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    Home » Recipes » Cakes & Breads

    How to Make Chocolate Shavings

    Published: Apr 17, 2024 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    chocolate angel food cake with chocolate shavings.
    a pile of chocolate curls next to a vegetable peeler.
    a pile of chocolate curls next to a vegetable peeler.
    chocolate caramel poke cake with chocolate shavings.

    Making Chocolate Shavings and Curls is super easy and a delicious and beautiful way to dress up cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, ice cream — anything! 

    Try them on Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake with Caramel Whipped Cream. 

    a pile of chocolate curls next to a vegetable peeler.

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    Jump to:
    • ❤️You're Going to Love These
    • 🍫One Ingredient
    • 🛠️Tools
    • 🥣How to Make Chocolate Shavings
    • ✅Top Tips
    • 🎁Storage
    • ❓FAQ
    • 😋Related Recipes
    • 💌Let's Stay in Touch
    • 📖 Recipe

    I turn to chocolate shavings whenever I want to add a little something extra to a dessert. Like this Chocolate Pudding Pie or Peanut Butter Oreo Heavenly Dessert.

    They fancy up anything from a basic bowl of vanilla ice cream to French silk pie and are super easy to make. 

    Whether you want to make jagged chocolate shards or curled chocolate shavings, I've got you covered. All you need is good-quality chocolate and a vegetable peeler! 

    ❤️You're Going to Love These

    • Fun and easy way for home cooks to add a little something fancy to any dessert
    • Eye catching way to add crunchy texture to creamy pudding, mousse, or ice cream desserts.
    • Perfect to make ahead and stash in the refrigerator or freezer for later
    • Easy cake decorating hack that adds a touch of elegance to even a store-bought cake. 

    🍫One Ingredient

    a bar of chocolate and vegetable peeler on a white countertop.
    • Bar of chocolate. For best results and smoothest shaving, use a bar of good quality chocolate. You can use any type of chocolate: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate. 

    🛠️Tools

    • Vegetable peeler. I use a Y-peeler, but any kind of vegetable peeler will work. 
    • Parchment paper or wax paper. For easy clean up and so you can easily transfer the chocolate shavings into a storage container.  
    • Microwave. To slightly soften the chocolate for curls. 

    🥣How to Make Chocolate Shavings

    Prep Your Workspace: Line your work surface with a layer of wax paper or parchment paper so you can catch your chocolate shavings -- and easily move them around when you're done. 

    hands holding a bar of chocolate and a vegetable peeler and making chocolate shavings.

    For Jagged Chocolate Shavings: Hold a bar of room temperature chocolate at a 45-degree angle in one hand and the vegetable peeler in the other.

    Pull the vegetable peeler down along the side of the chocolate bar in a short stroke, shaving off jagged shards of chocolate. 

    hands holding a bar of chocolate and a vegetable peeler and making chocolate shavings.

    For Curled Chocolate Shavings: Warm the block of chocolate in the microwave at 50% power in 5-second increments until slightly soft but not melted.

    Hold the chocolate bar at an angle in one hand and the vegetable peeler in the other. Slowly run the vegetable peeler along the length of the chocolate bar in an even motion to cut off a thin layer of chocolate into small curls.

    piece of chocolate caramel poke cake on white plate

    ✅Top Tips

    • For longer curls, run the peeler along the long side of the chocolate bar.
    • For small curls, shave along the short side of the bar of chocolate. 
    • For fat curls, use a thick chocolate block.  
    • If using a thin bar of chocolate, such as the premium bars in the grocery store, work with ¼ of the bar at a time to prevent it from breaking in your hand.

    🎁Storage

    Place chocolate shavings in a sealed container in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them. Avoid setting them in a warm place. 

    Store any leftover chocolate shavings in the freezer in an airtight freezer container.  

    ❓FAQ

    What kind of chocolate is best for chocolate shavings?

    You can use any kind of chocolate. White, dark, milk -- it's up to you!  

    How do you put chocolate shavings on the side of a cake?

    Pat them on with your hand. Start with chilled chocolate shavings (so the heat of your hands doesn't melt them) and a cake with frosting that hasn't hardened or set. Place strips of parchment or waxed paper around the cake to catch loose shavings. Fill the cup of your hands with shavings (the more the better) and gently pat it onto the side of the cake. If possible, tilt the cake a little bit. Gently brush away fallen chocolate shavings from around the cake, then remove the strips of parchment or waxed paper. 

    cropped-chocolate-angel-food-cake-24.jpg

    😋Related Recipes

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      Caramel Whipped Cream (Stabilized & Regular)

    💌Let's Stay in Touch

    Follow Midwestern HomeLife on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and subscribe via email to receive all of the latest recipes!

    📖 Recipe

    a pile of chocolate curls next to a vegetable peeler.

    How to Make Chocolate Shavings

    Cara Lanz
    Making chocolate shavings is a super simple way to dress up your cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, ice cream — anything! All you need is some good quality chocolate and a vegetable peeler.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 1 minute min
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 cup
    Calories 593 kcal

    Equipment

    • Vegetable Peeler
    • Waxed paper or parchment paper

    Ingredients
      

    • 3.5 ounce chocolate bar
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare a plate, pan, or other surface with a layer of wax paper or parchment paper so you can catch your chocolate shavings -- and move them around, as needed.

    For Jagged Chocolate Shavings

    • Hold a bar of room-temperature chocolate at a 45-degree angle in one hand and the vegetable peeler in the other.
      Pull the vegetable peeler down along the side of the chocolate bar in a short stroke, shaving off jagged shards of chocolate. 

    For Curled Chocolate Shavings

    • Warm the block of chocolate in the microwave at 50% power in 5-second increments until slightly soft but not melted. It may take a couple of tries to get the chocolate to the right temperature. 
      Hold the chocolate bar at an angle in one hand and the vegetable peeler in the other. Slowly run the vegetable peeler along the length of the chocolate bar in an even motion to cut off a thin layer of chocolate into small curls.
      If the chocolate is too cold, it will break off in shards. If it is too warm, it will shave off in uncurled slices. Rewarm the chocolate as necessary.
    • Place chocolate shavings in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them. 

    Notes

    • A 3.5 ounce bar yields about one cup of chocolate shavings.
    • Any leftover chocolate shavings or curls can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator or freezer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 593kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 8gFat: 42gSaturated Fat: 24gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 20mgPotassium: 709mgFiber: 11gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 39IUCalcium: 72mgIron: 12mg
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    Hi, I'm Cara!

    I love sharing easy, delicious everyday recipes from the heartland.

    Whether you're looking for a fast and easy dinner recipe, something yummy for a potluck or holiday gathering, or just a little inspiration, I hope you'll find something you love here.

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