Cold Smoking Chocolate

[thehead]

Anyone here ever try cold smoking chocolate?  Either milk or preferably dark?

I was out shopping with the wife/kids last night and saw some fairly large dark chocolate bars and got to thinking....

Even the wife liked the notion.

Anyways - a quick search here didn't turn up a lot - so just curious.

I'm not sure that a bar of chocolate would pick up much from the smoke, personally - but really curious.

Wonder how chocolate laced with hickory would taste? :)

TheHead

[BuyLowSellHigh]

I think it would be fairly easy so long as you don't let it melt.  The fat content should help chocolate take on smoke fairly easily.  You could do a test for softening/melting temp before hand.  The problem is melting chocolate can be deceiving (melts but doesn't flow or move) and critical temps vary depending upon the fat content and cocoa solids fraction.  To be on the safe side you'll want to keep the temp below 90 F, unless you want to melt and smoke at the same time, then you could go to 115 - 120 °F, but then you'll want to use it right away or you will get into the tempering thing.  I think  I'd skip the milk chocolate.  Oh, and if you do melt it keep water away from it or you may discover seizure.

Check these out

http://www.knead-2-know.com/Smoked_Chocolate.html  (yes it can be done !)

Recipes using smoked chocolate:

http://www.knead-2-know.com/ChocolateIce.html

http://www.cookshack.com/moonshiners-chocolate-cake-with-smoked-chocolate-ganache-frosting (a variation)

http://www.starchefs.com/chefs/rising_stars/2007/atlanta/html/chocolate_tart_chad_guay.shtml  (not too sure about the "cigar smoked" thing, but like the overall idea)

http://www.starchefs.com/features/aphrodisiacs/volume_10/html/mousse_r_mendoza.shtml

[NePaSmoKer]

Been there done that  ;D

[BuyLowSellHigh]

Now I've seen it all -- smoked Peeps!  Over the top, NePaS, over the top!

[Habanero Smoker]

thehead;

I'll be interested in how it turns out.

[thehead]

Hopefully try it this weekend.

And I'll definitely report back.

edit:  OK - did the chocolate, some cheddar cheese and some steaks for tomorrow night.  Cheddar is mellowing, chocolate was tasted and needs to mellow - picked up the flavour VERY well.  Did some extra dark and some dark with almonds.

TheHead

[bob_loblaw]

Keep us posted on how the chocolate progresses, I LOVE the idea. 

[thehead]

After a week of mellowing the chocolate is outstanding!

Dark chocolate often has a slight smoky taste to it - this just adds to it!

Also adds a slightly sweeter taste to the chocolate.  Overall Outstanding and would do it again for certain!

TheHead

[Habanero Smoker]

Which bisquette flavor did you use? How much smoke?

[thehead]

Sorry - that's kind of important information - last week's a bit of a blur - my nearly 3 year old was in hospital all week:

1 hr of Applewood.

Both the Cheese and the chocolate came out outstanding as did the steaks cooked the next day.

TheHead

[FLBentRider]

my nearly 3 year old was in hospital all week:

I hope everything is alright!

[Habanero Smoker]

Sorry to hear about your daughter, I hope everything was resolved and she is alright.

[thehead]

All's well now with my son - he had a stomach bug that ended up causing some dehydration and other issues.  After almost a week in hospital he was able to come home.

TheHead

[Habanero Smoker]

Glad to hear he is getting better. I don't know why I thought your child was a girl.