Spooky Spiders with Raspberry Beetroot Chia Jam

Directions

Raspberry Beetroot Chia Jam – Spider’s inside and redback spot

1. Add the frozen raspberries (or any red berries) to a pan and heat gently until soft

2. Mash gently into a paste

3. Add 1 Tbsp Chia Seeds to combine

4. Add ½ - 1 tsp Beetroot Powder to combine (optional but adds colour and nutrition and you can’t taste it)

5. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight so seeds soften.

6. Tip – make extra because this is delicious on toast, in chia puddings etc

Chocolate Cups – Spider body

1. Shave Paste and Butter with a sharp knife for uniform melting (if not using buttons)

2. Slowly melt both over a double boiler on low with simmering water.

3. Once they are about half melted remove from heat and stir regularly until the melted mixture reaches 45 degrees (if you don’t want to temper your chocolate you can skip this part but it might not have the same sheen or texture)

4. Add maple syrup, vanilla and salt

5. Allow the mixture temperature to drop to 28-30 degrees – should take around 5 minutes depending

6. Add bowl to hot water for a few minutes to raise it to 31 degrees.

7. Spoon around a tablespoon of chocolate mix into a patty pan or silicon mould - make sure no water gets into the chocolate mix. Place pans onto a flat tray or muffin tray

8. Refrigerate for 10 mins until firm

9. Spoon chia jam into the centre (not too high so the top chocolate layer stays flat)

10. Spoon a small amount of melted chocolate on top of the jam

11. Cut and place 8 licorice spider legs inside so they are anchored by the melted chocolate (you can get licorice strips from the supermarket and they conveniently come ribbed in 8 sections – coincidence? We think not!) Dislike licorice? Use pretzels.

12. Pour more melted chocolate to the top of the patty

13. Refrigerate again for around ten minutes, checking at 5.

14. When almost set, stick candy eyes and Cacao Crunch onto your spider – if the cups have set, attach with a bit of melted chocolate

15. Add a small amount of chia jam for the red back (optional but very Australian)

16. Have a spooky time