Choc-pretzel Christmas trees

Ingredients

• 8 pretzel sticks
• 800 g good-quality milk chocolate
• 20 ml water
• silver and gold metallic edible balls or other sprinkles, to decorate

Setting time: 15 minutes

Instructions

1. Prepare a piping bag by fitting it with an 8 mm star tip, then set aside until required.
2. Arrange the pretzel sticks on a lined tray, ensuring they have a lot of space around them.
3. Temper the chocolate by placing it into a saucepan over an induction cooktop on setting 4. Stir continuously until you have 50% solids and 50% liquid. Transfer the chocolate into a heat-proof plastic bowl and stir vigorously until the solids have completely melted. (Alternatively, use this microwave method.)
4. Add the water to the tempered chocolate and mix to combine. This will thicken the chocolate and help it hold its shape.
5. Working quickly, transfer the chocolate into the prepared piping bag and pipe in a zigzag pattern starting small at the top of the pretzel sticks, gradually widening as you go to create a Christmas tree shape, leaving 20-30 mm of pretzel exposed at the bottom.
6. Before the chocolate sets, sprinkle the surface with silver and gold edible balls.
7. Place into the refrigerator for 15 minutes to set, then bring back to room temperature to serve.

Note

Store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.