CHOCOLATE PINE CONES

Winter Celebration Cake with Chocolate Pine Cones

Chocolate Pine Cones are perfect for creating rustic and festive winter desserts, especially when paired with sprigs of Sugared Rosemary and Sugared Cranberries.   The simple design is so easy to make, and perfect for a winter celebration when sprinkled with powdered sugar snow!  

Chocolate Pine Cones

WINTER CELEBRATION CAKE

One of my favorite desserts to make around the holidays is a Winter Celebration Cake - and the star of the show are these Chocolate Pine Cones - made with a super easy chocolate fudge and lots of sliced almonds. Beautiful in its simplicity, the natural and rustic look works perfectly with my northwoods themed celebrations.  ​

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE PINE CONES:

• Melt chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, butter, salt and vanilla extract to create a fast and easy fudge.
• Cool fudge and shape into pine cone shapes.
• Insert almond slices to create pine cones.
• Chill until set.
• Sprinkle with cocoa powder for a natural look, and sprinkle with powdered sugar for a snowy effect.

CHOCOLATE PINE CONE RECIPE VARIATIONS:

• To make Chocolate Pine Cones WITHOUT nuts, substitute Chocolate Frosted Flakes for the almond slices.
• To make Snowy White Pine Cones, replace the chocolate chips with white chocolate chips – these are super pretty when sprinkled first with baking cocoa powder and then dusted with powdered sugar for a new fallen snow look!!
• For the most realistic looking pine cones, create different sizes and styles – some laying flat, some standing up.  

CHOCOLATE PINE CONE SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

• Chocolate Pine Cones are stunning when served with sprigs of fresh rosemary and fresh cranberries, or try Sugared Rosemary and Sugared Cranberries for a festive look!
• Top winter-themed cakes, yule logs,  cheesecakes, cupcakes or decorated sugar cookies
• Perfect served with winter fruit pies, fruit tarts and chocolate tarts  
• Edible place settings
• Chocolate Pine Cones are also super cute on winter-themed charcuterie boards or dessert boards!
• Winter tablescapes – just make sure they don’t get too close to candles!

Chocolate Pine Cones

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE PINE CONES

Chocolate Pine Cones are perfect for creating rustic and festive winter cakes, especially when paired with sprigs of Sugared Rosemary and Sugared Cranberries.   The simple design is so easy to make, and perfect for a winter celebration when sprinkled with powdered sugar snow!  
​

Chocolate Pine Cones

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups (18 oz) chocolate chips
14 oz. (1 can) sweetened condensed milk
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla or almond extract
3 cups sliced natural raw almonds
¼ cup baking cocoa (for dusting)
¼ cup powdered sugar (for dusting)
 
HOW I MAKE THESE:

1. Line 2  large baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
2. Combine the chocolate chips, condensed milk, butter, salt, and almond extract in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for one minute on 50% power, then stir well.  Continue to microwave in 20-second increments, stirring every time, until the mixture is entirely melted and smooth.  You can also use a double boiler rather than a microwave if you prefer.
3. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the chocolate, and let it sit and firm up enough to roll—about 2 hours at room temperature, or 45 minutes in the refrigerator.  If it gets too cool it will be difficult to work with, so check frequently!
4. Use a cookie scoop to form fudge balls and place on prepared baking sheets.  For large pine cones (3-4 inches each), use about ¼-cup each.  For smaller pine cones (about 1-1/2 inches each) use a medium cookie scoop—you should get about 24 to 36 pine cones of this size.
5. Roll the fudge between your palms into an oval shape. Gently pinch one end so that it has a pine cone shape.
6. Starting at the base, gently and carefully press the almond slices into the core.  Overlap the almond slices slightly, continuing to add sliced almonds in an overlapping pattern, working from back to front, until each pine cone is covered with almond slices. 
7. For a realistic look, use only whole pieces of sliced almonds, and tilt them forward towards the tip of the pine cone, rather than having them stick straight out.   
8. Once all of the pine cones are decorated, place them in a cool location for about 15 minutes, to allow them to set.
9. When you’re satisfied with your design, dust the pine cones with cocoa powder for a realistic look. 
10. For snow-covered pine cones, lightly dust with powdered sugar.
11. For decorating and serving, gently place them on cakes, cupcakes, tarts, or use them as an edible place setting!  They're a little delicate, since the almonds are prone to breaking if handled roughly, so I recommend using a spatula to transfer them instead of grabbing and moving them by hand.
12. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to a week.   I don’t recommend freezing or refrigerating, as condensation will form on the chocolate layer when it’s chilled, and the cocoa powder and powdered sugar will dissolve away.

 
YIELD:  15 large  pine cones, or 24-36 small pine cones
 
RECIPE VARIATIONS:

• To make Chocolate Pine Cones WITHOUT nuts, substitute Chocolate Frosted Flakes for the almond slices.
• To make Snowy White Pine Cones, replace the chocolate chips with white chocolate chips – these are super pretty when sprinkled first with baking cocoa powder and then dusted with powdered sugar for a new fallen snow look!!
• For the most realistic looking pine cones, create different sizes and styles – some laying flat, some standing up. 

 
SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

• Chocolate Pine Cones are stunning when served with sprigs of fresh rosemary and fresh cranberries, or try Sugared Rosemary and Sugared Cranberries for a festive look!
• Top winter-themed cakes, yule logs, cheesecakes, cupcakes or decorated sugar cookies
• Perfect served with winter fruit pies, fruit tarts and chocolate tarts  
• Edible place settings
• Chocolate Pine Cones are also super cute on winter-themed charcuterie boards or dessert boards!
• Winter tablescapes – just make sure they don’t get too close to candles!

Originally posted December 2017, revised and reposted December 2021.
 
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