Milk Chocolate

Milk Chocolates -  A jiffy sweet for all occasions.  This can be done in microwave or on stove top. Recipe from Chithra Ma’am (Chithra Viswanathan – A popular culinary expert  from  Chennai) !!

Keep ready all ingredients assembled including a greased plate / baking tray / dish. Use standard measuring cup.

Makes: 12 – 16 slices

Ingredients

Milk powder - 1 heaped cup

Cocoa powder - 1 tablespoon

Sugar - 1 level cup

Water - 1/3 cup

Unsalted white butter - 50 gm (1/4 cup) (@ normal temperature)

Method

Mix milk powder and cocoa. Sieve twice.

In a bowl / saucepan mix water and sugar, stirring well and  heat in a  on medium flame while stirring it occasionally.

To test the right consistency of sugar syrup, take a tea spoon of syrup  and drop in cold water - it should roll into a soft ball. That’s the correct stage. If it’s not forming to a soft ball, continue to boil  for 2 – 3 minutes until it reaches soft ball consistency.

Microwave method – In a microwave safe bowl of 1 litre capacity, mix sugar and water together and Microwave on high power (Power setting of my microwave oven is 750 W - high power) for 3 minutes. Switch off microwave and remove. Stir well and microwave again for 2 minutes. Test by dropping a drop of sugar solution in cold water – it should roll into a soft ball. That’s the right consistency.

To this  (thick sugar syrup) first add butter and mix well until it form a  smooth paste and without  lumps.

Add dry ingredients (sieved milk powder – cocoa powder) mix well with a hand beater or spatula or steel ladle until smooth and creamy.

Transfer to a greased plate. Spread the paste evenly with a flat spatula. Keep aside for 5 minutes and immediately thereafter cut into pieces of desired size and shape. Once it completely cools to room temperature, remove from greased thali / plate / baking dish. 

One may add chopped dry fruits like cashew, almonds, raisins etc. Add this during the final stages of paste; before spreading. 

These home made chocolates are a welcome change from the ones from shop. One can be assured of the taste and quality; at the same time much cost effective. The preparation will also give an amount of satisfaction. This can also be a  gift for your loved ones - in which case, cut into desired size and shapes, wrap in butter paper. Also, this is can be a perfect snack box item for the kids.