Homemade Chocolates with flavored Butter-cream filling

I picked up these cute heart gift boxes the other day at the dollar store.  I wanted to make something special for Ryan's teachers for Valentine's Day.  I got these boxes, but didn't have a clue what to put in them.  Then I remembered something I made last year, Homemade Heart Chocolates with Strawberry Butter-cream filling.

Here is the box filled with these yummy sweet treats!

My friend Faith gave me this recipe a few years back.  I had never thought of making my own chocolates.  That was completely foreign to me!  She made them for a party and they were delicious!  I have since made them for at least our Valentine get togethers.

Butter-cream filling:
3 tablespoons softened (slightly melted) butter
1 cup powdered sugar (add more to stiffen the filling, if needed)
1/2 teaspoon extract or flavoring (I've used strawberry, peppermint, and raspberry.  You can use any flavoring or extract you can find or desire).

Mix together butter and powdered sugar.  Continue to add powdered sugar until the filling is thick and paste like.  You will want it where you can mold it into a shape or ball.

Then add your extract.  If it smooths out too much, add some more powdered sugar.

For a Chocolate Butter-cream:
Follow the same instructions as above but use vanilla extract plus about 3 tablespoons of cocoa and reduce powdered sugar by about 3 tablespoons.

Chocolate
1 package Chocolate Bark Coating or 1 package melting chocolate (found in the craft area of larger supermarkets).  You can also mix these for a nice combination.
Double Boiler

Place about 3 bars of bark coating in your double boiler.  Stir frequently with a spatula.  Be careful not to scorch.

Take off the heat when chocolate is almost fully melted.  If it starts to harden, put over heat again.

Pour a small amount of chocolate into your mold, just enough to shape the bottom.  Tap down once all the spots have been filled. (I am using a mold from IKEA, which is not meant for chocolate candy making.  The normal plastic candy making sheets will help make the candy shiny, which you will notice mine is not).

Here they are a little less than half full.

Roll a ball or log shape and place in each spot.

Fill the remainder of each spot with chocolate and tap down again.  It will be fine if it is slightly under filled or over filled.

Place the mold in the freezer for 8 to 10 minutes.  If you use the candy making sheets, only put it in your freezer for 3 to 4 minutes.  Don't let the chocolates stay in the freezer too much longer or it will be hard to pop them out of the mold.

Pop the hearts out of the mold and place them in a container to store.  Here are my hearts in the gift box and picture of one by itself.

These are great to make for any holiday or for a simple gift for someone.  You can also fill them with peanut butter and other types of fillings.

Make this sweet treat for those you love this Valentine's Day!

Enjoy!

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Wooden Conversation Hearts Tutorial

It's not too late to make some last minute Valentine gifts!   Here is an easy tutorial for Wooden Conversation Hearts!

I picked up three large wooden hearts from Michael's on my browsing day (the same day as my heart picture frame day).  I drilled a hole at the top of each heart.  I then painted each heart a different color (red, purple, pink).  Then I realized that two of the hearts needed a second hole drilled at the bottom on the heart. (not shown)

I used my fabulous Silhouette and cut out the words "Hug Me", "Kiss Me", "Love Me."  I peeled away the excess vinyl.

I covered each set of words with transfer tape.  Make sure to scrape the transfer tape well on the words so they adhere to the tape. Peel off the paper backing from the letters and tape.

Center the letters over your heart.  Scrape the letters down onto the heart.  Carefully, peel off the transfer tape.

I connected each of my hearts with white satin ribbon.  You could also hang these individually.  If you do this, only drill a hole at the top of the heart.

One more Valentine decoration is finished!  My house is starting to look festive, with only a few days left before Valentine's Day!





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