What Are Chocolate leaves and How Can I Use Them?
Chocolate leaves rewards a little know-how: how to choose them, cook them, store them, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 5 recipes to cook with them.
Key Points
- Chocolate leaves are a garnish made by painting chocolate onto real leaves.
- Brush the veined underside, chill, then peel the leaf off the chocolate.
- Dark chocolate holds the sharpest detail; see chocolate curls for storage.
What are chocolate leaves?
Chocolate leaves are a garnish: real leaves painted with melted chocolate, chilled until firm, then peeled away to leave a chocolate shell with every vein printed on it. They go on cakes and tarts the same way chocolate curls do, for a finished, dressed-up look.
The trick is to brush a thin, even coat of melted chocolate onto the underside of a clean, sturdy leaf, where the veins are deepest. Rose and lemon leaves are the classic choices. Chill until set, then gently peel the real leaf off the chocolate, not the other way around.
Dark chocolate gives the crispest detail because it sets firm. Handle the finished leaves as little as possible and store them cool and dry around 65°F (18°C), since fingers and warmth dull them fast.
For the temperature and storage rules behind any chocolate garnish, see chocolate curls.
Quick facts
- In Chinese
- 巧克力叶
- British (UK) term
- Chocolate leaves
- en français
- feuilles de chocolat
- en español
- hojas de chocolate
Recipes using chocolate leaves
There are 5 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Ice Cream Angel Cake
Angel food cake split into four layers and filled with strawberry and chocolate ice cream. Covered in whipped cream frosting with almonds and chocolate leaves.
Chocolate Mint Layer Cake
Chocolate mint layer cake made with mint chocolate chips in both the batter and frosting, garnished with chocolate curls and handmade chocolate leaves. A stunning celebration cake.
Bruno's Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Cream
The full showpiece version of Bruno's flourless Italian chocolate cake: three layers filled with rum-spiked chocolate whipped cream, wrapped in alternating dark and white chocolate strips, and garnished with chocolate leaves.
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cheesecake
Chocolate chip pumpkin cheesecake: silky pumpkin-spice cream cheese filling studded with mini chocolate chips over a chocolate cookie crust, garnished with real chocolate leaves. A showstopping fall dessert.
Christmas Peppermint Candy Cheesecake
Festive peppermint cheesecake with crushed candy canes swirled into cream cheese filling on a graham cracker crust, garnished with chocolate leaves.
