Adding a dash of chocolate to your breakfast can make even the most boring and routine breakfasts luxurious and fun. Using the freshly shaved chocolate can transform any meal into something gourmet, especially if you have some hard-to-please kids. Think strawberries & cream oats with Dairy Milk shavings, or even the everyday porridge with some curly chocolate shavings over them. In case you want to save a bit of money, and you have a few bars of chocolate, you can easily make chocolate shavings at home.
In the realm of breakfast enhancements, few additions rival the simplicity and richness of Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate shavings. The best part is you can make it yourself right at home with just a peeler, grater, or knife. Chocolate shavings offer a practical way to make your morning meals a little extra without overwhelming them with sweetness. The delicate nature of properly shaved chocolate allows it to complement rather than dominate breakfast items, too.
Tools Needed for Chocolate Shaving
- A high-quality vegetable peeler (preferably Y-shaped)
- A sharp chef's knife or paring knife
- A fine grater
- Clean, dry cutting board
- Parchment paper for collecting shavings
Before we begin, consider the temperature of your chocolate, which is perhaps the single most important factor in creating the perfect chocolate shavings. Chocolate that is too cold will crumble rather than form elegant curls, while chocolate that is too warm will become gummy and stick to your tools.
Room Temperature Method (For Elegant Curls)
For beautiful, curled shavings that maintain their shape, your chocolate should be slightly cooler than room temperature – around 18-20°C. At this temperature, the cocoa butter in the chocolate remains firm enough to hold a shape but pliable enough to curl without breaking. Try the vegetable peeler for this one or a sharp knife.
Cold Chocolate Method (For Fine Shavings)
For fine, powdery shavings, refrigerate your chocolate until thoroughly chilled but not completely hard – about 7-10°C. The cooler temperature produces smaller, more delicate shavings that melt quickly when sprinkled over warm food. Try the fine grater for this one or a sharp knife.
Tips on Breakfast Additions
You can use your freshly made Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate shavings for different breakfast items, especially if they benefit from something sweet:
- Hot Cereals: Chocolate shavings melt readily into oatmeal, cream of wheat, or porridge, sometimes creating a marbled effect as they dissolve into the warm cereal. This transforms basic grains into a more indulgent yet still wholesome breakfast.
- Pancakes and Waffles: Incorporating chocolate shavings into pancake or waffle batter gives them a subtle chocolate pop. You can also sprinkle them onto freshly cooked pancakes, where the residual heat will melt the chocolate and make it pool.
- Yogurt Parfaits: Layering Cadbury Dairy Milk shavings between Greek yogurt and fruits creates an amazing visual contrast and lends a wholesome flavor to the dessert, which is also a perfect breakfast item. The chocolate complements both tart berries and sweeter fruits like bananas or mangoes.
- On Toasts: Think toast with hazelnut spreads with a light dusting of chocolate shavings. You can also try peanut butter toast with a sprinkling of chocolate shavings over the toast. You can also butter your toast, sprinkle it with cinnamon sugar, and add chocolate shavings. Melt the sugar and the chocolate in the broiler and enjoy a special breakfast.
- Overnight Pudding: Think of layering chocolate shavings between the oats and toppings for a streak of chocolate that infuses flavor into the dish overnight. You can also add it to chia puddings to add more flavor, and the crunch of chia seeds contrasts well with the chocolate shavings.
- Smoothie Bowl: Top your favorite smoothie bowl, say plain Greek yogurt with a tablespoon of chocolate shavings alongside fresh berries and a drizzle of honey. The protein from the yogurt combined with the small chocolate addition creates a satisfying breakfast that feels like a treat.
- Banana Breakfast Smoothie: Blend a smoothie with banana, milk, yogurt, and a bit of peanut butter, then top with chocolate shavings just before drinking. This approach keeps the chocolate as a garnish rather than overwhelming the nutritional profile.
- Coffee Companion: Simply top your regular morning coffee with a small sprinkle of chocolate shavings and a touch of cream. The hot coffee will melt the chocolate slowly, infusing the drink with subtle chocolate notes as you sip.