To all of you who have done those wonderful ocean-themed cakes with the chocolate shells and coral, can you let me know exactly how you did the coral? Is there a secret to making it look bumpy like the real thing? I need to do them for my daughter's wedding cake (we have to put them on ourselves, the baker won't unless we pay him an extra $300 to make them) before the reception starts. Thanks so much for your help everyone!
deb
My mom is in the baking program at the scottsdale culinary institute, and just attended a chocolate master class. They made gorgeous coral very easily. Get a bowl of crushed ice, pour the melted chocolate in. That's it!
The melted chocolate dripped into the crevasses between the crushed ice and cooled quickly and made perfect, gorgeous chocolate coral. I haven't tried it myself, but it looked easy in the pictures!
there is a patten that a fellow member posted.. and also a thread giving the directions... I'll try to find it... Did you do a search
I can't remember the chef's name, but once I saw a guy make coral by pouring chocolate over bubble wrap. Once it was completely cooled, you break off the piece that you need. Just another look for coral. I'll see if I can find it on the web.
It was Jacques Torres. Now lets see if I can find that cake.
Yea - I found it!! It's his chocolate seascape. If you look in the background and at the base of the design, you can see the "bubble wrap" coral.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_18812,00.html
How quickly do you need to make the coral? My mom is currently at the national pastry championships (eek! Watch for her helping out in the background on foodtv soon!) but will be back on monday. She took tons of pictures of the chocolate workshop, and I know there are some good pictures of the coral, both in progress and done.
Just to update you all, I went with using the pattern made by alaskanmom to make the coral pieces - thank you, they turned out great! The groom's mother and I decorated the cake together before the cocktail hour and everyone, including the happy couple were pleased (is in my pictures). Even though I did not bake the cake, was happy to be able to do a little part in the decorating. Thanks again for all the suggestions.
deb
Glad it worked out Momlittr!
Hey modthyrth - that crushed ice method sounds really neat! I'll have to try that next time!! How cool is it that your mom is going to be on Food Network??
So sorry I completely forgot about this thread and flaked out on those pictures! But the method you used was gorgeous, and how wonderful that you were able to add such a special touch to your daughter's cake.
Food Network flaked out at the last minute and decided not to film. 
Nobody knew until all the contestants were there to compete. too bad, because the SCI team my mom was assisting took home the GOLD!
I recently saw a thread where someone used the crushed ice method and then added white nonpariels. It added a perfect texture. I'll see if I can dig up and link that thread, and also try to remember those pictures from my mom!
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-49675-coral.html
there it is. Take a look at that gorgeous chocolate coral a few posts down! I really need to try this technique for myself!
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-49675-coral.html
there it is. Take a look at that gorgeous chocolate coral a few posts down! I really need to try this technique for myself!
Oh, that is Jan's work, I was just going to suggest you pm her and ask her if she would post this technique, it looks so much like real coral.
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