How to Make a Solid Chocolate Easter Basket at Home

Have you seen those beautiful, gourmet Easter baskets made completely of chocolate? If you've ever tried to buy one, you'll know that they can be wildly expensive and that can be pretty prohibitive for most of us. The good news is that anyone can make a gourmet chocolate Easter basket, or two or three, in just a single afternoon!

For each basket you'll need:

1 bowl the size of the basket you want

1 paper towel to cover your overturned bowl

1 square of Reynolds Non-Stick Foil large enough to cover your overturned bowl

1 bag of chocolate chips

2 ounces of household paraffin wax (can be found where canning supplies are sold)

1. Turn your bowl upside-down on a clean surface such as a plate or cutting board that will fit in your freezer. Place paper towel over bowl. Cover the bowl with foil, non-stick side up. Press foil to sides of bowl and spread excess foil flat on work surface.

2. Melt wax in a medium saucepan on low heat so as not to burn it. When the wax has melted, add chocolate chips and stir until melted.

3. Carefully coat the foil covered bowl with a single layer of chocolate. (This does not have to look perfect as it is the base for your basket. Place in freezer to set for approximately 15 minutes.

4. Remove chocolate covered bowl from freezer. With a spoon or ladle, drizzle chocolate over the sides of the bowl. (You want to leave the bottom of the bowl/basket flat.) Depending upon how ornate you want your chocolate Easter basket to be, you may have to return it to the freezer to set the layers of drizzled chocolate so you don't get a meltdown effect. For a colorful effect, alternate drizzling white chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate. For a fun kid's basket, stick M&M candies to the drizzled chocolate before it sets.

5. When the chocolate is approximately ½" thick all around the bowl, place it back in the freezer to fully set for one hour. Once it is fully set, lift carefully and turn the bowl right side up. Using the edges of the paper towel, carefully lift the bowl out of the foil and chocolate. Once the chocolate and bowl have come to room temperature, carefully peel the foil from the inside of your basket.

To make a completely edible basket, mix one bag of coconut flakes with several drops of green food coloring and use this edible grass to line your baskets. The fill with candy as you would any Easter basket. Children and adults alike will be thrilled to receive your solid chocolate Easter basket!