Box of Chocolates

Every Valentines day we like to create some gifts for our loved ones and use the day as an opportunity to celebrate love amongst all and spread kindness through our community with activities such as bucket filling with handing out kindness cards in the shape of a heart and flowers. 

This origami masu box is easy to make and provides the perfect little sectioned gift box to put your chocolates in. You can choose any coloured paper your like and any moulds to adapt this for other occasions such as mothers day, fathers day, birthdays, Christmas, Easter - there's so many options!

The Masu Box
What you will need:

• 3 sheets of coloured paper (1 for the lid, 1 for the box and 1 for the divider).
• Baking paper 
• 2 small paper doilies
• Material to tie it with (we used some linen that we plant dyed with avocado)
• Dried flowers
• Recycled paper heart

How to make your Masu box
Video tutorial 

Picture step-by-step tutorial 

Once you've made your Masu box, cut a square of baking paper and fit it into each section of your divider. This will be for you to put your chocolates on. 

Paint your paper doilies (optional) and let them dry. Fold them in half and cut a small section out of the center for your material to slip though. Glue one folded side of each doily, onto the lid of your masu box. 

 

The Chocolate Truffles
Ingredients

For the ganache

• 200g dark chocolate 
• 1/2 cup coconut cream
• Flavour options - we used Vanilla, Rosewater and Peppermint. 

Method

1. Break up your dark chocolate into a heatproof medium heatproof bowl.
2. Pour your coconut cream into a small saucepan and stir constantly on a low heat until the coconut cream is hot. Avoid boiling. 
3. Pour the hot coconut cream into the bowl on the dark chocolate pieces. Allow to sit for a minute and then stir until all the chocolate has melting and the two have combined. 
4. If you want to do multiple flavours, divide the mixture into separate cups/bowls and add your flavours then mix in. We did 1/2tsp of vanilla, 1/4tsp rosewater and 1/2 tsp of peppermint. 
5. Put your ganache mixtures in the fridge until they have reached a thick consistency that doesn't pour off the spoon.

To create your truffles 
You will need

• A mould - whatever shape you'd like. Simple hearts are great for valentines day. 
• 250g dark chocolate
• Your ganache

Method

1. Melt your dark chocolate in a double boiler or in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan containing water on a low-medium heat. Stir as it is melting and remove from heat once it's all melted. 
2. Using a small spoon, pour a little chocolate into each mould being sure to cover the base and sides of each shape. 
3. Add a small bit of your ganache mixture into the center of each shape. Avoid it hitting the sides and allow enough room for chocolate to cover over the top. 
4. Once you've finished putting in your ganache filling, pour chocolate into the remaining space/on top of the ganache in each mould shape. 
5. Refridgerate and remove your chocolates from the mould once they have properly set. 

Note: You can save any left over ganache to use in cakes.
If you would like to do some rose chocolates, you can sprinkle food grade rose petals in the mould before adding the first layer of chocolate.

Recycled Paper Hearts
Materials

• Shredded/ripped paper (add a coloured sheet if you wish to colour your paper)
• Water
• Blender
• Dried flower petals (optional)
• Towel
• Mesh frame & felt (optional - we recommend the paper making kit from Poppy & Daisy Designs)
• Heart cookie cutter
• Hole punch

 

Method

1. Rip/shred your paper to recycled. Put it in a blender and add some water. Blend it up so it's quite runny. 
2. Once you have your pulp, pour it into a jug or medium sized container. Something that you can pour from. Add more water if it isn't watery enough. 
3. Put your cookie cutter on a mesh frame. Sprinkle dried flowers into your cookie cutter first (optional) and then pour in some pulp. You want to avoid any gaps in your shape - I recommend pouring in to halfway up the cookie cutter. Sprinkle more petals on top (optional).
4. Allow the water to drain out and then carefully lift the cookie cutter off. 
5. Gently press down with your bit of towel or felt - trying to avoid squishing your heart out of shape, but absorning the excess water.
6. Move your paper heart to a towel or cotton sheet in the sun to dry, flip it once it's dried half way to avoid curling and dry evenly. 
7. Once your hearts have dried use your hole punch to create a hole to tie them onto your boxes.

Putting it together

1. Put your chocolates in your masu box and put the lid on. Next wrap your material around and through the paper doilies. 
2. Gather a little posy of dried flowers and put on the lid inbetween the paper doilies. 
3. Tie the material in a knot over the posy to hold it in position.
4. Slide one end of the material through the hole in your recycled paper heart and then tie your bow. You can write names or messages on your paper hearts in you choose.