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Chocolate Sparkle Shards Recipe

Teacher and extra-mural instructor gifts can get expensive at Christmas. These attractive, home-made chocolate treats are a great way to say “Thank you” without breaking the bank!

Difficulty

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cooking Time

6 minutes

Serves

Makes 350g

Recipe Ingredients

  • 200 g good quality milk chocolate, broken into squares
  • 100 g white chocolate, broken into squares

Toppings

  • 10 - 12 dried apricots
  • 4-6 cubes ginger in syrup, rinsed off in warm water
  • 125 ml SPAR Pistachio nuts, shelled (shelled measure)

Recipe Method

  1. Prepare and finely chop the three topping ingredients and have them ready at hand to use.
  2. Microwave the milk chocolate first on 50% Power for 4-5 minutes, until smooth and liquid.
  3. Before proceeding to Step 4, begin the 2-3 minutes time for melting the white chocolate in the microwave, on 50% Power level.
  4. Pour and spread the melted milk chocolate across a greased granite worktop or silicone baking mat.
  5. Working quickly, scatter the chopped apricots, ginger and nuts over, to create a colourful even topping. Lightly press down to ensure they adhere to the chocolate.
  6. Drizzle the melted white chocolate randomly across this to help secure the toppings further and provide a finishing visual touch.
  7. Leave to set at room temperature until completely firm and cool.
  8. Lift off the set sheet of chocolate, and break off shards.
  9. Pack attractively in festive fashion.

Hints & Tips

  • Get all the toppings prepared first, to minimise the chance of the chocolate setting before you are ready to put on the toppings, which need to stick to the melted chocolate.
  • For a different finished effect, the white chocolate may be swirled through the spread milk chocolate to create a marbled effect, before sprinkling over the topping ingredients, but then it is extra important that they are pressed down lightly to adhere.