Monday Snack -- Pantry Chocolate Whimsy

Oh such darling little edible chocolate bugs. My daughter borrowed the kid's cook book by Usborne, Chocolates and Candies to Make.I am definitely buying this at the next Usborne party that I will certainly be invited to. Now I have a reason to go. This cookbook is really great for kids and their parents. These darling chocolate bugs were actually very easy to make and everyone from the 10 year old to the three year old got in on the bug making action. I am sorry I didn't take step by step photos, since they were really handy in the cookbook. But have fun and who cares if some of the bugs end up looking like this.


Makes 10 Bugs
1/2 C semi sweet or milk chocolate chips
1/2 C white chocolate chips or Almond Bark (I used the almond bark)
3 TB corn syrup

1. Melt milk chocolate. I microwave melt my chocolate by setting the timer in 15 second intervals and stirring in between until the chips melt or you can melt on the stove by filling a pan with about 1" of water. Heat pan until the water bubbles then remove pan from the heat. Put chocolate chips in heat proof bown and place into the pan. Stir until melted. Frankly, I think the microwave method is much easier and safer for children.
2. Let chocolate cool for 2 minutes.
3. Stir in 1 1/2 Tb corn syrup until the mixture forms a thick paste which doesn't stick to the sides of the bowl.
4. Wrap paste in plastic food wrap.
5. Repeat Steps 1-4 for white chocolate and chill both pieces of chocolate paste in refrigerator for 1 hour.
6. Remove chocolate from refrigerator and let rest for 10 minutes
7. Cut each piece into six pieces. Set one white and one milk chocolate piece aside.
8. Shape the other 10 pieces into oval shapes.
9. Make Head. Using a butter knife, gently press an indentation a third of the way down on each oval to make head. Make a similar mark for the wings.
10. Roll small balls to make eyes and spots from the remaining two chocolate pieces. We actually bought mini chocolate chips on accident and they made cute spots on the white bugs.

I realize this is a lot of steps and it seems somewhat complicated but if a seven-year old can do this, it is a basic simple process. I think it would be cute to add a touch of food coloring to the white chocolate to make some pastel bugs just in time for Easter baskets.