Valentine's Day Chocolate Cups

Surprise your sweetheart with Valentine's Day Chocolate Cups! Fill the cups with your favorite sweet, and you're ready to serve.

Makes: 8 cups

Chilling Time: 25 min

Cooking Time: 5 min

Ingredients

• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
• 8 small round balloons (see Note)

Instructions

1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper.
    
2. In a medium saucepan, melt chocolate and shortening over low heat 1 to 2 minutes, stirring just until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Allow to cool to point where chocolate is not hot enough to pop a balloon, but is still pourable.
    
3. Inflate balloons to about size of an orange; tie knots to seal. Starting halfway from knotted end, spoon chocolate over outside of balloons, completely covering outside bottom half of each. Allow excess chocolate to drip off bottom of balloons and place them on lined baking sheet.
    
4. Chill 25 to 30 minutes, until chocolate is firm. Carefully pop balloons and remove them from chocolate cups. Chill cups until ready to serve (see suggestions below).
   

Notes

• Anyone with an allergy or sensitivity to latex should NOT make or consume these dessert cups.
  
  
• Serve each chocolate cup filled with about 1 cup of your favorite mousse, pudding, or ice cream, and garnished for Valentine’s Day or any special day.
   
• For other tempting treats, download our Recipes for Romance: 30 Valentine's Day Desserts and Drink Recipes free eCookbook.