How to Make Chocolate Curls

Chocolate curls are easy to make, and they add a touch of elegance to any cake, cupcake, trifle, or cheesecake! In this post, I’ve provided step-by-step instructions on How to Make Chocolate Curls, plus I’m sharing the best types of chocolate to use for chocolate curls, how to store the curls, and more! 

What Are Chocolate Curls Used For? 

Shaved chocolate curls are an easy way to elevate any dessert. From cakes to cupcakes to trifles, chocolate curls add a touch of elegance to your favorite sweet treats! 

Home cooks don’t often think to add chocolate curls to their desserts, mistakenly thinking they’re difficult or time consuming to make. 

However, shaved chocolate curls are incredibly simple to prepare! Simply melt some chocolate, smooth it over a baking sheet, and use an offset spatula to create the curls. 

If melting the chocolate sounds like too much work for you, I’ve also included instructions on how to make chocolate curls or chocolate shavings with just a vegetable peeler! 

Ingredients in Chocolate Curls 

To make chocolate curls, you’ll need ½ cup (4 oz.) of your choice of chocolate (more on that in a moment) and 2 teaspoons of your choice of fat. 

You can choose between the following:

• Butter 
• Coconut oil
• Vegetable shortening 

All of the fat options listed above work equally well for making chocolate curls, it’s just a matter of what you have on hand and your dietary preferences. 

Since you’re only using 2 teaspoons of fat per ½ cup of chocolate, you really can’t taste a difference between the butter, coconut oil, or shortening. 

If using butter, I recommend using unsalted butter for the purest chocolate flavor. 

Coconut oil will impart a very slight coconut flavor to the chocolate curls, but I promise it’s an imperceptible flavor difference. 

Shortening is the cheapest option, but I understand if you don’t want to buy an entire container of it just to use 2 teaspoons in this recipe. 

Can You Use Any Type of Chocolate for Chocolate Curls? 

Yes, you can use either milk, dark, or white chocolate to make shaved chocolate curls! 

However, I recommend using an actual chocolate bar rather than chocolate chips. Chocolate chips contain stabilizers that make the resistant to melting, so they’re not the best option for making chocolate curls. 

Can You Color White Chocolate Curls? 

Yes, once melted white chocolate can be colored before turning it into chocolate curls. 

To color melted white chocolate, you must use an oil-based food coloring that’s intended for coloring chocolate. A regular liquid food coloring from the baking aisle won’t work, as those are water-based and will cause the white chocolate to seize up. 

Can You Use Dairy-Free Chocolate? 

Yes, most definitely! Most dark chocolates are naturally dairy-free, but you’re welcome to substitute your favorite dairy-free milk chocolate if desired. 

To keep the chocolate curls completely dairy-free, melt the chocolate with either shortening or coconut oil rather than butter. 

Required Tools for Making Chocolate Curls 

Although shaved chocolate curls are a breeze to make, you do need some very specific tools to create them. 

Here are the tools you’ll need to curl chocolate perfectly every time: 

• Baking sheet — You can use either a flat cookie sheet that doesn’t have any sides, or you can flip over a regular baking sheet and use the bottom of it. 
• Offset spatula — You’ll need an offset spatula to smooth the melted chocolate evenly across the entire baking sheet. 
• Metal spatula — The size of the curls depends on how large your metal spatula is. I always use this spatula to make medium-sized curls. Alternatively, a bench scraper or a similar kitchen tool will work. 
• Parchment or wax paper — I always line the baking sheet before spreading the melted chocolate over it. This makes cleanup later on so much easier! 

How to Make Chocolate Curls 

My preferred method for making chocolate curls involves melting together the chocolate and fat source, then spreading the mixture over the back of a baking sheet and scraping it off to make curls. 

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to curl chocolate: 

1. Flip over a half baking sheet and place parchment paper or wax paper over it. Set aside.  
2. Combine ½ cup (4 oz.) of chocolate and 2 teaspoons of butter, shortening, or coconut oil in a heat-proof bowl. Set aside. 
3. Fill a small saucepan about halfway with water. Heat the water over medium-high heat on the stovetop. 
4. Place the bowl of chocolate over the saucepan, making sure the bottom of the bowl is not in direct contact with the water. 
5. Continually stir the chocolate until fully melted and smooth. 
6. Working quickly, spread the melted chocolate mixture over the back of the lined baking sheet. I like to use an offset spatula to smooth the chocolate into an even layer. 
7. Transfer the baking sheet to the fridge to firm up the chocolate. 
8. Once firm, use a metal spatula to push forward on the chocolate to create chocolate curls. If the chocolate won’t curl, return it to the fridge until firmer. If the chocolate flakes rather than curls, it needs to sit at room temperature for a few minutes to warm back up slightly. 
9. Make as many chocolate curls as you can, working at a steady pace. 

Tip: You can also melt the chocolate in the microwave at 15-second intervals, but I prefer the double boiler method as it ensures the chocolate won’t seize up suddenly. 

Tips for Making Shaved Chocolate Curls 

• Melting the chocolate: I prefer melting the chocolate on the stovetop using a double boiler. You can also melt the chocolate in the microwave, but white chocolate in particular tends to seize up when melted this way. 
• Adjusting the size of your curls: The larger the metal spatula you use, the larger your curls will be. Likewise, smaller metal spatulas result in smaller curls. 
• Chocolate temperature: If the melted chocolate is left in the fridge too long, it’ll harden too much and you won’t be able to make curls. If that happens, let the chocolate sit at room temperature for 3 to 5 minutes, then try again. 

How to Make Chocolate Shavings 

Yes, there’s a difference between chocolate curls and chocolate shavings, although most people use the two terms interchangeably. 

Chocolate curls are more uniform in appearance and are often larger in size. Conversely, chocolate shavings look like smaller flakes of chocolate that are usually sprinkled over an entire dessert rather than dotted individually over the surface. 

Making chocolate shavings is even easier than making chocolate curls, and you don’t have to melt the chocolate beforehand. Here are the top ways to make chocolate shavings using a vegetable peeler, a knife, or a box grater. 

Method #1:  Use a Vegetable Peeler

1. Working over a cutting board or plate, hold a bar of chocolate on its side. 
2. Carefully but firmly run the vegetable peeler down the side of the chocolate bar in short bursts. 
3. Rotate the chocolate bar as needed, using all sides to create chocolate shavings. 

Tip: If you run the peeler down the entire length of the chocolate bar, you can make tight chocolate curls instead of chocolate shavings. However, this method for making chocolate curls can be finicky and results in shavings more often than not. 

Method #2:. Use a Sharp Knife 

1. Place a bar of chocolate upside down on a clean kitchen towel so that the smooth side of the chocolate is facing up. 
2. Scooch the chocolate bar flush against your body. I like to fold the kitchen towel up my body so that the chocolate doesn’t come into contact with my clothing. 
3. Using a large, sharp knife, scrape the surface of the chocolate bar. You’ll want to scrape the bar in your direction. 
4. Repeat this motion until you’ve made enough chocolate shavings. 

Tip: You may need to use multiple chocolate bars, depending on the amount of shavings needed. As the chocolate bar becomes thinner, it will be more difficult to produce chocolate shavings. 

Method #3: Use a Box Grater 

1. Halve a standard-sized chocolate bar. Each half should easily fit into the palm of your hand. 
2. Refrigerate the chocolate bar halves, if needed. (You’ll likely only have to do this if your house is warm or if it’s summer). 
3. Once firm, gently run the chocolate bar over the smallest holes on a box grater to create shavings. 

Tip: A microplane zester can be used in place of a box grater. 

How to Store Chocolate Curls 

Chocolate curls should be stored in the fridge in an airtight container. I recommend storing the curls in a Tupperware container or something similar, rather than a plastic bag. When stored in a plastic bag, chocolate curls tend to get crushed. 

If stored properly, chocolate curls will last up to 1 month in the fridge. 

Can You Freeze Chocolate Curls? 

Yes, chocolate curls can be frozen for up to three months. Freeze them in an airtight freezer container, taking care to stack them gently in the container. Do NOT overfill the container, otherwise the curls will be squished. 

Frozen chocolate curls will last up to three months. 

More Kitchen Tutorials: 

Learning How to Temper Chocolate properly is essential when you want to make homemade candies, such as truffles or chocolate bark. Follow this how-to for all you need to know about tempering chocolate. 

Learning How to Make Ganache is just as useful as knowing how to temper chocolate. You can use ganache as frosting, a syrup, and more just by playing around with the ingredient ratios! 

During the holidays, it’s vital that you know How to Freeze Cookie Dough. This is a great trick to have up your sleeve if you know you’ll have lots of friends and family over soon. 

If you forgot to set your butter out to soften before making a recipe, don’t panic! You can soften butter quickly with or without a microwave. In this post, I’ve shared How to Soften Butter Quickly eight different ways. 

Knowing How to Bring Eggs to Room Temperature quickly is useful when baking cakes, cupcakes, waffles, and more. In this post, I’m sharing four methods for bringing eggs to room temperature and explaining why it’s important to do so.

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