VIRTUAL CHOCOLATE-COVERED WEEKEND Flamingo Ingredients Chocolate cupcakes topped with frosting. ● Chocolate cupcakes (1 box/batch) ● Vanilla frosting (1 container) ● Pink food coloring ● Mini marshmallows (1 10.5 oz bag) ● Chocolate chips or black cake writing gel ● Lollipop sticks or straws Preparation 1. Make a batch of your favorite cupcakes. Once cool, arrange them on a platter in the shape of a flamin- go. 2. Mix the pink food coloring with the frosting in a bowl using a hand mixer. 3. Scoop the pink frosting into a piping bag or ziplock Inspired by our mosaiculture flamingo: with a corner cut off. Gently squeeze the frosting onto the cupcakes using a swirling motion. 4. Place marshmallows, chocolate chips and black cake gel on the “head” to make a face (see photo). Place straws for legs. 5. Eat and enjoy! Tips You could make flamingo faces on each cupcake in- stead by adding chocolate chips and other decorations in a face shape. Or decorate your cupcake to look like a creature of your own imagining. Our favorite food coloring McCormick’s “Nature’s Inspi- Ready in 1 hour ration” because it is made from plants instead of syn- Serves 20 people thetic dyes and has a vibrant pink color called “berry”. 10 of Hearts Ingredients Brownies topped with frosting and candy. ● Brownie mix (1 box/batch) ● Vanilla frosting (1 container) ● Black or red cake writing gel ● Candy hearts ● Lollipop sticks Preparation 1. Make a batch of your favorite brownies in a square or rectangular pan. 2. Once cool, cut the brownies into rectangles and slide 2 lollipop sticks halfway into a short end. Inspired by our mosaiculture hearts cards: 3. Spread vanilla frosting over each brownie and smooth it out. 4. Place 10 candy hearts on the frosting. 5. Write the number 10 in each corner of the brownie with the writing gel. 6. Eat and enjoy! Tip If you don’t have candy hearts or prefer to make some- thing other than a playing card, use whatever candy and cake decorations you have to make a chocolate creature Ready in 1 hour Serves 6-12 (depending on brownie size) of your own imagining. Hedgehogs Ingredients Chocolate Rice Krispie treats smothered in chocolate ● 5 cups Rice Krispies and covered in chocolate chips. ● 4 tablespoons Butter (unsalted) ● ¼ cup Cocoa powder (unsweetened) ● 10.5 oz bag Mini marshmallows ● ½ cup Chocolate chips (for treats) ● Chocolate chips (for decorating) ● Candy pearls ● Shredded coconut (optional) ● Green food coloring (optional) Preparation 1. Melt the butter, marshmallows and cocoa powder in a large saucepan over medium high heat, stirring continuously. 2. Mix in the chocolate chips until they are melted and the mixture looks smooth. Inspired by our mosaiculture hedgehog: 3. Stir in the Rice Krispies one cup at a time. The mixture will become very sticky and messy, which is just what you want! 4. Transfer to a bowl and allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes. While you wait, prepare an ice cream scoop or soup spoon by rubbing a little butter on it and then onto your clean hands. 5. Scoop out a spoonful of the mixture when it’s cool enough to touch but not yet hard. Shape each scoop into a little oval and set it on a platter to let them cool. 6. Meanwhile, carefully melt the chocolate chips remaining. Once completely melted, scoop into a bowl. 7. Dip the Rice Krispie treat ovals into the melted chocolate and press chocolate chips into them as shown (see photo). 8. Add candy eyeballs and a nose. Cool completely in the refrigerator. 9. In another bowl, mix a bowl of shredded coconut with green food coloring and pour it onto a platter to serve as “grass”. Ready in 45 minutes 10. Place the cool hedgehogs on the grass. Serves 20 people 11. Serve and enjoy! Want to make all three creatures? Use these shopping and supply lists to prepare. These are cacao pods growing on a cacao tree, which is what chocolate is made from. Chocolate Covered Week- end celebrates this wonderful tree! Come see ours in our Tropical Rotunda on your next visit. To Buy ● Chocolate cupcake mix (1 box/batch) ● Brownie mix (1 box/batch) ● Vanilla frosting (2 containers) ● Mini marshmallows (1 bag- 10.5 oz) ● Chocolate chips (2 bags) ● Rice Krispies (1 box) ● Unsweetened cocoa powder (¼ cup) ● Butter (4 tablespoons, unsalted) ● Black cake writing gel ● Candy hearts and pearls ● Lollipop sticks or straws ● Cupcake liners ● Shredded coconut (1 bag- optional) ● Food coloring (green and pink) To Gather ● Mixing bowls ● Rubber spatulas ● Large saucepan ● Hand mixer ● Platters ● Ice cream scoop or soup spoon ● Cupcake pans ● Piping bag or ziploc with a corner cut off ● Measuring cups/spoons ● Cooling rack ● Oven mitts/aprons.