Chocolate-making is a true art form, but it’s also something that’s easy to have fun with in your own kitchen

If you’ve ever made rice-crispy cakes or brownies, you’ll be familiar with the simple pleasure of stirring a sticky bowl of melting chocolate and dipping a finger into the mixture. You might think that chocolate-making is a world away from baking with a bar of the stuff – and it’s certainly true that the creation of artisan chocolate is an art form and skill that can take years to perfect. But at beginners’ level, having fun making your own flavoured chocolate treats and truffles is actually surprisingly easy – and very satisfying.

The first thing to think about is the quality of your chocolate and where it comes from. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying a sugar-loaded bar from time to time, but true chocolate connoisseurs pursue their pleasure in much the same way as wine or coffee aficionados: seeking out artisanal and independent producers and looking into where the cocoa beans came from. When cooking or creating with chocolate in your own kitchen, it makes sense to pay attention to your ingredients – or the type of chocolate you choose to work with.