Mendiants are a traditional French confectionery made from discs of decadent chocolate studded with a myriad of tasty toppings, such as nuts and dried fruits. They are super easy to make and look fabulous too.
MAKES 9
150g quality chocolate, chopped
A handful of dried nuts or dried fruits
- Add 3/4 of the chopped chocolate to a large bowl and place over a saucepan of boiling water. Carefully stir the chocolate until it has almost melted, then take it off the heat and stir until completely melted. Add the
remaining 1/4 of the chocolate and stir until all of the chocolate is melted. This is an easy way to temper your chocolate for a lovely glossy finish. - Add the chopped chocolate to a large bowl and place in a saucepan of boiling water. Carefully stir the chocolate until it has completely melted (you’ll need to do each chocolate separately if you are using more than one variety). Remove the bowl from the saucepan and set aside.
- Lay a sheet of baking paper onto a baking tray and spoon the chocolate onto this, creating little discs (leave sufficient space between them). Gently tap the tray onto the surface to make bigger, more evenly sized discs.
- Stud each chocolate disc with your choice of toppings.
- Leave the mendiants to cool for around an hour. Once they are hard, you can gently peel them from the paper with a spatula. To gift them, pop them into clear bags and seal with a ribbon.
[TIP] Try using three different types of chocolate for a variety of colours and styles (50g white, 50g milk, 50g dark). You can also use popping candy, edible glitter or meringue pieces for alternative toppings.
For a perfect shine learn how to temper chocolate or try mastering shortbread for an edible gift.