If you have a passion for chocolate, you know it can be used to create some amazing art. There is also an element of chemistry involved when making chocolate art, so if you’re interested in a new hobby, then perhaps this is the time to explore your creativity. Making chocolate thinner is not difficult and doesn’t require any expensive equipment or specialist tools. You will need some specialist chocolate and cocoa butter if you want to make your own from scratch, but there are plenty of affordable ready-made kits available online that come complete with all the ingredients you need to get started. Let’s take a look at how to make chocolate thinner.
How To Make Chocolate Thinner
- You will need some chocolate, cocoa butter, and a tool for melting the chocolate. You can find these items in most supermarkets. If you want to make your own from scratch then you will need to buy a specialist kit from an online supplier.
- You will also need some sugar and a knife or other utensil for cutting the chocolate into thin strips, but you can use any tool that is good at chopping up things into small pieces.
- Start by melting the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water on the stovetop, or in a microwave-safe bowl on low power in the microwave until it is melted and smooth. Remember not to boil your melted chocolate as this will cause it to seize up when cooled down to set, so take care not to overheat it too much, and don’t leave it in too long unless you are using an electric stovetop or microwave – always follow your instructions! If you are using a microwave then just make sure that you stir the chocolate every 30 seconds or so.
- Stir the melted chocolate into a bowl of sugar until it is completely dissolved.
- Now you can start making your thinner by pouring the melted chocolate onto a piece of parchment paper, and then cutting out little strips with a sharp knife or another utensil. You can make hundreds of these strips if you have a large quantity of chocolate, and then arrange them in patterns on a baking sheet before putting them in the fridge or freezer to set. You can also use these pieces to create other artworks like flowers, leaves, or even gift tags for presents!
- Let the strips of chocolate dry completely before moving them to a safe place to dry.
- Once the chocolate is dry, you can start decorating your creations by dipping them into melted chocolate and then letting the excess drip off. You can also use any type of edible paint for this purpose – gel, liquid, or cream – whatever you have on hand will work fine. If you are using a knife then simply cut the melted chocolate into strips as thin as you can, while you gently push the knife through the chocolate. The thinner your strips are, the more intricate your art will be, so take care not to make them too thick or they may not set properly.
- Place the strips on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and leave them to harden for about an hour before removing them from the tray and placing them on a piece of parchment paper in some cool place where they will stay fresh until needed.
What Does Chocolate Thinner Do?
- It makes it possible to create edible art.
- It makes it easier to create chocolate sculptures and models.
- It is an easy way to make decorative chocolate bars and truffles that can be used as presents.
- It allows you to create edible oil paintings and illustrations on top of your favorite cake or cupcakes, which adds a whole new dimension of flavor and texture to your creations.
- It can make it easier for you to create chocolate-dipped strawberries and other edible decorations for your cakes and cupcakes.
- It makes it possible to create chocolate-dipped marshmallows that are the perfect addition to any celebration or event.
Creating Your Own Chocolate
- You will need some cocoa butter and chocolate to create your own chocolate.
- You can buy chocolate that has already been thinned or you can make your own using a ready-made kit. If you are making your own, then you need to use a double boiler and melt the ingredients together in order to extract the cocoa butter from the chocolate. The easiest way to do this is by placing the melted chocolate into a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until the chocolate has melted.
- Once the mixture is smooth, remove it from the heat and leave it to cool slightly before adding any other ingredients such as sugar or flavorings depending on your chosen recipe. Leave it in a cool place for about an hour before stirring again, adding more sugar if needed until all of it has dissolved completely into the mixture and form a stiff paste as illustrated in step 4 below:
- For ease of use when making your own, we recommend storing the finished product in an airtight container, such as a Tupperware container or a plastic tub. You can also freeze your chocolate for longer storage.
Finding The Right Consistency
- You will need to start off with good-quality chocolate. You can use almost any type of chocolate bar, but make sure it is of the best quality. You will also need to make sure the chocolate is of the type that will melt at room temperature.
- Choose a reasonably sized piece of baking paper and place it on your work surface.
- Place your piece of chocolate on the baking paper and carefully run your finger along the edge to remove any excess pieces that may have stuck to it as you cut it up.
- Cut the piece into small squares or rectangles, approximately 1cm x 1cm in size, using a sharp knife or a pair of scissors if you prefer, then place them onto another piece of baking paper to dry out for approximately 24 hours before starting this process again with fresh pieces so that you have enough for at least 3 batches in total (approx 500g).
- Once you’ve removed all excess chocolate from the edges, place your first piece of chocolate on a large piece of baking paper.
- Using a thin knife or palette knife, carefully smooth out any air bubbles and remove any excess pieces of chocolate until the piece is approximately 1cm thick.
- Place the second piece of chocolate on top of the first and repeat step 6 using a sharp knife or palette knife to create another layer, allowing each layer to dry out for 24 hours before starting again with fresh pieces so you have enough for at least 3 batches in total (approx 500g).
Using Cocoa Butter Instead Of Chocolate
- First, you need to buy the correct ingredients.
- Take your art piece and place it on a piece of baking paper in the shape that you want to create.
- Now mix the cocoa butter with some milk until it becomes fluid and then pour this onto the paper. You need to be careful not to get too much on one area or else your art will look like it has been smeared because of a spillage.
- Leave this mixture to sit for around 15 minutes, then take a paintbrush and brush off any excess milk or cocoa butter that has settled on top of your art piece. You can use an oil brush if you prefer, as long as you don’t use any oils with an alcohol base, otherwise, they will cause the chocolate to seize up when it dries if you leave them in contact with the chocolate while it is still wet. If you are using oil-based paints then make sure they are completely dry before applying them to the artwork.
- Once the excess milk or cocoa butter has been removed, then you can now place your art piece in a warm oven for around 20 minutes at a temperature of about 100 degrees Fahrenheit to melt the chocolate and harden it. This is called tempering and will help to create a shiny finish on your piece of art. You may notice that when you take it out of the oven that it has become too soft and could cause spillage if you handle it too much. So make sure you work quickly and carefully when doing this step.
- Allow the chocolate to cool and harden before removing it from its baking paper so that it doesn’t stick to the paper while cooling down or else you will have difficulty peeling it off later on.
- Once cool, then you can remove your artwork with some gentle forceps to reveal your beautiful creation!
Conclusion
Chocolate is a versatile material that can be used for a variety of artistic projects, from painting to creating mosaics and other decorative pieces. It can be used as a paint or a glaze and can be mixed with a variety of ingredients to create interesting and unique textures and finishes. Making your own chocolate is a fun project that can be enjoyed by all ages, and it is possible to make chocolate thinner without using ready-made chocolate.