INGREDIENTS
- ½ cup (75g) dark chocolate Melts, melted
- coloured cachous
- ½ cup (75g) white chocolate Melts, melted
- thin taper candles
- sweets
- icing sugar mixture
Chocolate Crackle Mixture:
- 1½ cups (240g) icing sugar mixture
- ¼ cup (25g) cocoa powder
- 4 cups (140g) Rice Bubbles
- 3/4 cup (65g) coconut
- 100g packet Mallow Bakes
- 250g Copha, melted
- 1 1/3 cups (200g) dark chocolate Melts, melted
METHOD
- Mark 12 crosses on sheets of baking paper; you need 2 of each size: 18cm, 16cm, 14cm, 13cm, 9cm, and 7cm. Place paper onto trays.
- Press 2 teaspoons of the chocolate crackle mixture into a greased 5cm star cutter; refrigerate until set. Remove the cutter carefully, repeat process to make 2 stars.
- Drop teaspoonfuls of remaining chocolate crackle mixture along marked crosses, press mixture together lightly; refrigerate until set.
- Spread one side of each star shape with a little dark chocolate; press on some of the cachous, allow to set.
- To assemble trees, place a small amount of dark chocolate in centre of prepared boards, press the 18cm crosses onto chocolate. Repeat process with remaining crosses and chocolate, from largest to smallest, to form 2 trees. It is important each layer is set before topping with another cross. If crosses are uneven, support underneath until chocolate has set. Secure stars to tops of trees with a little more chocolate; refrigerate until set.
- Drizzle white chocolate over the branches. Cut the candles into 2cm pieces; secure candles to branches with more white chocolate. Be sure candles do not touch the higher branches when alight. Attach sweets and remaining cachous to branches with a little more white chocolate.
- Just before serving, dust trees with sifted icing sugar.
- You will need 2 x 30cm round boards to support the trees. Heavy cardboard covered with gift paper, a large plate or a foil-covered upturned tray could be used. Any remaining chocolate crackle mixture can be spooned into paper patty cases. Recipe can be prepared a week ahead. Assemble trees up to 3 days before serving; keep trees refrigerated.