Since this is my first-ever Valentine’s Day post, I have to admit I was a little overwhelmed with the endless (and glorious) love-inspired confection inspiration out there. As with every year, right around this time I start to dream about luxury boxes of chocolates. Big boxes of chocolates, and well, come to think of it, they need not be luxury, but just chocolate! During the rest of the year, strangely, I don’t crave them and I rarely indulge in them (I’m too busy indulging in cake, I suppose!). So, this year I thought it would be fun to recreate a luxury box of chocolates, using mini rich chocolate cakes. When I started doing some research online for real boxed chocolates (colours, textures, etc.), I came across a few other amazing spins on Valentine’s chocolate: Bakerella’s adorable red heart box made of cake, as well as the sweetest heart boxed cupcakes from Hello, Cupcake! What I really loved about making these mini cakes, though, is that you can truly create any shape, style, “flavour,” and design you like, since no two chocolates are the same–definitely a custom assortment. This was one of the most enjoyable baking projects I’ve ever done!
I took a sort of an “anything goes” approach to decorating them, and some are wackier than others, but like I said, it seems there could be no rules when recreating boxed chocolates. I’m always drawn to the square chocolates when I dive into a new box, or, of course, the ones that are heart shaped and foil wrapped! How about you? I think you can learn a lot about someone by what chocolate they select (and neglect) from a big assorted box. I think I avoid the round ones for fear of biting into a syrupy cherry concoction, or the like, and I’m certain I grab the square ones due to the likelihood of it being crunchy or caramel-y.
Here’s an image (above) I found online of a real box of chocolates, and I just love everything about this: the heart, the square chocolates, the gold detail, the photo itself–everything!
This “A” chocolate of my assortment is simple, but I really like it. I just rolled the fondant over a silicone baking mat to get a subtle waffly texture, covered the mini cake, and then used a wee ball of fondant to create a “white chocolate” monogrammed medallion using a wax seal embosser.
I do have to say that the 24 karat gold (yes, it’s possible I have an addiction to confectioning with gold!) “foil-wrapped” heart chocolates are my favourite of the bunch. For these, I heaped up the buttercream when coating the cakes, to make a more realistic dome-style top. Then, I rolled out ivory fondant on top of a crinkled up piece of wax paper, to get the wrapper-like crease impressions. Once I started painting them gold, using my favourite 24 karat gold luster dust and clear lemon extract, the paint just seeped into those creases so beautifully. I really love the effect!
Luxury love cake for two (or one!).
Which one would you choose?
To make these Boxed Chocolate Mini Cakes, I used a batch of my Rich Chocolate Cake, as a sheet cake (using a baker’s half-sheet) and cupcakes, being sure to fill the cupcakes about 80% full, so they would dome (unlike how I normally fill no more than 2/3). Once the sheet cake was cool, I placed in the freezer for about 30 minutes, then used different size circle cookie cutters and heart cutter. Using Swiss Meringue Buttercream, I filled two layers and then covered with a generous layer to seal in crumbs and coat, smoothing the edges and top using an offset palette knife. I then placed the iced cakes in the freezer for about 20 minutes, before covering with different shades of chocolate fondant. (I use dark chocolate Satin Ice fondant, then knead in white fondant to get varying shades of brown). I created a marbled chocolate effect by combining dark chocolate and white fondant and rolling out after just a moment of kneading. I used melted Lindt chocolate and piped crazy squiggles and swirls on a few, and added ground nuts to another for colour.
You can do pretty much anything decorative and it will look fabulous, in my opinion–as I mentioned, that is one of my favourite parts of this project. Just have fun and run with it!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
Love, Rosie xo
*Box of Chocolates image via Reprographic Pro.
Beautiful work as usual. I love the gold paint!
What a gorgeous box of chocolates! I absolutely love the heart shaped gold wrapper chocolates! I am like you when it comes to biting into a chocolate, I tend to go for the square pieces as well hoping there is caramel inside. But if I had to pick a piece from your luxury box I think I would go for the round one with chocolate sprinkles on top, this one looks divine, anything with sprinkles grabs my attention!
These are absolutely stunning!
Is it okay to say that I’m in love with everything you do? Seriously.
Which ones would I choose?! All of them! I’d have to admire them for days before I’d eat them though. These are so very stunning Rosie and I can’t believe all the minute details you ensured were included. Love your technique for getting the gold *foil* wrapped one.
How COULD I choose! These are mindblowing! I cannot believe you made these! Hats off to you my stylish friend! LOVE YOUR work! (cannot say it enough)
OMG these are so fabulous. I may try to make them for the husband. Excellent.
These are absolutely beautiful! You should be so proud. I’m sure they are delicious too. Thanks for sharing in this post!
This is such a cute idea! I love boxes of chocolates, however the actual chocolate is never as tasty as it seems. I do love chocolate cake so to make mini cakes would make me much happier!
Gorgeous!
Pretty and cute!!! they made me want to dive in….Beautiful cake you’ve made…
Absolutely Gorgeous!
They are beautiful, very cleverly created. I would chose a dark one first (I love dark chocolate) and I’m with you probably a square one they tend to be praline, or something else nice :)
The big round one in the middle… OMG!
rosie! you are a genius!!! the faux-gold-wrapped hearts are amazing!! love it. thanks for sharing your technique, really spectacular!
^__^
Oh my! I thought they were a box of chocolates at first. My goodness…that gold heart cake is AMAZING! Look at all the icing…yum yum yum!
This is positively one of the most creative Valentine’s idea I have seen. Bravo!
Thanks so much for the sweet words, everyone!
Beautiful cakes! Almost too pretty to eat!
Stunning! The immense attention to the little details is incredibly impressive, I’m speechless.
Eeeeek! Gorgeous!! I love, love, love it!!!
Just lovely. The detail on the gold foil is perfectly imperfect. You are a rockstar. Maybe my new idol, too.
Awesome project Rosie!
Reminds me of when we were kids and rushing to the newly opened box to hand pic the best guess of which ones would be the tastiest. Then the rules of when we were allowed to lift the corrugated cardboard to reveal a duplicate layer of ones already sampled…. the choices at that point of do I take one that I have already sampled and know is good or do I take a chance with a new one to see if a better choice could be had. That would be the most important choice of the day…. imagine if life was that simple now?
Utterly fantastic. Our dinner party for four,finished off with 4 of these devine
‘chocolates’. exquisite – chocolate and wine. thank you – they were incredible!!
So pretty Rosie! They look so delicious! I’m right there with you on the square ones filled with caramel!
Breathtaking!! Which one would I choose? I would have to try them all! Each one of them is unique and beutiful, I love them:)
Gasp! Gorgeous! Nice article, Rosie!
Oh so sweet and lovely!! I think that I would love nothing more than digging into one…or four…of these for Valentine’s Day!
I love the idea! Growing up in Paris, i’m a big fan of gold in baked good too! I love love love your blog!
LOVE this!! I so wish you had a shop, as I’d certainly be placing an order. And what a fun idea for a desert buffet at a wedding, a shower, a birthday party…so unique & creative! I’d love to send these as a thank-you gift to clients. As for my favorite chocolate? I always go for the squares as well since they’re likely to be the caramels. Of course, I have to poke the bottoms first just to be sure I’m not mistaken. ;-)
absolutely stunning and picture perfect!! i think i am the only geek on the planet who, as a child and still today, has a thing for the round cherry cordial filled chocolates…and yes, all the other ones too. ;) xo
Thanks so much, ladies! xo
oh my goodness, i should not look at these i am on a DIET.
They look amazing.
They’re all so darling- what a neat idea!
Hi Rosie,
I am so excited I found your blog! You are so talented and I absolutely love your photos! I too love to bake and find that it is such a creative outlet for me. I am definitely bookmarking your blog and will visit often to be inspired. I need to work on my photography skills and I hope to get a better camera soon. Thanks for sharing your talent with us and I look forward to seeing what you come up with next! Tammy
These are sooo gorgeous. I just want to pick them each up and oooh over their beauty. Love that textured one with the seal. That you made yourself. Unbelievable. But if I had to pick a favorite? The gold. Definitely the gold.
Stunning! I’m in awe.
Absolutely stunning, I wish I could make that!
Hi Rosie.
Just came across your blog and have to say I am so impressed and inspired. Your valentines cakes are beautiful!! I think I am going to have to try that gold paint soon…too beautiful!
Thanks for the wonderful inspiration.
Mandy
What a fantastic post!
jen
http://blankwhiteframes.blogspot.com
Wow! These are gorgeous!
Your cakes are divine. This is truly a piece of art.
Reblogged it on muhmamashop.blogspot.com
best wishes
Homan Rajai
Absolutely stunning!!! Beautiful work.. can’t say enough!
Hi Rosie,
I was just floored when I found your blog. These are the most creative and decadent mini cakes I have seen. I especially love the shapes and shine of the golden ones. Please come and visit my blog and share your thoughts!
CoCo
You’re my hero. I love cupcakes. I love chocolate. I love your work! Truly inspirational; I love how you put yourself into everything you do and it shows through your posts.
WOW! I am truly blown away by your creative talent! Thank you so much for sharing! I am just now starting to get into baking and cooking and your website is part of that inspiration!! Not that I will be attempting anything that fabulous and decadent but I love looking through your gorgeous creations!
truly amazing!
Absoutely Stunning! Happy to be your new follower!
I was wondering where you get your 24k gold paint? I have looked online and I’ve only been able to find gold sheets (and I can’t imagine you could ‘paint’ those on, the ones I’ve found are edible but doesn’t seem like it’s the same thing. Any guidance would be appreciated. I am getting married next Spring and I’d like to include variations of these mini cakes in my Bridal Parties gift baskets. The gold covered is my favorite so I’d love to find some!
Thanks,
Sharon
You are just inspired and inspiring! What a beautiful idea. :)