Coloring chocolate is a useful skill. Thanks to him, you will be able to prepare more interesting, artistic options for icing and sweets. How do you add color to chocolate? You risk ruining it if you use the wrong type of food coloring. Coloring melted chocolate is not an easy task, but if done carefully and slowly, the result will look like the work of a professional.
Steps
Step 1. Buy white chocolate
Milk or dark chocolate will not show the true color of most colorants. All you get is dirty black or shades of dark brown. However, if a recipe calls for a different type of chocolate and claims it will work, then simply follow the general guidelines outlined here.
Step 2. Melt the chocolate
This can be done in the following ways:
- Heat the chocolate on medium heat in the microwave. Stop heating every 10 seconds and check the consistency: one should be uniform.
- Take a double-bottomed saucepan or a regular metal one. Fill it with water, place a glass container with chocolate in it and melt it over low heat.
- Melt the chocolate in an oven preheated to 43ºC. This method will take you about an hour. If your oven doesn't have a temperature setting that low, just keep the heat to a minimum and open the door a little.
Step 3. Check the temperature of the chocolate to be melted with a special chocolate thermometer
This device measures temperature in one degree increments and allows for better process control than a standard pastry thermometer. The ideal temperature will depend on what kind of chocolate treat you are making.
Step 4. Pour the melted chocolate into one dry container if you want to dye it the same color
If you plan to use several different colors, distribute the chocolate in equal amounts over the required number of containers.
Step 5. First, add very little powdered or fat-soluble food coloring
If it comes with instructions explaining how to apply a certain shade, use the amount described there. Remember: you can always add more dye, but never remove the excess, so add a little of it.
Step 6. Stir the color into the chocolate with a plastic spatula
Do this slowly and carefully so that the color is even.
Step 7. Estimate the resulting color
If it is not intense enough, add a little more dye and stir again thoroughly. Stir in a little to get exactly the color you want.
Step 8. Pour the colored chocolate into the molds and leave to set
Alternatively, continue to prepare your chocolate dessert according to the recipe, such as dipping other delicious ingredients into it.
Advice
- Powdered food colors change the color of the chocolate without changing its consistency. And fat-soluble dyes are well suited for making sweets, because they are firmly attached to the base.
- It may take some practice before you learn how to add food coloring to melted chocolate. Therefore, do not be discouraged if you did not succeed the first time. If the chocolate hardens, you can try adding a little vegetable oil to it. This will slightly change the taste and aroma of the treat, but will allow you to see the case through.
- Work in a room with a temperature between 18 and 20ºC so that the chocolate cures properly. If cooked in warmer conditions, it may melt or not seize properly. However, if the recipe requires a higher room temperature, provide it.
Warnings
- Choose the right type of chocolate to color, or you may fail. If a recipe requires a specific type of chocolate, use that type or look for an equivalent substitute. Do not use any tile that catches your eye: you may not succeed with this recipe.
- Do not use water-soluble food colors, as even a small amount of water in the chocolate will harden it and be difficult to work with. In many cases, such chocolate cannot be saved anymore. Make sure all of your utensils are dry as well to keep the chocolate from coming into contact with the water.
- Adding too much fat-soluble color can impart a bitter taste to the final product. When you eat such chocolate, you still run the risk of staining your mouth and teeth.