Chocolate mushrooms

Japan has a sweet tooth.  It is apparent with all the candy offerings one can find everywhere.  And with Valentine's Day, the chocolate was out in full force.

One treat we often have is kinoko no yama, little chocolate mushrooms with cookie stems.  There are also bamboo shoots.  Typically it comes in milk chocolate, but sometimes can be found in strawberry and dark chocolate.  Periodically seasonal flavors are available as well.  It isn't the best chocolate, but they are fun and cute.

I recently found a new variation - a make your own chocolate mushroom kit!  Boy, oh boy, was my son excited to make them.  He loves cooking projects.  And he LOVES chocolate. 

 

The kit included a mold, three tubes of chocolate, and cookie stems.  Directions told me to heat the tubes in some warm water until melted, then squeeze out into the molds as desired.  Once all the molds were filled, place a cookie stem in each one.  Let it harden and then enjoy!

Although very simple, it was a great activity for a 4 year old.  The Japanese have the cutest things...