As I typed the title for this post, I realized I should not have used the word “day,” but instead just numbered the designs, as I’ve been quite slow at getting these posts written. Sorry! Coming up with twelve unique designs that could start out as an egg was challenging, to say the least. I’ll be honest, when I named the original post for Christmas Mouse Cookies and promised twelve designs, I only had nine of them completed and didn’t even have the idea for the remaining ones. I knew I’d come up with more, and over the weekend I did, and I am excited to share them with you. I know I should have taken the time to write this post yesterday, but I got on a roll in my kitchen, and didn’t want to stop.
My toy soldier design was actually one of my first ideas. As I perused Christmas clip art for inspiration, I found lots of images of these cute wooden toys, and knew they would be a perfect fit for my modeling chocolate series. I began, yet again, by making flesh tone egg for the soldier’s heads. Their tall hat covers a good portion of the egg, so in the end the soldier’s look like they have little round faces with big beaming smiles and rosy red cheeks. This time, I chose to set the modeling chocolate design on top of a chocolate dipped peanut butter fudge egg. I used the same simple recipe for a no-cook peanut butter fudge that I used to create my pink fuzzy slipper cookies. It made enough for ten eggs. Then I inserted a lollipop stick and dipped them in chocolate (you’ll need about 14 ounces to dip ten eggs.) My family devours my chocolate dipped peanut butter fudge candies at the holidays, so I would definitely consider topping these lollipops with the Christmas Mouse, polar bear, Inuit Children, Santa Claus, Elves, and Snowmen designs too.
For those of you visiting for the first time and for those that haven’t read my first post in this series featuring Christmas Mouse Cookies and the post which inspired this entire series featuring Chocolate Penguin Rice Krispies Treat Pops, you might want to check them out so you know all of the basics about decorating with modeling chocolate/chocolate clay.
Toy Soldiers adorn Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Fudge Lollipops
white modeling chocolate, recipe here*
peach (or orange) black, red, yellow candy/food coloring*
food handling gloves (highly recommended to use when adding color)
powdered sugar, to dust work surface
cutting board
rolling pin
egg cookie cutter – 2″ wide by 2 1/2″ tall
#10 round pastry tip
tear drop shaped mini cutter, optional
food only paint brush
knife
peanut butter fudge (recipe here)
melted and tempered pure milk or dark chocolate**
OR melted light or dark confectionery coating/candy melts**
* I used dark modeling chocolate (recipe here) to create my hat and eyes, but you can simply color some white modeling chocolate with black food coloring instead.
** If you aren’t experienced with making chocolate, read my chocolate making tutorial which includes information on types of chocolate to use, melting instructions and the recipe for modeling chocolate.
Instructions:
You will need to color some white modeling chocolate red for the cheeks, black for the eyes and hat, and yellow for the hat accessories. Color the rest peach (skin toned) for the elves faces. If using orange coloring, just add a very small amount to achieve a light peach color. For detailed coloring instructions, go here. This is where I wear those food handling gloves, otherwise my hands turn a rainbow of colors.
Dust a cutting board lightly with powdered sugar. Roll out the peach, yellow, red and black (or dark) modeling chocolate to 1/16″ of an inch. Use the egg cookie cutter to cut the heads out of peach. Use the small end of the #10 round pastry tip to cut two small circles for each of the eyes out of black or dark. To do this you’ll want to press the pastry tip, tip side down, into the modeling chocolate cutting a small circle, then turn it upside down and tap on counter and the circles will drop out the larger end of the tip. I usually cut a bunch of circles, before turning the tip upside down. Do the same to make peach noses. Use the #12 round pastry tip to cut the rosy cheeks.
Print and size or hand cut a template for the hat and cut it out of black or dark modeling chocolate. Cut the hat band out of yellow, and use a tear drop shaped cutter or knife to cut out the decoration for the hat. You can embellish the hat with more, if you like. I kept mine simple.
Attach the modeling chocolate pieces together with water. Example: lightly brush water on the top half of the peach egg. Press the hat on top.
Use a knife to gently cut a smile in between the rosy cheeks being careful to not cut all the way through.
Scoop out some peanut butter fudge and press it into the egg shaped cookie cutter. Keep your eggs at least 3/4″ thick. Press down on the peanut butter fudge and gently pull up on the egg cutter to remove it. Use your hands to re-shape the egg and flatten the top. Insert a lollipop stick into each peanut butter fudge egg. Allow them to sit at room temperature until they stiffen up. I let mine sit overnight, but an hour or so should be fine. Dip in melted and tempered pure chocolate or melted confectionery coating/candy melts. For step-by-step dipping instructions with pictures go here. Immediately press one of the modeling chocolate toy soldiers onto the wet chocolate. Chill in the refrigerator if using pure chocolate and in the freezer if using candy melts just until set. Store in an airtight container or package in clear cellophane bags to give as gifts.
Up next: Mrs. Claus on top of Chocolate Truffle Lollipops
If you like this recipe, please share it with others by using the share buttons below. I really appreciate being Stumbled Upon and Pinned, and am always grateful to those of you that share my ideas on your website. I do request that you don’t post my entire tutorial, but rather share a picture with a link. If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to send me a photo to beth@hungryhappenings.com so that I can share it here. Thank you for visiting Hungry Happenings
-Beth
this is really great!