What do you get when you combine kids, balloons, and a bowl of melted chocolate? The most delicious edible bowls ever, of course! Take a look at this tutorial from the lovely Bakerella.
I came across this idea on Bakerella's blog, a project which she in turned discovered in the book Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey Treats for Kids by Jill O’Connor. It looks like so much fun, I might have to round up a few handy children just to have an excuse to make them.
It starts with blowing up a bunch of party balloons, then dipping the bottoms in warm melted chocolate. Let the chocolate cool, and voila! Edible chocolate bowls.
Bakerella and her pint-sized helpers filled theirs with pudding and whipped cream. An excellent choice, though I might tend toward ice cream this time of year. (Added bonus: the ice cream would keep the chocolate from melting in the heat...at least for a little while!)
Head on over to Bakerella's site for the full tutorial and many more pictures:
• Get the Recipe: Pudding Cups on Bakerella
What would you put in your bowl?
Related: Summer Project: Make Maki Sushi with Kids!
(Images used with permission from Angie Dudley of Bakerella)
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These are so cute and I love Bakerella. I made chocolate cups recently using cupcake liners. This looks like even more fun.
As cute as it is, this is not a new idea. this was the very first thing I saw a visiting chef do on the Julia Child show 20 years ago.
I'm not certain I'd want to eat something that had been in contact with a balloon. They aren't (as far as I know) food safe. And we hear all sorts of warnings about what leaches out of plastics etc, particularly when they come in contact with heat.
@danstew - yes! I was trying to remember where I had seen this the first time around. But it's cute & fun so it always comes back around.
However, there didn't used to be the concern there is now regarding plastics so I understand where The Green Cat is coming from.
I tried this yrs ago, but it was a bust....literally
The balloon broke and the chocolate was every where.... lol
Most balloons contain harmful substances (plasticizers, I hope that's the right word - phtalates and nitrosamines). I wouldn't let them touch warm, oily food that is going to be ingested by kids.
Not a summer project--too humid. But for the winter holidays? Sure! But yeah, probably wouldn't use a balloon. A silicone baking cup might be perfect.
Seriously awesome idea! I'm totally doing this very soon.
Harmful, if the balloon itself is swallowed maybe.
Oh my goodness, Are these ballons gluten-free? how about High-fructose corn syrup? are the broken fragments of the balloon recyclable? My Aunt Petunia said that they contained mercury!
Seconding rbjllj's comment above. Water and chocolate splashed *everywhere*. be very careful if you're doing this...
I would expect that these would be very hard to eat from without them cracking, breaking or melting. And I can imagine having these at a children's party with the chocolate all over their hands and clothes.
Even I wouldn't be concerned about what might leach out of a balloon, and I'm always thinking about this kind of stuff. It's probably a very small amount, and it's not as if you are eating these treats daily. However, I made these about 20 years ago and although I followed the directions very carefully, the balloons popped one by one, leaving maybe four in tact. I had chocolate all over the counter and backsplash!