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Valentine’s Day Garnish for Cakes and Cookies!

Valentine's Day Garnish
Valentine’s Day Garnish

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!  This year I want you to make all your Valentine treats special with an easy white chocolate garnish!  I have even included a printable template of hearts to use as a guide in making these charming garnishes.

I have a feeling that your Valentines are going to feel very special this year!

What do you need?
Melted white chocolate
Pink or Red gel food coloring
A frosting decorating bag (The number one round tip works well!)

Valentine's Day Garnish
Valentine’s Day Garnish

Melt white chocolate and blend in a gel food color of your choice.  I used the Magenta gel food color from Wilton.  The number one round decorating tip, shown here, works well for piping chocolate!

But before you start piping, print a Valentine Garnish Template!  The template includes a variety of hearts and the letters – I and U.  Cover the template with a piece of wax paper and you are ready to begin piping your chocolate, using the template as a guide!

In no time at all you will have lots of wonderful garnishes to use on all your Valentine’s Day treats:  cupcakes, frosted cookies, cakes, candies…  Below I have used the Valentine’s Day garnishes on my Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!

Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!
Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!

These little cakes are sure to please any Valentine!  Just click on the link for the recipe – Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!

For what other events could you use these cute & tasty garnishes?  How about weddings, anniversaries, engagements or any occasion where love is in the air!

Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!

 

Mini-Chocolate Cakes Filled with Almond Paste!

 

Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!
Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, these Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste are delightful!  I prepared them by baking cake batter in a mini-muffin tin  along with almond paste and then covering them in a luscious layer of chocolate!

Your Valentines would love to receive these as their Valentine’s Day treat!

Mini-Chocolate Cakes Filled with Almond Paste

3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
Dash salt
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup hot water
8 oz Almond Paste sliced into 1 tsp pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare mini-muffin tins by spraying with cooking spray. This recipe will make 30-36 mini-cakes!

Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!
Dry ingredients

Step One – Sift together dry ingredients

Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!

Step Two – Beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla  in a medium bowl  until fluffy.

Step Three – Add 1/2 of the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and beat until just combined.  Slowly add the hot water  to the batter and beat until mixed well.  Add the rest of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until just combined.

Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!

 

Place 1/2 tablespoon or so of batter into each mini-muffin  well.  The goal is to have enough batter to cover the bottom on the muffin well.  Into the batter,  press 1 tsp of Almond Paste!

If you have never used Almond Paste before, it is wonderfully tasty stuff!  You can find it in the baking aisle of your grocery store.  It is sold in tubes and cans and is very easy to work with. For this recipe, slice the almond paste into 1 teaspoon pieces that will fit on top of the batter in the muffin tin!

You will most likely have a little extra Almond Paste left over after preparing this recipe.  I recommend eating it quickly before the kids see it!  It is that good!

Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!

Top the almond paste with 1 tsp of batter.  Don’t worry if it doesn’t spread out evenly, it will in the oven!

Bake for 9-12 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Do not over bake!

Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!
Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!

After the mini-cakes have cooled in the pan for at least 5 minutes, carefully remove and allow to cool upside down!

Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!
Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!

After the mini-cakes have completely cooled.  Drench in your favorite dipping chocolate!

Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!
Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!

Allow to cool & enjoy!

Here is a printable recipe!

[gmc_recipe 2158]

Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!
Mini-Chocolate Cakes filled with Almond Paste!
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