Field Guide to Candy: How to Identify and Make Virtually Every Candy Imaginable (8 page)

6.
Add cocoa powder and beat until combined.

7.
Pour mixture onto the baking pan. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

8.
Cut nougat into pieces with a well-oiled knife. Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.

9.
Melt and
temper the chocolate
.

10.
Dip nougats in chocolate with a dipping fork, coating completely. Let set on baking sheet 1 hour.

Yield:

About 50 pieces

Storage:

Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 1 week.

General Description:

Although many candies are dipped in chocolate, in confectioner’s terms a
dipped chocolate
is a small square of ganache or other solid filling hand-dipped in tempered chocolate
. It is similar to a
truffle
: both are made by enrobing ganache in tempered chocolate. The flat tops of these square chocolates are beautifully decorated with hand-applied color, glitter, or decorative patterns that are clues to the flavors inside.

History:

Dipped chocolates originated in the fine chocolate shops of France. At first, their sleek, minimalist designs were a stark counterpoint to the fancifully formed and elaborately decorated
truffles
and
filled
molded chocolates
. But recently chocolatiers have begun decorating dipped chocolates in colorful and distinctive ways. One of the biggest innovations was transfer sheets, invented by chocolatier Jean-Pierre Wybauw in 1965. These thin sheets of acetate are coated with edible inks applied in a variety of designs—from swirls to dots to words—that can be pressed onto the tops of dipped chocolates.

Serving Suggestions:

Select toppings that match the flavor of the filling inside. Transfer sheets come in an array of colorful and eye-catching patterns to suit any occasion.

Candy-Making Notes:

Keeping the chocolate in temper—at the right consistency and temperature—will allow you to dip your chocolates quickly and consistently.

Recipe:

Vanilla Bean Chocolates

1.
Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with plastic wrap, letting it overhang the edges on all sides.