Make your own fancy chocolate letters

Millions of little temptations roll off the production line every year, but nothing is as much fun as spending an afternoon making your own Sinterklaas treats with the kids. Or without them. The book Strooigoed teaches you how to make marzipan confetti and filled spiced biscuits, as well as your own decorated chocolate letters.

door Lieve Thuis

Once you’ve eaten this chocolate letter, you’ll never go to the shop for one again. Or, well, maybe for the salted caramel one. It may be a little more work, but it’s absolutely worth it.

Method
1. Melt the chocolate for the letter au bain-marie. Meanwhile, fill the moulds with a layer of nuts and dried fruit. Bring the chocolate to temperature and fill the mould with the chocolate. Place the mould in the refrigerator for at least 1 to 2 hours. Once the chocolate has completely set, carefully remove the letter from the mould by tapping the mould against the countertop. The letter should come loose by itself.

2. For the piping chocolate, melt the chocolate au bain-marie. Meanwhile, beat the butter until light and fluffy in a food processor or with a hand mixer. Bring the chocolate to temperature. Add the chocolate to the butter and continue beating until the chocolate mixture is firm enough to pipe. This may take a few minutes.

3. Fit a piping nozzle into the piping bag and fill it with the piping chocolate. Pipe the chocolate onto the letter, forming small circles with the piping bag each time. Garnish the chocolate with chopped pistachios and rose petals and let it set completely in the refrigerator.