Drizzled Chocolate Made Simple: How to Drizzle Chocolate

A chocolate drizzle is made by melting chocolate chips and then drizzling or piping the melted chocolate over fruit, desserts, ice cream, or savory snacks. The best chocolate for melting is any chocolate with a high fat content and cocoa butter. These elements come together to create a smooth, glossy chocolate drizzle.

Many different types of chocolate can be used to create a chocolate drizzle, including white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and semi-sweet chocolate. Beyond enhancing the flavor of desserts, a chocolate drizzle adds an elegant and playful embellishment to sweet and savory treats. A drizzle of chocolate can level up salty snacks, like toasted pecans or pretzels, for a savory-sweet treat.

Learn how to melt chocolate for a chocolate drizzle with this step-by-step tutorial.

1. 1. Choose high-quality chocolate. You can make chocolate drizzle white, dark, milk, or semi-sweet chocolate. Look for high-quality chocolate that is rich in cocoa butter and has a high fat content. Chocolate chips are ideal for minimizing prep time, but a chocolate bar chopped into uniform chips will work as well.
2. 2. Prep your dessert. If you plan to drizzle chocolate on top of prepared desserts such as cheesecake, brownies, or chocolate cake, start by removing the baked goods from their baking vessel. Place your dessert on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Allow the dessert to cool to room temperature before applying the chocolate drizzle.
3. 3. Melt your chocolate. Melt your chocolate on the stovetop using a double boiler (a bowl or pot over a larger pot partially filled with simmering water). A double boiler allows for indirect, gentle heat when slowly melting chocolate. If you’d prefer not to use the stovetop, simply place your chopped chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and heat them in the microwave for fifteen-second intervals, stirring the chocolate thoroughly between intervals until it’s fully melted.
4. 4. Drizzle the chocolate. Dip a spoon or fork into the bowl of melted chocolate. Raise the spoon and make sure the chocolate is able to stream down in an even flow. Working quickly, move the chocolate-dipped spoon back and forth a few inches above the dessert to drizzle the chocolate. Make sure to cover the edges, tops, and sides of the dessert, re-dipping your spoon or fork as necessary.
5. 5. Pour melted chocolate into a piping bag (optional). For a more controlled drizzle, place the melted chocolate into a plastic bag and puncture a small hole in the corner. Working quickly to keep the hot chocolate from cooling, gently squeeze the bag to drizzle the chocolate over your desserts.

A drizzle of chocolate is the perfect finishing touch for a wide array of dessert recipes.

1. 1. Chocolate-covered strawberries: For an easy chocolate-centric dessert, drizzle white chocolate over strawberries dipped in dark chocolate. The sweetness of the white chocolate complements the bitter notes of the dark chocolate and gives this quintessential Valentine's day treat a dramatic aesthetic.
2. 2. Peanut butter cookies with chocolate drizzle: Drizzle milk chocolate over golden brown peanut butter cookies. Use a criss-cross pattern for an eye-catching, mouth-watering treat.
3. 3. Chocolate-covered pretzels: Dip one side of a pretzel in white chocolate. For a holiday-themed treat, dunk pretzels in pieces of crushed peppermint. Once they've cooled and the chocolate has hardened, drizzle the pretzels with milk chocolate.
4. 4. Chocolate éclairs: Learn how to make this classic French pastry. Éclairs are filled with pastry cream and topped with chocolate ganache or dipped in chocolate glaze. Drizzle your favorite chocolate over the finished éclairs for additional flavor and flair.

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