As Valentine’s Day approaches, many individuals are planning ahead of time on how they will express their love and affection for their beloved through various gifts. These gifts may include flowers, a heart-shaped box of chocolates, or almost anything that would make the date more romantic on this special occasion.
Furthermore, while some organize lavish Valentine’s Day celebrations, some folks are going for something simpler, like decorating their own romantic date inside their condo in Las Pinas, and perhaps creating their own perfect gift for their special someone instead of spending too much money on an extravagant assortment of gifts.
No matter what kind of person you are or how you want to celebrate Valentine’s Day, it is obvious that one item you shouldn’t miss is Valentine’s Day chocolates; may it be dark chocolate or milk chocolate. It will undoubtedly be sought after this Valentine’s Day, especially by those who have sweet tooth partners, whether it is handmade or some delicious chocolates personally purchased in a chocolate store.
With that in mind, this article will offer a list of chocolates that couples could purchase as their Valentine’s gift, as well as easy chocolate recipes for Valentine’s Day that couples can bake on their own.
Chocolate Truffles
It is evident that some individuals prefer to give their significant other a type of sweet that has a delectably rich and smooth taste like a chocolate truffle, instead of the other typical chocolates that you might quickly find at the grocery, convenience stores, or your nearest AllDay Supermarket.
A chocolate truffle’s basic components are tempered chocolate on the outside and chocolate ganache within. A sumptuous filling made of bittersweet chocolate and heavy cream that has been hardened into a ball-like shape is called chocolate ganache. To give the delicate and creamy ganache filling a firm shell, it is dipped in tempered chocolate.
How to create chocolate truffles:
Believe it or not, heavy whipping cream and chocolate are the only two ingredients needed when making chocolate truffles despite the numerous flavors and variants of the sweet. Several chocolate truffle recipes may additionally call for a small amount of butter or corn syrup to improve the sensation and level out the texture of the truffles.
You may make chocolate truffles by chopping up a chocolate bar, heating heavy cream, pouring it over the chocolate, and then whisking the mixture until it turns into the ganache, a glossy, silky substance.
The ganache can be allowed to be set at room temperature or chilled in the refrigerator, depending on whether you prefer a truffle with a soft core or a solid chocolate shell. The truffles can be formed into small, wrinkled spheres when the ganache has had time to set up, and you can then dip or roll them in melted chocolate, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, or another type of garnish like crushed almonds, candies, citrus zest, or sprinkles.
NOTE: If you don’t have the time to bake one at your condo in Las Pinas, you can get one from one of the many online shops in Metro Manila that sell truffles, such as Bitesize PH, Chocolate Alley, Marguerite Truffles Manila, Truffles by K, and many others; or you can also buy from the best of the best, like Godiva.
Bourbon Chocolates
Moreover, another type of chocolate that couples could prepare in their condo in Las Pinas would be bourbon chocolates. This type of chocolate is ideal for any occasion, whether you’re searching for special treats for a loved one or a distinctive gift. It also works well as a garnish for your preferred dessert or to be combined with any cocktail.
How to make bourbon balls:
- Put nuts in a container that can be sealed. Pour bourbons over the nuts, shut the container, and let it soak for eight to twelve hours.
- In a medium bowl, blend sugar and butter. Add the bourbon and mix in the soaked nuts. Make 3/4-inch balls out of the mixture, then cool it in the refrigerator for eight to twelve hours.
- Wax paper should be used to line a baking pan; set aside.
- Chocolate should be melted in the top of a double boiler over barely simmering water. To prevent burning, stir the chocolate constantly and scrape the sides with a rubber spatula.
- Place balls on the tray after coating them with melted chocolate. Until serving, keep the food in the refrigerator.
Aside from this, you can also purchase this treat at Alfort Shop, a Japanese candy store. Alfort is a tiny tasty treat that is chocolate-covered biscuits in an assortment of delicious flavors. This well-known Japanese chocolate collection from Bourbon is produced with biscuits composed of whole wheat flour and rich chocolate. Every crunchy candy has a distinctive sailboat shape. They have fascinating boxes that make great gifts because they depict various locations throughout Japan.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Chocolate-covered strawberries are one of those exquisite, bite-sized desserts that everyone likes, despite being one of the simplest and least expensive desserts to create. Although it looks quite simple, couples may benefit from its appealing and stylish appearance. More importantly, it only takes 20 minutes to prepare one batch of chocolate-covered strawberries!
Since there are only two basic ingredients in this recipe, the richness of the chocolate is very vital. The taste of chocolate will improve with its quality: the higher, the better.
How to melt chocolate for dipping:
Melting chocolate in a double boiler or microwave is the simplest method. If you don’t already have one, you may create one yourself using a basic saucepan and a heat-safe glass bowl. On the other hand, if you decide to microwave some chocolate chips, as long as they are a premium brand used for baking, it is acceptable. You should heat your microwave on half power and whisk the chocolate until smooth, about every 30 seconds.
How to make Chocolate-covered strawberries:
- Cleanse and dry the strawberries.
- Gather the selected toppings.
- To place the dipped strawberries on, set out a baking sheet coated with parchment paper in your area.
- Use a double boiler or a microwave to melt the chocolate.
- Strawberries are dipped in melted chocolate.
- Put chosen toppings on top.
- Place the strawberries on the baking sheet that has been prepared and let them sit until the chocolate has hardened.
- If desired, you may drizzle your dessert with melted white chocolate.
Read more: Most Luxurious Chocolate Brands in the World
