Turn 2-ingredient fudge into these adorable Caramel Chocolate Fudge Bears for Valentine’s Day, a birthday party, or a baby shower. These cute treats are super easy to make and taste great.
Are you familiar with Bento, the incredibly creative meals common in Japanese cuisine?
I wasn’t until I began blogging about edible crafts and spending much of my time gawking at artistic foods online. The art of making lunch boxes filled with elaborately decorated rice bears, cartoon character sandwiches, heart-shaped hard-boiled eggs, and carved vegetables is awe-inspiring.
I work and eat at home most days and aside from an occasional picnic, I don’t pack lunch or dinner for anyone, so bento making has just been something I have been admiring from afar.
I’ve spent afternoons looking at the works of imaginative bento makers and perusing the products they use to make their food come to life. Last week I discovered BentoUSA and I couldn’t pull myself away from their site. I have a wish list a mile long of fun products that I can’t wait to try out.
For this project, I used a plastic teddy bear-shaped mold that is usually used with rice. It worked perfectly with my caramel modeling chocolate recipe that is made with Dulce de Leche (caramelized sweetened condensed milk) and milk chocolate that I’ve also used to make Chocolate Caramel Pumpkins and Inside Out Chocolate Caramel Apples.
I also used a punch that is typically used to cut sheets of nori. I cut frosting sheets instead. BentoUSA has all sorts of molds in various shapes and sizes, so even if you don’t want to make bears, you can make dolphins, flowers, pigs, fish, and more.
The set I used even includes a bunny rabbit which I’m excited to use for an Easter project.
Using the molds, I spent less than 15 minutes shaping all of my bears. These are a super simple and quick Valentine’s Day edible craft.
Caramel Chocolate Fudgy Bears (makes 9-10 bears)
Ingredients:
14 ounces of milk chocolate
1 (13.4 ounce) can Dulce de Leche (caramel)
Teddy Bear Face:
dark brown or black frosting/sugar sheet*
*You can also just color some of the caramel modeling chocolate with black food coloring or some cocoa powder then roll it out thin and use the cutter that comes with the teddy bear rice mold to cut the face.
Supplies Needed:
plastic teddy bear-shaped mold
teddy bear face nori punch*
(you won’t need this if you don’t use the frosting sheet)
Instructions:
Finely chop the milk chocolate.
Melt the milk chocolate and allow it to cool to about 91 degrees Fahrenheit.
Stir in the Dulce de Leche. (For a detailed explanation of melting chocolate and why using melted chocolate that is too hot will result in oily modeling chocolate, read this tutorial. )
The mixture will thicken very quickly, but you need to make sure all of the caramel is mixed into the chocolate, so use your hands if needed.
Once well mixed, wrap it in plastic wrap and let it rest for at least 30 minutes.
When you unwrap it, knead it in your hands until smooth, about 30 seconds.
Divide the caramel modeling chocolate into 9 pieces (about a heaping 1/4 cup.)
Press one piece into the front of the teddy bear mold mounding it up on the backside.
Press the backside of the bento bear mold over the caramel modeling chocolate.
You can, if you want, put the front side of the mold in the white holder to keep everything straight then you can press in the back part of the mold. I found I really didn’t need it, though.
Squeeze the two sides of the mold together until the edges touch.
Remove any caramel modeling chocolate that has oozed out.
Remove the backside of the teddy bear mold. Your chocolate bear should have little dots all over it.
If it doesn’t, you didn’t use quite enough of the caramel modeling chocolate. You can just re-roll it and mold it again.
Gently tug on the chocolate bear, peeling it away from the front of the bento bear mold.
Pull the chocolate bear completely out of the mold.
Smooth out any rough edges.
Use a nori punch with a bear face to punch out a dark brown or black frosting sheet. Press the eyes and mouth onto each of the bears.
If you look at the picture at the very top of the blog post, you’ll notice one bear has a different face. I used a different punch.
If you have chosen to color some of the modeling chocolate with food coloring or cocoa powder, dust your work surface with some cocoa powder, roll it out thin, and use the cutter that comes with the teddy bear rice mold to cut the face. You can press the pieces on the bear. If needed use some corn syrup to make them stick.
More Bear-shaped Dessert Ideas
Chocolate Strawberry Bears
Chocolate Reese’s Cup Bear Cupcakes
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Buckeye Bears
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Potato Candy Bears
If you are looking for other treats or gifts to make for Valentine’s Day,
you might like these other recipes too.
I have never used Bento…But this is really cute and simple. I would love to learn more about them.
These bears are a great first step towards making fun food and bento. Enjoy!
I have the molds for bento! I saw them in a store and couldn't resist. I've done rice and hard boiled eggs in them. I can't wait to try this wonderful sounding chocolate and dulce de leche combo.
Great idea -using rice molds for chocolate!
Oh my goodness – these little guys are adorable! How cute would these be for a bear or wilderness themed party?! I'd love to have you come link up to my Family Fun Friday linky (special Valentine's Day edition) at http://www.momsandmunchkins.ca/2013/02/08/family-fun-friday-20130208/
Happy Friday! 🙂
These are so cute!
Thanks for linking up to TGIF! I hope to see you again tomorrow!
Beth =-)
I can't believe I never thought of using the nori punch with icing sheets. Definitely going to give this a try
Sooo adorable! I've made the little chicks out of hard boiled eggs for my kid's lunches.
I hope I'm not too late for the giveaway! Regardless, I love this idea as well as your panda pastries. So cute!
So cute!
These are awesome! I liked all three and followed on twitter! I would totally make this for my own lunches!
I have made Bento for the Grandkids! But not with any fancy Bento tools! Just love these tools which are new to me! My tern Granddaughter would love this fancy Bento food to go with her Japanese Animae, which I just love!
Thanks for this giveaway!
Never done anything with bento, but it looks super fun! My kidlets would love it! Thanks for the giveaway!
These are so sweet! My daughter would love them!
keshakeke(at)gmail(dot) com
Yep, I make my Scout bentos for lunch! 🙂
I've just started bento, with my very first order on the way! And these bears are so adorable. c:
Never worked with this product. Very cool product. I follow your blog and I liked All Things For Sale on facebook. Thank for the giveaway.
Wow, you do a great job illustrating how to use these bento supplies to make something totally cute! I am always so worried I wouldnt know what to do, but you make it look so easy.
My daughter is already begging for me to make these to add to her bento boxes! So cute!!!
What cool ideas…would love to win and try:)
Love your site! 🙂
This looks so adorable!
I have just started to bento, and have made several bento lunches! I love making my lunch cute! 😉
I am not a bento maker, but it might help my picky little eaters.
followed hungry happenings on pinterest
Very cute…pack my lunch,hubby's lunch and my autistic son'sblunch every day! W
This would make a great surprise!
I have tried simple bentos, but never anything this cute. So adorable!
I would love to make Bentos to make my family's day happy.
Would love to win this , these items are so cute!
I liked you on Facebook. I forgot to mention in my mandatory comment that I make children's book themed bento style lunches every school day for my 1st grader.
Oooh Wow So cute! Heading over to the store now, thanks for posting this and thank you for the opportunity to win!
You are too much! What inspiration
oh my goodness how adorable! I LOVE Bento and have tried to make a few things for my grandkids. The problem is that locally there is no source for cute supplies. If I don't win this, I'll just go over to this store and buy a few things myself!
Bento is so cute! Would love to win this!!
Chloeee4u@yahoo.com
Never made a bento, but how cute are these!
I have made bentos for years – not realizing that they were anything more than my attempt to brighten up my children's lunches.
I have never made a bento, dont have the supplies 🙁
My daughter's panda bear bento box was lost. This reminds me to check out Bento USA for a new one. Great idea to use the rice molds for other things. Thanks!
I lived in Japan and loved to see how they prepared and presented food. I would love to do more bento style creations for my son.
These are so cute. I could use them for several things! And I think I will have to make you caramel chocolate this weekend, yummy!!!
i "like" cute z cute on FB too (sorry, not sure if that was one entry for each or one for both)
These are so darling!!! My special ed students are just going to go crazy when they see these. Thanks for the great idea!
I love packing cute foods for my girls' lunches! I'll be so sad when the day comes they tell me they're too old for it!
I haven't but I think they are so cute!
Love it! To bad we didn't have Bento when we were kids. Probably would have drove Mom nuts. Really cute bears.
Marta
I love bento, but in Sapain is not usually. My friends think I'm crazy!!!
martabustia-face@yahoo.es
I make bento lunches for myself, and I've made them for my family when we go to COSI. I've used rice molds to make onigiri (rice balls), so I was intrigued to see a recipe that used rice molds in a different way. This is rather cool, so thanks for posting this.
I'm new to this blog and to Bentos. I saw this post on craftgossip and had to check it out. I have never been much of a candy maker, not for lack of trying, just didn't seem to be my talent. But lately I have discovered easier, more fullproof recipes and my goodies actually are tasty! These bears are cute! My grand-daughter, a chocolate freak, would love them!
These bears are so cute. I have 16 grandchildren and my 10th greatgrandchild is being born as I write. The bear mold would be great for my own children as they all had a favorite when they were young and I could make them for them. Trish Butler
Never made one -and when I lived in Japan there were not all these great gadgets out yet (about 20 years ago) – wish there had been!!!
I've never made Bentos, but those chocolate bears are adorable and just might inspire me to try.
I haven't, but I think these would be super fun for the kids…and me 🙂
Bento is fairly new to me and boy that teddy bear is cute! Thanks for the chance to win!
I used to make Bentos for my husband…yes, really. Everyone in the office was jealous. Then he got a new job and I really miss it!!
I haven't tried Bento but I would like to, thanks for the chance to win
i love all things bento box related. this is such a great idea i never would have thought of it.great giveaway
I follow Hungry Happenings on Pinterest
I already like Bento USA and CuteZCute on Facebook 🙂
I haven't made a bento. Yet. Those are so cute that I now really want to give it a try!
Liked CuteZCute on Facebook
my niece would go nuts over these! SO cute
Those are just crazy cute! I have girls who would love BentoUSA!
Very cute idea to use them as chocolate molds!
I do Bento for my lunch pack.. but it's still at the basic level (^_^)
I just liked BentoUSA on Facebook!
I love making bentos for my kids lunches! My husband is the one who make the onigiri (rice balls) and would love to get some molds for them.
Thanks!!
I would love to try using the molds for rice crispy treats. I wonder if the punches could be used with thin sheets of polymer clay. Too many crafts lol
Those bears are very cute!! That was really clever to use the sugar sheets to punch out the facial features!!! I need to try bento out!!! I would love to win some molds and punches to play with!!
Thanks for sharing!!
Those bears are adorable…what a clever idea!
ugh… too cute. This is the first I have heard about it where have I been? Okay gotta run I have shopping to do! :))
I have never done bento but would LOVE to learn!
These are so cute I want them in my lunch. lol
sar tann on pinterest
sahara_0000 on twitter
It all looks so cute!! I can't wait to try making your bears!
Nikki
Please enter me
they look so cute
barbara (see e-mail)
oh my, the bears are adorable. haven't tried anything bento yet!
I have never done a bento but I am sure my grandchildren would love them
bjn1957{at}gmail{dot}com
I think both my boys (8 & 11) would really enjoy having a Bento lunch! I Follow you on facebook
So adorable. Great Giveaway.
I like you Facebook
I've never made a bento before.
Love these bears! I've never done a bento but now I might give it a whirl.
Oh, and of course I follow you on facebook and if I was on twitter, I'd follower you there too! 🙂
I am so intrigued with Bento boxes, I would love one! I follow HH on Facebook.
THATS AWESOME GREAT JOB HAVE TO TRY THIS
I have never done a bento but think they are adorable
I have not made a bento before but, they look like something new to try!
I have never made a bento!
I would love to start making bentos for lunches. It would make my usual lunch fare so much less boring!
I've never made a bento but the prize would be perfect for my friend's birthday
Heather says: I have not made one of these yet but i sure would like to they are soooooo cute
hg temp addy at hot mail dot com
That teddy is so stinkin' cute … almost to cute to eat 😉
These are ADORABLE!!! I would love to win so I could try these out! I also liked you post on the valentine colored toast. INGENIOUS!
Cute and easy! I have not made a bento.
garynonnemacher @comcast .net
I like BentoUSA and CutezCute on Facebook.. I love cute food!
I have never used anything Bento yet, but I would love too!
I have never made Bento, but this looks so fun!
You do the neatest work. I love the way you are so clever!!!
Deanna orsega651@verizon.net
Allison – I have never made a bento, but there are many places to get them in HI. What a cute idea!
I have never made a bento, but I would love to start if I had the proper supplies 🙂
So perfect for sushi night! Thanks for the great giveaway!
They look soooo cute!!!
As adorable as the bears are, I'm looking forward to trying the Caramel Molding Chocolate! Looks delish!
I would love to make these for a birthday party favor!
These are so cute! What a great idea for an easy, take along treat!
These are great! Perfect for our Valentine countdown craft bags!
The rice panda bears would be so great!
never heard of this
this is one reason i like your blog
u use different things to make food interesting
donna
retail_13775@yahoo.com
I have never used a Bento, but these are sooooo cute! My daughter would love these. Thanks!
These are so adorable. I would like to try making a bento lunch for my granddaughter
Those are so cute! No cooking really so I just love it!!
These are so cute!
Liked both Bento USA and CuteZCute! 🙂
I do make bentos for my son's school lunches. Thanks for hosting this giveaway! 🙂
Those bears are one of the cutest things I've ever seen. No, I've never made a Bento. I've started hearing about it since I've been reading more blogs.