How to Make Chocolate Shards?

(Click here for Orange Flavored Semolina Cake recipe)

These curved shards of bittersweet chocolate are used to make an elegant garnish for chocolate desserts, cakes, cupcakes and many more. Its makes simple cake looks so tempting and rich. Its gives 'WOW' factor to any cake and they're surprisingly easy to make. 

Time: 3 hrs
Serve: 30 chocolate shards

Ingredients:

1 cup dark/semisweet chocolate chips(or equivalent chocolate)
4 sheets wax paper or parchment paper
2 tubes(or something in a tube shape)

Method:

1. In microwave safe bowl, place chocolate chips and microwave for 1 minute stirring after every 15 seconds until all chocolate has melted. 

                         

2. Lay 2 pieces of parchment paper on work surface. Divide the melted chocolate between the two sheets and spread the chocolate evenly with spatula.

3. Place the remaining 2 sheets of parchment paper over it. Gently smooth chocolate by rolling/moving your hands over sheet. You want the chocolate to thin and all the air bubbles to be smoothed out.

                          

3. Roll the sheets from the shortest sides around the tube. Place in the refrigerator, with the seam side down on a baking tray. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until set.

                         

4. Once set, roll out the tube. The chocolate will break as you roll it out creating your shards. Remove the top sheet of baking paper and put shards back onto the tray and refrigerate until needed.

                     

5. Once your cake is covered with whipped ganache, butter-cream or any frosting carefully stick the shards around the cake. Tadda.. look at your cake.. Simply Elegant.

Note: 

1. Try the pick up the shards on either side to avoid getting finger marks on the chocolate.
2. Keep refrigerate before using or placing over cake to retain its texture and shiny look.

3. Do not spread chocolate too thin as its too delicate to handle.