Why minimalist chocolate creations remain popular

Clean shapes, plain surfaces and a deep gloss. Minimalist chocolate creations remain popular, with chocolatiers and with their customers. They give the chocolate itself the leading role. But simplicity is demanding: on a smooth surface, every flaw stands out.

Why less is more

The chocolate takes centre stage: no decoration to distract from flavour, gloss and snap.
A timeless look: sleek pralines and bars fit into any range and any season.
Efficient to produce: simple moulds fill, vibrate and release easily, even in larger numbers.

A smooth surface hides nothing

You can recognise a good praline by its gloss, its hardness and its clean snap. With a mould that has plenty of relief, small imperfections are barely noticeable. On a sleek, plain surface you see them straight away: grey patches, dull spots or an air bubble. If you work in a minimalist style, you therefore need to have complete command of the technique.

Three conditions for a mirror-like gloss

Perfectly tempered chocolate

You only get gloss and a hard snap if the cocoa butter sets in the right, stable crystal form. You can read how to achieve that in Tempering chocolate: the basis for a perfect result.

The right mould

Dull patches mainly occur with moulds that have little relief, when the material of the mould contracts faster than the chocolate. Polycarbonate contracts more slowly than chocolate and is therefore the first choice for sleek work. More in Why polycarbonate is the chocolatier’s material of choice.

Patient cooling

Respect the cooling times and avoid sudden cold. If chocolate is cooled too abruptly it can develop a white bloom, and on a plain surface you will see that immediately.

Handle as little as possible

Chocolate is sensitive to light, air and temperature. The fewer the manual operations, the finer the finish and the better the hygiene. Automatic pouring, scraping and vibrating help you deliver every piece identical and flawless. A moulding machine with a vibrating table is a logical first step.