Chocolate Almond Pinecones

Decorate your holiday desserts with these beautiful and impressive, yet edible, pinecones.

Change Text Size

Change Text Size
|
Bookmark

Bookmark

Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
TwitThis
|
Print
|
E-Mail

Dress up any winter dessert with these pinecones. Make them a couple of days ahead and then use and reuse them on a variety of desserts.

Total prep time: 25 minutes plus standing

You Will Need
1 tube (7 ounces) almond paste
4 ounces sliced almonds
1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening

What to Do
1. Divide almond paste into six equal portions. Form each into a cone shape, about 1 1/2 inches high and 1 inch wide. Beginning at the base, carefully insert pointed end of almonds into paste to resemble a pinecone.

2. Melt chocolate chips and shortening in a microwaveproof bowl; stir until smooth. Insert a toothpick into bottom of each cone. Holding over bowl, spoon melted chocolate over almonds.

3. Use another toothpick to spread the chocolate to completely cover, if necessary. Place bottom side down on waxed paper; let stand until firm.

Makes: 6 Pinecones

Should Everyone Read This? Yes! I vote for this story

How to Finish a Basement: Framing and Insulating
How to frame a basement and install insulation.
6 Delicious Christmas Cookie Recipes
Bake a batch of any of these easy to follow recipes or just drool over the stunning Christmas cookie pictures.
Spinach, Pear, and Shaved Parmesan Salad
A spinach salad, especially one with ripe fall pears, is a welcome addition to the Thanksgiving table. The salad can be served in a large bowl as part of a buffet, or on individual salad plates alongside the main course.
Delicata Squash Soup with Parmesan Croutons
Delicata squash, as its name implies, is a finely flavored, richly sweet winter squash with a nearly fibreless flesh. Cylindrical in shape, with elongated ridges, this squash has yellow to pale orange skin with green striations. Its beautiful yellow flesh and delicate flavor make it perfect for this puréed soup.
Thanksgiving Desserts
It will be difficult to wait until the end of the meal for these gorgeous desserts.