I just posted a how-to on my blog about the chocolate pine cones I made for a cake today. They looked really realistic, so I wanted to share the technique, since I dont think I've seen them made this way before.

However, whenever I think that I've invented something, I'll find it somewhere online the next day

http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com/2009/12/chocolate-pinecone-cake-and-how-to.html

HURRY bakers and decorators to Kara's blog - I've never seen this technique to make pinecones and needles - her tutorial is one to definitely download.

Congrats Kara - great idea - beautiful cake.

I've never seen that before. How clever! Thanks so much for sharing. I am going to give it a try.

Okay, so if I see someone on tv claiming that they came up with the idea, can I say they stole it from me?

They look so good I really like them!!! I will be saving your blog to my favorites

Those are the most realistic pinecones I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing your technique!

I'm so glad you posted this! They are amazing! I just saw a pinecone cake yesterday and wanted to try it out soon...perfect timing! Thanks so much! When I get around to posting the picture, I will definitely credit you...

That is am awesome way to make the pinecones, they look so real.
Thanks for sharing.

Oh! Those doooooooooo look real! Thanks for sharing the tutorial for them!

Those are awesome~~great tutorial.

I know I'm being repetitive, but it is the most realistic pine cone ever! and you are so generous to share it with us.

I did ask this question on your Blog comment...however, will also ask it on CC as others might want to know the information:

..."the trick to this was I heated the chocolate up way too much, in order to make it bloom when it cooled off"

Question: what temperature needs to be reached in order for the bloom to form when cooling - or do you just heat for a certain time?

I'm just beginning to work in chocolate - so learning. Thanks so much.

I didn't even bother to check the temperature of the chocolate, so I can't give you an exact temp. I put it in the microwave and melted the $&%$* out of it, basically. If you mishandle chocolate like that it will definitely bloom, so you don't need to worry about an exact temp. Just make sure to use real chocolate, not candy melts.

Kara,

These are the best pinecones I have ever seen..So realistic!! Did you use real chocolate or candy melts?

Loved your blog!!

Wow. I'm speechless. thats amazing.
just normal semi sweet chocolate chips for cookies??
Did you find the chocolate melting on your fingers as you worked with it?
That is just amazing. Wonderful work!

Oh..Okay great so you used chocolate chips...That's what I wanted to know!!

Ok you are agenius!! These pinecones look like the real thing. I will absolutely try these for my buche de noel this week. Do they take very long to make, my only wonder, they look time consuming. Beautiful work.

Great tutorial!

Great turorial!! I saved it to my favs!

thanks

Awesome!!!

Jen

those are great, thanks for sharing, love your blog too!!

what do u use to make the chocolate scales?

GREAT tutorial. They look absolutely real.
Thanks for posting.

thank you so much for the tutorial... can,t wait to try them.. they are the best i have ever seen..

Thank you for sharing that tutorial. I saw the same pix in Martha's book and just cringed at the idea of using "real" pinecones on a cake! I do have a question for you: my question is on the attachment of the "leaves" to the candy clay center: I'm trying to see how you did it -- are the pointy ends in toward the center? How did you layer it? I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around how it was done.