Chocolate Making Program for Teens

Photo by danieljean

Chocolate making is one of the most expensive programs I've ever done, but it's worth it because of how many teens show up for it.

Buying the chocolate moulds is expensive, but once you have a stash, you can reuse them as often as you like.

I got extremely lucky and found a bunch at a dollar store one year. Try Michael's if your dollar store isn't as obliging; watch for post Valentine's Day sales and stock up. As long as you don't hand out baby shower moulds or Christmas moulds in July, the teens won't mind. I have a collection of trays that runs the gamut from SpongeBob SquarePants to trucks to roses, and no one's complained yet. 

Must Haves (Preferably in your program room)

• a fridge with a freezer -- chocolate hardens faster in the freezer, and you'll be popping another tray every 30 seconds.
• a microwave -- nothing works so well to soften chocolate that's started to harden in the bag.  Some people suggest using a crock pot, but that was useless the one time I tried it.
• microwavable chocolate making bags -- see above
• bowls to melt the chocolate in, and spoons to stir the chocolate so it doesn't burn
• lots and lots of melting wafers  -- in white, milk chocolate and dark.  It also comes in rainbow colours. Buy more than you think you'll need and maybe send someone to the store for extra.  Or just stick with what you can afford.  The teens will keep making chocolates as long as your supplies hold out.
• Styrofoam plates and a fresh pack of kids paint brushes -- only needed if you're buying rainbow colours.  You can use the plate as a palate and paint the inside of a mould to add colour.  Cheap brushes with hard bristles work well.
• baggies to hold any chocolates that actually make it home -- pretty ones are usually available at the dollar store around Valentine's Day.
• a helper -- I've done this program on my own, but I don't recommend it.  I've done this program on my own with the fridge and the microwave in separate room; I really don't recommend that.

Prep:

• Set up your room with tables and supplies
• Melt chocolate in the microwave and portion out into bags right before the program starts
• Have a word search or quiz ready for when the chocolate starts to run out.  Have a game ready too, in case the chocolate runs out earlier than you expected. There are plenty of chocolate related games out there; just do a google search and pick one you like.
• Someone needs to man the microwave.  There's always one teen who forgets and puts a twist tie in the microwave. 

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