CHOCOLATE MAKING GEAR

Since it’s Easter, we decided to seek some expert advice on what equipment you need to work with chocolate. We asked Claire Burnet, co-founder and chief chocolatier at award-winning Dorset-based Chococo, for her recommendations

‘I started my chocolate business from my home kitchen, which proves that with just a few of the right tools, you can turn out some fne Easter treats’ 1 GREAT CHOCOLATE

Use chocolate made with pure cocoa butter and no vegetable fats. Don’t buy cooking chocolate and select one that isn’t too sweet. Choose milk chocolate that’s close to 40% cocoa solids, because more cocoa means less sugar, which means a more chocolatey taste. Look for dark chocolate with 65%-plus cocoa solids, but don’t just go by the percentage since it’s not an indicator of quality. Find a chocolate you really like before buying it in larger quantities. chocolatetradingco.com

2 MARBLE SLAB

One of the best ways to ensure you’re working with chocolate at the correct temperature, so that it sets with a sheen and a good ‘snap’, is to temper it on a marble surface. If you don’t have granite worktops in your kitchen, then a granite or marble slab will do the job. Find out how to temper chocolate at bbcgoodfood.com Chocolate maker’s slab, £22.99, lakeland.co.uk

3 METAL SCRAPER

A chocolatier’s stainless steel scraper has an angled blade to spread chocolate on a marble slab with ease, and also for levelling of excess chocolate in the mould. Alternatively, a builder’s scraper from a hardware shop will do the job just as well! Chocolate scraper, £8.99, lakeland.co.uk

4 A GOOD THERMOMETER

It’s always a good idea to have a probe thermometer to hand since it takes the guesswork out of things. The most common mistake people make when working with chocolate at home is that they have it at too high a temperature. Lakeland sells a useful integrated silicone spatula and thermometer, which ensures that you’re working at the correct temperature while stirring your tempered chocolate – and that you get it all out of the bowl! Thermospatula, £15.49, lakeland.co.uk

5 PLASTIC MOULDS

We prefer using plastic moulds to silicone ones, as they can give your creations a matt fnish. It’s easy to fnd plastic chocolate moulds online. Several companies ofer a wide selection of Easter-themed moulds, including eggs of diferent sizes and patterns, hens, bunnies and lollies, for less than £5 per mould. homechocolatefactory.com, cakescookiesandcraftsshop.co.uk, sugarshack.co.uk