Decorate a chocolate heart box for Valentine's Day or any day. You can fill the heart-shaped chocolate box with candy and the entire gift is edible.
A while back, when I posted my Chocolate Penguin Boxes, I promised I'd share some ideas to make heart-shaped chocolate boxes for Valentine's Day.
I know we are only a few days away from the holiday, but I just now found some time to get a few boxes made. This isn't my usual tutorial, but rather a set of ideas to inspire you to create your own chocolate boxes.
The tutorial for the chocolate penguin boxes shows you step-by-step instructions for creating the top, bottom, and sides of each box using chocolate (or candy melts/confectionery coating) and modeling chocolate.
All you have to do is use a heart-shaped cookie cutter instead of an egg-shaped cutter.
To make the sides of the box, set your heart-shaped cookie cutter on top of the box base and set your strip of modeling chocolate inside. Cut it to fit inside the cookie cutter creating a heart shape.
Make the sides of your box ½" to 2" in height so that the candy you fill the box with fits nicely inside. Decorate your boxes however you like, using simple designs like the one pictured above or really intricate designs like the box pictured below.
You can use modeling chocolate to create your designs, or pipe chocolate on the lids, or even "glue" candy on top using chocolate. There are so many possibilities. Fill your boxes with chocolate, truffles, candies, or nuts.
This is the first box I ever created while studying with Ewald Notter at his pastry school about ten years ago. The dots are made by piping on chocolate, the rose is made of modeling chocolate that has been airbrushed with red coloring, and the black and white ribbons are made of chocolate that was spread onto a marble slab and scraped up with a bench scraper.
Oh, and there are chocolate cigarettes (yes, that is what they call them) sticking out above the box which are made with dark and white chocolate.
Yes, I know this design is a bit intimidating. Believe me, I felt the same way when I made it but was really proud of how beautiful it turned out.
I don't want you to feel intimidated. Let me assure you that even kids, with some guidance, can make these boxes. Five of the boxes on the right of this picture were made by 8-10-year-old children.
I taught this project to 16 kids in a hands-on class and each box was completely created by the kids. They even made their own modeling chocolate.
My sample for the class was decorated with polka dots. Simple enough for any adult or child to recreate. I brought along the rose box pictured here just to show the kids, and a few of them even made their own versions.
How about his design? Super simple, yet really elegant, right? It took two minutes to decorate this box. I pressed a long tube of white modeling chocolate out of a clay extruder and placed it in a swirl pattern on top of this dark chocolate heart.
If you don't have a clay extruder, just roll a long thin log instead. For instructions on using a clay extruder with modeling chocolate see my recipe for Caramel Apple Cats.
This smiley face box also took me a few minutes to decorate. I colored white chocolate pink to make the top and base of this box and colored my white modeling chocolate pink to make the sides of the box.
I cut out two larger white circles and two smaller and two dark circles to make the eyes. A long dark smile is capped off with rosy red dots. That's it. So quick and easy.
Breakable Chocolate Boxes
Check out my Breakable Chocolate Conversation Hearts post for detailed instructions to make a candy-filled box that is meant to be cracked open.
If you want detailed instructions for making, coloring, cutting, and decorating with modeling chocolate read my Chocolate Making Tips page and see my 12 Days of Sweet Designs.
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Shahin says
Hi Beth , lovely work wow
I was just curious once you make these chocolate boxes do you freeze them ? How do I prevent it from melting ? Thanks a ton
Beth says
Thanks, Shahin. I typically just store my chocolate boxes in a cool dry place but I realize that is difficult during the summer. If you keep your house or apartment around 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22.2 degrees C) or below then your chocolate box will be fine left at room temperature. When it gets above that temperature I move my chocolate to my basement. If there is a way to store your chocolate box, well wrapped, in a cool dry basement that would be preferable to freezing. Just remember that chocolate picks up odors, so do not store it near detergents or anything that smells bad.
I don't like to freeze chocolate as chocolate that is stored in the freezer can develop condensation and become sticky. It can also bloom, developing white spots or streaks. To keep this from happening, you need to wrap the chocolate in several layers of plastic wrap and tin foil then place it in a zip-top bag. The day before you need it, place it in the refrigerator overnight then in the morning set it on the counter, and allow it to come to room temperature for several hours before unwrapping and taking it out of the package.
Also, note that modeling chocolate will become sticky if frozen. The condensation will dry but it will look spotty. I really don't recommend freezing modeling chocolate.
I know all of this makes making chocolate boxes in the heat of summer very challenging. I have done it before but we have air conditioning and we keep our house cool. You'll want to make sure you transport the chocolate box in a very cool car too. They will melt really quickly at temperatures above 90 degrees.
Good luck and have fun!
Bella@artclubblog says
You've got so many great and delicious ideas!
Suz says
These look so good. Really interesting chocolate boxes designs. I love it, thanks for sharing this post!
Kristi says
This is just so cute. The penguin is my favorite...my older son loves penguins!! Very creative! Thanks so much for linking this up with Mop It Up Mondays at i should be mopping the floor last week. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
{HUGS},
kristi
Karen @ Sugartown Sweets says
These are so cute, cute, cute!!
Robin @ Bird On A Cake says
I love this idea and the smiley face box is sooo cute!
Candy says
Very interesting and beautiful! Best regards!
lizy b says
These are so great! I've always wanted to make one! I love that you have links to find the supplies!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
I'm glad to hear you appreciate the links to find the supplies. I just started adding them, and need to go back to older posts to do so as well. I find them helpful and am happy to hear that you do too!