Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! Ok, now that I have your attention, lets talk about one of my favorite non-pressure cooker ways to use the Instant Pot……water bath. The Instant Pot is perfect for getting water hot enough to melt chocolate and then can be adjusted  down  in order to keep the chocolate warm as long as you need it. Back when I was younger, my mother had a small business making lollipops and colorful creations using chocolate melts and molds. I remember what a pain it was chasing the temperature of the chocolate around because if it got too hot while melting, you would get clumps and it would seize. Then you had to constantly keep it warm as you were using it and I recall the race to stir while microwaving, keep the supply of water boiling, replace the water in the ban marie when it would evaporate out of the large electric skillet she would use. It was a real pain.

With the Instant Pot, you can keep water at a boil to gently melt the chocolate and then  adjust it to low to keep the water at a steady temperature that keeps the chocolate from hardening without burning it. A large glass bowl fits snugly over the inner liner so you don’t have a lot of steam escaping and thus you don;t have to replenish the water. However, my favorite thing about using the Instant Pot as a double boiler for making chocolate creations is that you can set it on your table or wherever you are working, instead of having to stand over the stove. This was great while I was working on my Game of Thrones “chocolate” cake topper because it takes a long time to “paint” the chocolate into the molds and the chocolate has to stay melted the entire time.

Instant Pot Melted Chocolate or Candy Melts  

Recipe by Lana Horruitiner Perez and Sheri Abrams

• • Semi-Sweet Chocolate/Milk Chocolate/Candy Melts
  • 2 1/2 cups Water
• Equipment you will need: heat resistant bowl that will fit snugly on top of your Instant Pot liner and a molds if you are making candy.

Add 2 1/2 cups of water to the Instant Pot liner. (I have a 6 Qt Instant Pot. If you are using a 3 Qt only add 2 cups water. If you are using an 8 Qt you can add 3 1/2 cups.)

Press the SAUTE button and adjust to HIGH. When water begins to simmer, place a glass bowl over the top of the Instant Pot.

Pour the desired amount of chocolate or candy melts into the glass bowl. (I am making a Game of Thrones Cake Topper so I am using Candy Melts in black and red.)

As the chocolate melts, stir with a silicon spatula, making to sure to get all the chocolate off the sides of the bowl. Keep stirring until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Then turn off the Instant Pot and press the SAUTE button again and adjust it to LOW. You can now use the chocolate for dipping or candy making.

**To make this Game of Thrones House Targaryen sigil, I used a silicon cake mold. I melted red candy melts and with a pain brush and a toothpick, “painted” the red chocolate into the dragon spaces.  Don’t over fill. Tap the mold on the counter to settle the chocolate into the spaces. Then pour melted Black Candy Melts into the mold 1/2 to 1 inch thick layer. Place in the fridge to harden for 1 hour or overnight. To unmold, gently peel the silicon mold away slowly.

Here is a link to buy the mold I used. (It is an amazon associate link)  https://amzn.to/30sTFla 

Buen Provecho! Enjoy!