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Everything You Need to Know About the Rise in Chocolate Costs
If you’ve been feeling deflated due to the rising Chocolate prices recently, you’re not alone. At Sephra, we understand the impact these costs are having on both businesses and consumers. Naturally, with such a drastic increase, there are many questions! We want to help our customers understand the key reasons behind the surge in Chocolate costs and explain how we are addressing these challenges.
How To Fountain Cheese Fondue
Are you out of fresh, fun party ideas for the holiday season? Got a chocolate fountain? Then how about cheese fondue?
3 Easy Easter Desserts Guaranteed to Wow
With Easter around the corner, excitement builds as we look forward to getting together with loved ones and enjoying all the festive fun. And let's be real, who doesn't get giddy about the abundance of Chocolate and sweet treats that come with Easter?
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Cookies n' Cream Cheesecake
Ingredients
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- 1½ pounds cream cheese, at room temperature
- ¾ cup sugar
- Pinch of salt
- ¾ cup melted Sephra White Chocolate (about 1 cup chips)
- 4 eggs
- ¾ cup sour cream
Preparation
For the Crust Wrap an 8-inch springform pan with aluminum foil to make watertight. Combine the cookie crumbs and the butter. Press ½ of the mixture into the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan. For the Filling Cream the cream cheese, sugar, and salt with an electric mixer, scraping down the sides often. Add the eggs, one at a time. Add the sour cream and mix well. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Mix in the melted Sephra Belgian White Chocolate.Pour half of the filling over the crust. Top with remaining cookie crumb mixture. Top with the remaining filling. Place the springform pan in a roasting pan, and place it in the oven. Fill roasting pan with water 1½ inches deep. Bake approximately 40 minutes or until the center of the cake is slightly firm. Turn off the oven and let the cake rest in the oven for 1 hour. Remove the cake from the roasting pan and refrigerate at least 4 hours before removing from pan.Crazy Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Cream the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and mix. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, soda, and salt, and add to the sugar mixture. Stir in the chocolate chunks. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375°F for 8-12 minutes. Do not over-bake; cookies work best when softer. Bake cookies according to recipe above. After cookies have cooled, scoop desired amount of softened ice cream onto bottom of cookie. Press another cookie on top of the ice cream with the bottom facing in. Trim the ice cream around the edges of the cookie with a hot knife until it is even. Wrap individual sandwiches in tin foil and freeze for 1 hour. Remove sandwiches and roll ice cream edges in topping of your choice. Rewrap in foil and freeze overnight. Before serving, dip sandwich halfway into melted Sephra Premium Dark Chocolate. Let set for 1-3 minutes in the refrigerator. Yield: 6 sandwiches
Creamy Lemon Garlic Sauce
Ingredients
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Preparation
In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the flour and cook for 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the garlic and continue to cook another 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk gradually, starting with about a quart. Add the lemon zest. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring often. Stir in the lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Strain through a mesh strainer. Heat: High Yield: Enough to run through the largest home fountains. Multiply quantities by 4 for large commercial fountains. Note: Select fountains hold 5-7 cups of fondue; Classic, Elite, and Signature fountains hold 7-9 cups.Creepy-licious Bats
Kids will love creating their own chocolatey bats.
Ingredients
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Preparation
Cover cookie sheet with wax paper. Melt Sephra Melano Dark Chocolate in a small bowl. Cover Nutter Butter cookies with chocolate. Let excess chocolate drip from cookie and place on wax paper. Place tray of cookies in the fridge to harden. Once chocolate has set, remove cookies and let your little trick-or-treaters decorate the bats with fun faces using gel frosting. A Twist: You can also decorate the bats with candy. Do this by letting the chocolate set only slightly before adding candy. Then let the bats harden in refrigerator before serving.Eggnog Dip
Fondue’n it festive!
Ingredients
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Preparation
Prepare the pudding as directed, adding the nutmeg to the 8 cups of milk (2 cups per box of pudding). Once pudding is set, add the remaining 4 cups of milk and the vanilla. Stir until fondue is at a uniform consistency. Run on no heat. Fill the fountain to capacity and refrigerate the remaining fondue for refills throughout event if necessary.Flourless Orange Chocolate Cake
Deeply rich chocolate cake with a festive hint of orange.
Ingredients
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Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°F. Melt the butter and chocolate with flavoring in a double boiler. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Stir in the egg yolks and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites with the cream of tartar. Slowly add the sugar and whisk to medium-firm peaks. Fold into the chocolate mixture. Pour into a greased 9” round cake pan and place cake pan inside a roasting pan. Pour water into roasting pan halfway up the side of the cake pan. Place in oven. Bake 25-35 minutes or until the center is set. Remove from oven and place cake pan on wire rack. Allow cake to cool completely before removing from pan. If needed, invert the cake pan and run under hot water to release cake. Yield: 10 servingsFootball Party Mix
This deliciously addicting snack mix will vanish by halftime
Ingredients
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Preparation
Melt the first three ingredients together in the microwave for 1 minute. Add baking soda and stir until dissolved. Stir in pretzels, nuts, and cereals. Continue microwaving for 3 minutes, stirring every minute. Line baking sheet with wax paper and spread mix out to cool for approx. 10 minutes. Drizzle with melted chocolate and refrigerate for 3-5 minutes until chocolate is set. Break mix into pieces and place in bowl to serve! Yield: 8 cupsGame-Time Ranch Fondue
Ingredients
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Preparation
Most brands of light ranch dressing will be thin enough to run through the fountain. If regular ranch is being used or if the light ranch is too thick, gradually add milk until fondue reaches appropriate consistency. Yield: Enough to run through the largest home fountains. Multiply quantities by 4 for large commercial fountains. Note: Select fountains hold 5-7 cups of fondue; Classic, Elite, and Signature fountains hold 7-9 cups.Grandpa Pinkal’s Famous Cookies
Ingredients
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Preparation
Spread crunchy peanut butter in between two crackers. Melt White and Dark chocolate in separate containers and then combine, mixing only slightly. Dip cracker sandwiches in chocolate until coated completely. Lay on wax paper to set. Yield: 24 cookiesHazelnut Fondue
A classic European flavor combination.
Ingredients
- 32 oz. hazelnut spread (ie. Nutella)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil*
- 2 lbs. (1 bag) Sephra Belgian Dark Chocolate, melted
Preparation
Melt hazelnut spread on half-power. Slowly stir in oil until spread reaches consistency of melted Sephra chocolate. Stir in melted chocolate. If fondue still seems thick or takes longer than 10 seconds to run through your viscosity funnel, thin with additional oil. *More or less oil may be needed, depending on the brand of hazelnut spread used. Yield: Enough to run through the largest home fountains. Multiply quantities by 4 for large commercial fountains. Note: Select fountains hold 5-7 cups of fondue; Classic, Elite, and Signature fountains hold 7-9 cups.Make your own Cream Cheese Frosting Fondue
Cheese fondue isn't always savory! Make this cream cheese fondue recipe with just a few simple ingredients. You will need:
- 3 lbs cream cheese (at room temperature)
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 1/2 cups milk
How to make the frosting fondue
Cream the sugars and cream cheese with an electric mixer. Then scrape down the sides of the bowl often to keep mixture smooth. Slowly add the milk until fondue reaches the appropriate consistency. Makes enough for the largest Sephra home chocolate fountains. Just remember to keep the heat OFF!Cream cheese fondue cake ideas
Cream cheese and carrot cake go together like chocolate and hazelnut. So here's a great carrot cake recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction blog. In fact, there are lots of foods that go really well with cream cheese frosting. Here are a few more from the Food NetworkWhat to dip?
If you're going to use the cream cheese frosting as a straight up fondue or dip, try these delicious dunking ideas:- Chocolate chip cookies (or make a whoopie pie)
- Pumpkin cake fingers
- Graham Crackers
- Brownie chunks
- Pretzels or pretzel rods
3 Delicious Holiday Gift Ideas for the Chocoholic in Your Life
With the holidays around the corner, it can be difficult to choose the perfect gift, especially those who already seem to have it all. If there's a chocoholic on your list, however, your task just became easier! Make this holiday special and delicious for the chocoholic in your life with these great gift ideas from Sephra, the chocolate experts!
3 New Chocolate Fountain Venues to Consider
Don't let your chocolate fountain rental business get too comfortable renting to the same clients. Branch out with these three new venues that hold events perfect for commercial chocolate fountains. Once they rent your chocolate fountain, these new markets
are sure to become or produce lifetime clients. Chocolate-Loving Schools What teenager doesn't love chocolate and wouldn't love the interaction of a chocolate fountain at the next dance? Homecoming and prom are two dances where schools could budget for a chocolate fountain rental. Since dance committees are usually formed with students to help decide the direction for the dance, you probably won't have to try very hard to convince these students and teachers that a chocolate fountain is just what their school dance needs. It could also help sell more tickets to students who otherwise might not have bothered to attend. Another avenue to explore is school fundraising events, especially in the private school and university sectors. Discuss the draw of the chocolate fountains and how that can benefit the organization. Especially in these difficult economic times, trying to elicit money from parents and alumni might result in more donations and a higher attendance if a chocolate fountain will be present for all to enjoy. Restaurant Buffet Events Many regular restaurants hold buffet dinners or lunches for special events and holidays to attract more business outside their normal clientele. Approach any of these restaurants with the idea of renting your chocolate fountain for their next buffet event, and they'll probably jump at the chance. Remind them that chocolate fountains not only attract positive attention and satisfy the chocolate cravings of hungry guests, but will help their restaurant stand out in the minds of these patrons who experienced your delicious chocolate fountain and are more likely to return at the next holiday buffet and spread the word. Get in Line at Summer Festivals Most areas in the country view summer as a time to celebrate just about anything. Summer festivals abound, mostly because they are successful at attracting large crowds to enjoy whatever that festival is celebrating. Rent a booth at your local summer festival and offer people a dipping package for a certain price, or different dipping choices, such as fruit and confections, confections and baked goods, or one of each to dip into your delectable chocolate for chocolate fountain. Of course, your business cards or a brochure will be handy so that anyone who tastes your chocolate can find out how to rent your chocolate fountain for their next event.Chocolate Fondue Recipes - Chocolate Dipped…Vegetables?
Perhaps parents will find a new way to get their kids to eat their veggies…by dipping them in chocolate! Chocolate chefs continue to push boundaries and create new chocolate delights using food most people would never associate with chocolate. Read on to see if you’re willing to try chocolate dipped vegetables.
Commercial Chocolate Fountain Health and Sanitation Certifications: Play it Safe with Sephra Chocolate Fountains
Operating any food business successfully means abiding by critical health and sanitation guidelines. To give yourself and your clients peace of mind, choose a Sephra commercial chocolate fountain. It's the only chocolate fountain available on the market that is tested and certified to NSF/ANSI standards!
Easy Fudge Recipe - A Delectable Holiday Tradition
So... the holidays are all about fudge. Am I right? If you don't have a good fudge recipe - you do now. Get the tradition started!
Recipe: White Chocolate Bark with Toasted Pecans
There's nothing better than a homemade gift – especially if it contains our White Chocolate Bark with Toasted Pecans.
How to make traditional Peppermint Chocolate Bark
Peppermint Chocolate Bark is the perfect holiday gift! It's super easy to make but looks VERY impressive.
Hauntingly good Halloween home fountain ideas
[caption id="attachment_2316" align="aligncenter" width="1773"]Apples are one of the easiest food items to dip and coat in a home fountain![/caption]
How to Pair Chocolate Fountains with Wine Tastings
If you offer a client a chocolate-covered strawberry, chances are she will want a glass of champagne to accompany it. Although chocolate and champagne are often associated, open your clients' eyes to the delicious possibilities of pairing chocolate with various wines. Pairing Red Wine with Dark and Milk Chocolate Milk chocolate is milder than its darker counterpart, yet still offers that creamy, rich taste. Sephra's gourmet milk chocolate for chocolate fountains is no exception. If you want to offer clients wine pairing suggestions for this chocolate, you could suggest Pinot Noir or a lighter Merlot, which will especially complement cheesecake bites dipped in milk chocolate. Other alternatives include a Muscat, Riesling or a Ruby Port. These choices shouldn't overwhelm, but instead enhance the flavor of the chocolate. The chocolate itself will return the favor for the wine being sampled. If your clients want dark chocolate for chocolate fountains at their wine tasting, you should recommend a more full-bodied, robust wine. Some of these wines might even possess nuances of chocolate themselves to further complement the decadent chocolate fountain and all its dipping treats. You could pair dark chocolate with a bold Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon, for example. A full-bodied Merlot or Pinot Noir would also pair exceptionally well with the richness of dark chocolate. Choosing the Perfect Complement to White Chocolate White chocolate for chocolate fountains is a lighter, sweeter chocolate with a creamy, buttery taste. White chocolate is more delicate but still pairs well with several wines. You could suggest Sherry or Orange Muscat to help complement the creamy texture of the white chocolate and accent the fruit tone in the wine and chocolate. A bolder choice would be to pair the white chocolate with an oppositely flavored wine like a Zinfandel. This wine will contrast the white chocolate and can work well if you find the right wine. It can be fun to experiment and feel free to get client recommendations that you can pass on to future clients who can't resist the idea of pairing wine and chocolate for their next sophisticated event. Hosting a Chocolate Fountain Wine Tasting Event A traditional wine tasting event usually has a theme, such as Italian red wines, and allows people sample more than one. You could let your client choose one chocolate and five accompanying wines to sample, or for a larger event, choose more than one type of chocolate fountain, such as two smaller fountains, one white chocolate and one dark chocolate. Then, offer a select number of wines for each type of chocolate. Guests will have so much fun sampling the various dipping treats and wine selections that the event will be a success and you will have yet another type of chocolate event to offer your clients.