Valentine’s season is a difficult time for the sentimentally challenged (read: social anxiety-ridden geniuses). We have all the feels in there, but saying them aloud sometimes comes out like a low-budget movie script, and we’re just not about that made-for-TV life. It’s okay — there’s a new way to say it, and it comes in the form of one of the greatest things on Earth… CHOCOLATE. Now don’t worry, all you handwriting haters; we have resources for you. One is this handy printable phrase template for you to trace right over, and the second is a whole catalog of lettering classes that you can take online, at home, in your PJs. So whaddya say? Grab a bag of chocolate chips (you know you have one) and let’s get started.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- OR 1/2 cup color candy melts (we mixed 1/2 red and 1/2 white)
Supplies:
- small glass bowl
- spoon
- piping bag
- scissors
- parchment paper
- printable template
Instructions:
1. Microwave chocolate chips or candy melts in a glass bowl for one minute and then stir until smooth.
2. Spoon your melted chocolate or candy melts into a piping bag and snip off the tip of the bag so that you have an 1/8-inch opening.
3. Lay a sheet of parchment paper over the top of the printable phrase template, and carefully trace over the letters in chocolate while squeezing the piping bag.
4. Once you’ve traced a sheet of phrases, carefully lay the parchment paper flat in the freezer for at least one hour (or make a day ahead and leave to freeze overnight).
5. Prepare whatever dish you want to top with chocolate lettering and add whipped cream or fridge-temperature frosting to give the chocolate a cool place to sit on top of.
6. Carefully remove one hardened chocolate phrase at a time from the freezer using a cold fork, and delicately place on top of the whipped cream or icing and serve. As long as the whipped cream is cold, your lettering should last about 10-15 minutes before melting.
Get this handy template HERE, or start brainstorming some of your own phrases of what YOU want to say to your favorite peeps.
Microwave your chocolate chips or candy melts in a glass bowl for one minute and then stir until smooth. Spoon your melted chocolate or candy melts into a piping bag and snip off the tip of the bag so that you have an 1/8-inch opening. If you want your lettering to be thicker than that, just snip off more of the piping tip.
Now this part is tricky and ABSOLUTELY takes a couple of practice rounds. Lay a sheet of parchment paper over the top of the printable phrase template and carefully trace over the letters in chocolate while squeezing the piping bag. Experiment with different amounts of pressure, because the harder you squeeze the piping bag, the faster it will come out. It’s also best to have the tip of the piping bag hover above the parchment paper the whole time you are writing (not ever directly touching down onto the paper), so that your letters connect organically and the rounded shape of your letters stays intact.
Same rules apply to the candy melts, except that this stuff tends to harden faster than regular chocolate. If it does harden in the piping bag, throw it back in the microwave for 30 seconds and then let it cool for a minute before picking it back up again to continue writing.
IMPORTANT STEP: FREEZE THESE BAD BOYS! Carefully lay your sheet of parchment paper in the freezer for at least one hour (or make a day ahead and freeze overnight) so that they harden.
Prepare whatever dish you want to top with chocolate lettering and add whipped cream or frosting to give the chocolate a cool place to sit on. We made waffles (duh!) for a Galentine’s Day brunch Leslie Knope would be proud of.
Carefully remove one hardened chocolate phrase at a time from the freezer using a cold fork and delicately place on top of the whipped cream or icing and serve. As long as the whipped cream is cold, your lettering should last about 10-15 minutes before it starts to melt.
After making a table full of waffles, you’ll be a pro at this fork technique! Candy melts take longer to melt, so you have extra time with these before you send ’em to the wolves to eat!
Go the extra mile for your boos and baes with a casual (but SUPES PRETTY) table spread featuring some fresh flowers and fruit, and you have successfully constructed a snazzy brunch with just a little bit of extra effort.
Waffles 4ever!!
For more Valentine’s Day-themed treats and Galentine’s Day party inspo, follow us on Pinterest!
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