Tiny Temptations - Chocolate Cups filled with sweet whipped cream!

Ever since I saw them in a magazine, I've wanted to try to make these chocolate cups. Somehow, after my not so good experience with chocolate last Christmas, trying to dip gingerbread men in chocolate, these cuties had to take a back seat. Anyway, they are fairly easy to make and more than any skill you need, you just need to be patient and take things slow!

Its a good idea to get all your stuff together before you start working with the chocolate.

You will need:

Cupcake liners

Cupcake tin or pan

Basting brush or a food-safe paint brush.

Chocolate chips - 3/4 cup

Shortening - 1 tsp.

Place both in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between. Be sure that all the utensils are absolutely dry as any trace of water will just mess up the chocolate. When the chocolate is melted, use the brush to paint the inside of the cupcake liners with the melted chocolate. Make sure that the chocolate covers every nook of the cupcake liner. Work quickly because the cupcake liner will start to get heavy and lose its shape. Immediately place chocolate-painted liner in a cavity in the cupcake pan. This helps keep the shape. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. In case the melted chocolate starts hardening while working, microwave for a few seconds and continue with the other cups.

After refrigerating, its time to peel off the liners. Be very careful while doing this and peel a little paper at a time. Place back in the refrigerator till ready to use.

Sweetened whipped cream:

Heavy cream - 1 cup

Confectioner's sugar - 1/4 cup

Vanilla essence - 1 tsp.

Place metal bowl and whisk or beaters in refrigerator for 15 minutes. Place the above ingredients in the chilled bowl and beat till soft peaks form. Do not overbeat. Pipe the whipped cream into the chocolate cups and refrigerate till ready to serve.

Any kind of filling can be used with the chocolate cups. It can even serve as an edible bowl for ice-cream or pudding. They can be made in any size also. I used the tiny chocolate liners or bonbon cups here as I've always had a soft spot for cute tiny things. I guess it doesn't make me feel that guilty when I have a tiny second helping!!!!

Mita.