Chocolate Curls

This lovely garnish for cakes, pies, or tarts can be made with dark, milk, or white chocolate.

1. Set a block of chocolate in a warm place, under a lamp, or warm it with 3 second bursts in a microwave, turning it over several times. It should remain solid but just softened enough so that you can scrape off malleable curls.

2. Use a paper towel to hold the chocolate and a sharp vegetable peeler to form the curls. Start at the upper edge and bring the peeler toward you. Firmer pressure will form thicker curls.

3. Use a wooden skewer to lift the curls gently and set them on top of the dessert as a garnish. (Alternatively, you can use a melon baller to scrape the chocolate into flakes, allowing them to fall directly onto the top of the dessert.)

Making Chocolate Curls

Use a vegetable peeler to shave off curls.