Chocolate Leaves

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Gather the ingredients.

2. Step 2

   Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with waxed paper or parchment paper..

3. Step 3

   Place the candy coating in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it until melted, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating. 

4. Step 4

   Dip the paintbrush in the melted candy coating and brush a thick layer of chocolate on the underside of the leaf. The underside typically has more pronounced veins, and will give you a better pattern on your leaves. Make sure that you're generous with the layer of candy coating—if it's too thin, the chocolate leaf will crack when you to remove it. 

5. Step 5

   Set the leaf, chocolate side up, on the waxed paper, and repeat with the remaining leaves. You can use different colors of candy coating to make a variety of leaves, if you'd like. 

6. Step 6

   Once all of the leaves are covered with chocolate, refrigerate the tray to set the coating, for about 20 minutes.

7. Step 7

   When the chocolate is fully set, remove the tray from the refrigerator. Carefully peel the leaves back from the chocolate, trying not to handle the leaves too much to prevent your body heat from melting the chocolate. 

8. Step 8

   If you'd like to give your leaves a metallic shine, use luster dust to decorate them when they're finished. Dip a clean, dry paintbrush in luster dust, and brush a thin layer of dust along the edges. For a more dramatic look, brush a layer of dust over the entire leaf.