Chocolate Showpiece Castle

This chocolate showpiece castle stands close to five feet tall and is comprised primarily of poured chocolate that has been cut into sections and pieced together.  The towers are made using modeling chocolate wrapped around cylinders, allowed to dry and then removed.  Paper cones were used as molds for the conical roof sections.

Showpieces like this start out with a template as a guide.  I usually try to make each individual piece no longer or wider than a sheet pan so that it may be easily and quickly produced and stored on a tray cart.

The architectural elements were set on a raised support of stacked cake circles to the desired height.  Melted chocolate was then thickened with a little water and applied like plaster to build up the rock foundation.  As the chocolate began to set it was quickly carved into the cliff formation with a paring knife and stairs were added at the same time.

The completed centerpiece was sprayed with chocolate starting with the hardest to reach areas first and then a good finish coat.  Were I to do this again, I might consider placing a sheet of chocolate behind the windows, as open windows on a centerpiece tend to make it look vacant.  Notice the difference between this piece and the pastillage skyscraper, where the windows are covered.

Castles make impressive showpieces for buffets and special events.  The variations are endless and limited only by the imagination.  The links page shows another style of chocolate castle, as does the castle wedding cake page.