I love homemade chocolate and making little decorative easy chocolates from scratch.
It’s a fun activity and the chocolates taste so good!
The best part is that you can make homemade chocolates quickly too without much effort!
Wonder how?
Of course, I will always enjoy some good quality commercially available chocolates, especially those Swiss, French and Belgian ones.
We grew up with chocolate, its everywhere in Europe!
My favorite chocolate is the dark 70% bitter chocolate and the dark chocolate with Chill or with Pistachios.
I had made those chocolates in the picture for my grandfather and of course my father.
Little homemade chocolate make a great gift and produce endless smiles!
How to make Homemade Chocolate from scratch?
To make Homemade Chocolate from scratch is not difficult.
You will need three major things to make chocolates easily at home:
- Quality cooking chocolate: Dark/bitter chocolate, milk chocolate and/or white chocolate
- little chocolate molds (see ideas below)
- decoration such as crushed nuts, sprinkles, coconut flakes, chili flakes
I am sharing 5 different versions of easy homemade chocolate recipes much further below, so that you get the idea what you can make.
Basically you can be creative in the chocolate making process and the best thing is that it won’t take much effort or knowledge.
Should I temper my chocolate and what is tempering?
Tempering chocolate is a technique where chocolate is heated to a precise temperature and cooled again, just so that the chocolate has a flawless look and sound to it.
That means tempered chocolate is shiny and produces a crisp snap when biting into it.
Chocolate that has not been tempered looks dull and has a waxy white spotted layer.
So, while tempering chocolate sounds like an extra step and complicated science, it is actually not and you should do it if you want your chocolates to look great as a gift.
Basically, as a rule of thumb, try to always use only quality chocolate.
That already reduces the chances that the chocolate gets that waxy dull look.
Next, what you need to do is melt 2/3 of the chocolate in a double boiler/Bain Marie, while stirring frequently so that no bits are left, and then add the rest of the chocolate to melt and reduce the temperature, so that at the end your chocolate reaches the temperature of 31 Celsius/88 Fahrenheit.
At that point it would make sense to use a food thermometer.
That’s all that there is to tempering chocolate.
Afterward, simply pour the molten tempered chocolate directly into the molds before it hardens or gets further heated.
What molds to use to make homemade chocolates?
Try to use flexible molds, to make your life easier when taking the chocolates out of the shapes.
Pick whichever shape you like.
You can choose shapes according to the season such as for Christmas, Easter, Halloween or to celebrate a birthday.
Here some mold ideas:
Easy Homemade Chocolate Recipe [Healthier]
Instructions
- Keep in a double boiler/bain marie to melt 2/3 of the chocolate, melt and add the rest to temper the chocolate (see instructions in post) or if you don’t care to temper just melt the chocolate simply.
- Pour the Black Chocolate into the mold.
- Let it cool until hard, this might take a while so keep aside.
- Store them in a cool place.
Nutrition
Pistachio Chocolates
Print RateIngredients
- 1.8 ounces Dark Chocolate
- 1.4 ounces White Chocolate
- some Pistachios chopped
Instructions
- Work with 2 bowls, one for the black chocolate and one for the White Chocolate. Keep in a double boiler/bain marie to melt 2/3 of the chocolate, melt and add the rest to temper the chocolate (see instructions in post) or if you don’t care to temper just melt the chocolate simply.
- Place the chopped Pistachios into the chocolate molds
- Pour the Black Chocolate first half amount into the mold.
- Let it cool until hard, this might take a while so keep aside.
- Now pour the white molten Chocolate on top to finish it off.
- Let it cool again until hard, then take the chocolates carefully out and store them in a cool place.
Nutrition
Chili Chocolates
Print RateIngredients
- 2.5 ounces Dark Chocolate
- 1 Tablespoon Hazelnuts chopped
- 1 1/2 Teaspoon Chili Flakes
- 1 Tablespoon White Chocolate optional to decorate
Instructions
- Keep in a double boiler/bain marie to melt 2/3 of the chocolate, melt and add the rest to temper the chocolate (see instructions in post) or if you don’t care to temper just melt the chocolate simply. Mix the chopped hazelnuts and chili flakes into the chocolate.
- Pour the chocolate until full into the molds.
- Let it cool until hard, this might take a while so keep aside.
- Take the chocolates carefully out and store them in a cool place.
Nutrition
White Chocolate Animals
Print RateIngredients
- 1.8 ounces White Chocolate
- some Dark Chocolate for deco of animal eyes
Instructions
- Keep in a double boiler/bain marie to melt 2/3 of the chocolate, melt and add the rest to temper the chocolate (see instructions in post) or if you don’t care to temper just melt the chocolate simply.
- Pour the White Chocolate into the molds
- Let it cool until hard, this might take a while so keep aside.
- Grab something like a fine kitchen brush or toothpick and dip it into some dark chocolate and draw the face and other details.
- Store in a cool place.
Nutrition
![Easy Homemade Chocolate Recipe - How to incl. various flavors [healthier]. Make different homemade chocolate shapes with different flavor combinations and decorations. To gift for celebrations as a gift as for example for valentines days, christmas, baptism, birthday etc. www.MasalaHerb.com #DIY #chocolate #homemade #masalaherb](https://www.masalaherb.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Easy-Homemade-Chocolate-Recipe-How-to-incl.-various-flavors-healthier-5-300x300.jpg)
Marbled Homemade Chocolate
Print RateInstructions
- Keep in a double boiler/bain marie to melt 2/3 of the chocolate, white and black chocolate together, melt and add the rest to temper the chocolate (see instructions in post) or if you don’t care to temper just melt the chocolate simply.
- Once molten, just mix a bit but not fully! We want that marbled effect when pouring the chocolates into the molds.
- Pour the chocolate until full into the molds.
- Let it cool until hard, this might take a while so keep aside.
- Take the chocolates carefully out and store them in a cool place
Nutrition
More sweet Chocolate Recipes 🍫
Dear Reader, have you ever made your own chocolates at home?
The post, easy homemade chocolate recipe, was first published the 19th November 2012 and has been updated and enhanced ever since.
Jill @ MadAboutMacarons says
Helene,
My girls would adore making these! They look so beautiful. My youngest tried to makeher first chocs the other day but chose something so complicated with caramel and thermometers that it put her off. I must show her your recipes here: far more easy and perfect looking. Merci! xo
Helene Dsouza says
oh I know what you mean. 2 years back I had such trouble working with chocolate. I wanted to make something with caramel as well. I was so frustrated, I shopped for some time to work with chocolate. Actually my mum showed me how to make those easily. I am pretty sure your daughter will love those lil chocolates. =)
Aditi says
Helene! what gorgeous chocolates ….. I am so tempted to try them….everyone talks about tempering chocolate else it melts away….is that true? Do you do that also? 🙂
Prathima Rao says
Gorgeous chocolates!!!! I had made a batch of mocha chocolates for diwali last week, came out good & was liked by all.. So very keen on trying out more diff flavors & tah dah…here comes such yummy versions of homemade chocolates by my dear friend!!! These looks fab Helena dear..Just wanna grab them off the screen..Lovely clicks too 🙂
Vicki Bensinger says
I haven’t made homemade chocolate like this in about a year I think – probably around this time last year. These look fantastic and I love all the variations you’ve made. How fun. I will have to try these.
Kristy says
These are absolutely amazing! If you showed me the picture without the post, I never would have guessed they were homemade! Amazing. Truly. I love the animal ones especially!
Choc Chip Uru says
What a gorgeous batch of chocolates my friend 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
wok with ray says
I love dark chocolates too and for me the best part is the bit of bitterness (I know I’m weird) hehe. Those are lovely looking chocolates, Helene. Have a wonderful week, my friend! 🙂
baker street says
Everything looks fantastic. The white chocolate animals are adorable and I totally want to try the chili chocolate combination! 🙂
Anneli Faiers (@Delicieux_fr) says
These are wonderful Helene! I am always looking for new ideas for edible Christmas gifts and I think these are so simple and striking. I am bookmarking for use in the coming weeks 🙂
Kitchen Fairy says
Yummy chocolates. Will try dis. Do u have any chocolate recipe where I can use cocoa powder instead of chocholate bars?
Helene Dsouza says
Yeah try them out they are easy and fun to recreate. Ah no you can’t use chocolate powder, that wouldn’t work out.
mjskit says
All of these chocolates are fabulous! I especially love the chili chocolate ones. What a great combination! Your molds are so cute. I love the idea of little chocolates for gifts!
kitchenriffs says
Great chocolates! I love the chili chocolates – chocolate goes so well with spicy flavors. And this is the time of year when we tend to eat more chocolate, so this post is extremely timely. Thanks so much.
rita cooks italian says
Lovely Helene! I love good dark chocolate above 74%, and your chocolate ideas are the perfect gift for the festivities….I would eat most of the chocolate while making them! By the way, I bought persimmon fruits and caraway seeds last Friday, then on Sunday I baked a carrot cake…maybe I am addicted to your blog!! Ciao
Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen says
I haven’t made chocolates yet.. you sure are tempting me! I love these, they’re so cute.. and chili chocolate? That must be so yummy!!
ana cooks says
THANKS for teach us so much!!
it’s always a pleasure to visit your blog…it makes me so hungry!!!
Elizabeth @Mango_Queen says
I want to eat the screen ! These Christmas chocolates are divine. Thanks for sharing the recipe, Helene!
Cucina49 says
Your chocolates are just lovely–I’ll have to try the ones with pistachios and chili. Spicy/sweet is one of my favorite flavor combos.
Hotly Spiced says
I love to make gifts to give at Christmas. These are all gorgeous and I love the variety of flavours xx
Liz says
Whoa, you have the knack, Helene! These are gorgeous! Perfect holiday gifts 🙂
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
Today at the kitchen store, I saw these mini molds. I didn’t think it’s for chocolate! Wow homemade chocolate candies seem so fancy and I love how easily you made several kinds! Your friends and family who receive these as gift are lucky!!!
Helene Dsouza says
you can use those molds for chocolate and here in goa they use them as well to make colored marzipan for Christmas.
Charles says
Hi Helene, what a great, and timely post – I’ve been wanting to make my own chocolates at home for some time, though I really want to make my own filled chocolates, with like ganache, or praliné inside, but I have no idea how to make them “hollow”. Any ideas for this? If not I guess I can make solid ones – they’ll be just as delicious. Yours are so pretty – lovely gift idea too!
Helene Dsouza says
hey charles! =) Giulia made some once here with a orange ganache. hope that helps! http://masalaherb.com/2012/01/guestpost-chocolates-filled-with-orange-flavored-ganache-by-giulia.html
Thanks for reminding me! 😉
Terra says
Awwww, the animal chocolates are adorable! AND I love the addition of chili in your chocolates, I love the mix of sweet and spicy:-) Perfect Christmas treat! Hugs, Terra
A Canadian Foodie says
Helene!
I have made so many chocolates in my life – but am getting tired and the family doesn’t eat like it used to… I still do chocolate cherries every year – and my B52’s! I have never posted them, but hope to this year! Yours are stunning and so much fun! We are getting our house painted. Usually I am getting ready for Christmas in September, but haven’t started yet. You have really got it going on!
🙂
V
Shannon | JustAsDelish says
I’ve been wanting to make some as gifts without tempering, but afraid they might melt when I deliver, the weather here is super hot.
Helene Dsouza says
Ah in that case you ll require to temper them. Still I can’t guarantee that they won’t melt. In general chocolates are always kept in fridges here in shops. Only those ugly cadbury chocolates are kept outside, but they contain some kind of substance which makes them not to melt. Even Snickers and all melt in the heat. =/ Maybe you can keep them in some kind of isolated bag when you roam, after having them kept in the fridge before. You get those pocket ones in different sizes, just keep them in there so the coolness remains and prevents them to melt. We do that when my mum sends me chocolates from Europe and they don’t melt in that way.
Asmita says
Love these adorable chocolates! Making your own chocolate treats for Christmas is so fun. The white chocolate animals are my favorite!
Aparna Balasubramanian says
Those dino choclates are extra cute. 😀
Belgian chocolates are my absolute favourites.
I find a lot of chocolate in India too sweet. Here my favourites are Amul chocolates.
Now I prefer making them at home too. I can make them with whatever flavour I like best. Yes, chilli is something I also like.
Helene Dsouza says
I love Belgian chocolate too, it’s so rich and deep in flavor! Have you ever tried chocolate form Kodaikanal? I didn’t like the chocolate in Kodikanal. I think in India, making chocolate at home is still the best option.
Anu says
Where do you get cooking chocolates in Goa? I learned a simple recipe for coating the roasted almonds and other buts with chocolate. That is the only kind pf chocolate I like, but since then I have not been able to source the chocolate that I can melt and use.
Chilli chocolates seem too adventurous for me.
Helene Dsouza says
Anu, you can buy cooking chocolate of different qualities in the major supermarkets in Goa such as Oxford, Newtons and Ajays or there is a place next to the handicraft Goa government Emporium in Mapusa where you get only commercial baking ingredients. You can buy chocolate chips too in different variations.
Coated roasted nuts is another delicious way to enjoy a healthier snack without compromising on taste, great idea! 😀
Chili chocolate is actually very common in Mexico. In fact they even add cinnamon to the mixture. 🙂
Shilpa says
I’m thrilled & tempted to try these chocolates. My kids will definitely love them. Thanks for sharing these wonderful variants.
Helene Dsouza says
You are welcome and enjoy the time with your kids 🙂