Remove from freezer, unclamp and gently pop bunny out of mold.
Solid bunny – Fill mold as you would to create hollow bunny, but fill both halves of the mold. Gently tap molds on hard surface to release any air bubbles and to create nice level surface on both halves. Do not clamp together, but allow both halves to harden. When set; unmold both halves of mold. Make sure the surfaces that are to be joined are flat and all the edges trimmed to match up. Using a small spreading tool, apply a thin layer of melted coating on one half of mold. Place second half on top and press together. (You will want to wear candy-handling gloves during this process.) You must keep halves together until the coating has set. Smooth the sides or trim excess with stiff dry tool to make sides smooth and even.

Hint: You will want to keep the molded portions at room temperature while forming the complete bunny.

To keep the bunny looking fresh, place in cello bag and tie with a ribbon.

You say you are too busy to spend a couple of hours working with chocolate? Don't let that be your excuse! Never be too busy to take advantage of such a "tasty" opportunity. As you place your newly created bunnies in your children’s baskets, you will have already experienced a Happy Easter!