Panoramic Easter Egg
Chocolate Making Project

By Bob Sherman

This beautiful project makes a stunning display or table centerpiece. It is somewhat challenging as it requires several techniques including open top hollow molding, solid molding, and mold painting to make it look its best. Since this is an advanced chocolate making project the melting illustrations have been left out.

Most of the items you may need can be ordered directly from this page for your convenience.

PLEASE NOTE!! - Although chocolate making is relatively safe for the entire family to participate, adult supervision is required.

Chocolate
I prefer to use chocolate wafers designed for home molding chocolate. My preferred brand is Merckens which works well with all chocolate molding projects and tastes great.

Melting Chocolate
For a small project like this either melting method may be used.

Double Boiler / Fondue Pot.

1. Place chocolate in the pot.
2. Heat until creamy.
3. Check to make sure the temperature is no higher than 160 degrees F. before pouring. Pouring chocolate molds hotter than this will destroy the mold.

A microwave may also be used but care must be taken not to overheat the chocolate.

1. Place the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl.
2. Heat for 30 seconds.
3. Remove and stir.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the chocolate is creamy.
5. Check to make sure the temperature is no higher than 160 degrees F. before pouring. Pouring chocolate molds hotter than this will destroy the mold. Do not place the thermometer in the microwave!

1. This is the hardest part. Very carefully use a very sharp knife (I use a utility knife) to cut out the opening on the front of the egg. Start in the center of the outlined opening and slowly and carefully trim the plastic back to the outline. Do not rush this step since the appearance of your chocolate will be much better if you do it neatly.	2. The smaller mold cavities will need to be cut off before making the egg, however they can be left on until then. If you choose to leave them on position the mold halves atop bowls to hold them level.
3. Heat up some dark green chocolate and paint the tree top with a brush.	4. A lighter green was used for the shrubbery. Allow the painted areas to cool.
5. Fill the rest of the small mold cavities with colors of your choice.	6. Once the small pieces are out of the mold we can continue to the egg. Note: Once the egg is cut out of the mold sheets it can be made at the same time as the small parts.
7. Use a scissors to cut the egg halves from the mold sheets. Leave approximately 1/2 inch of flat area all around the mold cavity for clamping.	8. Align the 2 mold halves and clamp them together with mold clips.
9. Do not rely on the alignment tabs - run a finger around the seam inside the mold and adjust if needed.	10. Fill the mold approximately 1/3 full with melted chocolate.
11. Rotate the mold.	12. Continue rotating until the entire mold is coated right up to the edge of the cutout.
13. Allow the chocolate to drain. Wipe away any drips near the opening.	14. Allow the chocolate to cool. Repeat steps 10 through 14 until the desired thickness has built up. A minimum thickness of 1/8 inch is suggested.
15. Once fully cooled, prop it upright. Leaving the egg in the mold will prevent drips and finger marks on the outside.	16. Melt some chocolate and spoon it into the opening.
17. Allow the chocolate to harden enough to handle the mold without disturbing it. Place the mold in a freezer until the egg de molds easily.	18. Melt some chocolate and apply a dab to the scenery pieces one at a time. Start with the back pieces and work towards the front.
19. Close up of the inside. The scene can be arranged any way you like or you can use other suitably sized molds to make anything that you like for the inside of the egg.	20. The finished project.

Chocolate Making Supplies And Materials

The following chocolate making supplies and other materials were used to make this project. Clicking on the item name will bring you to that item's page with a full description and ordering information.

Support Free Projects
You can help ensure the continued availabilty and production of free chocolate projects by telling your friends about them. The more popular they are the more we can produce so tell your friends, mention them on message boards, link to them from your web site, etc... More information is available here.

Disclaimer: The information presented here is accurate to the best of my knowledge and common chocolate molding practices as of the time of this writing - December 2005. The author and the publisher accept no liability for the use or misuse of any of the information presented in this article. This articles is presented for informational purposes and is used at your own risk.

Author: Bob Sherman

Publisher: Bobby's Craft Boutique Inc.

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