How to Shave Chocolate

Reviewed by Gladys Jahn

Last Updated: October 24, 2024

Shaved chocolate is useful for adding to cake toppings and cold desserts such as cheesecake and custard dishes. It can be made from semisweet or milk chocolate, or white chocolate for a dash of variety. There are different ways of making shaved chocolate––several methods are provided here, for you to choose from.

Things You Should Know

For the best results, work with room temperature chocolate.
Grate chocolate over parchment paper to catch shavings as they fall.
For small shavings, press a vegetable peeler down the chocolate's long edge. For large shavings, scrape the peeler along the flat side of the chocolate.
You can also use a grater or shredder. Large grater holes create large shavings and smaller holes produce fine or powdery shavings.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using a vegetable peeler

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Note that different sizes of peelers will produce different sizes of shavings.
Place a sheet of parchment or a plate underneath, to catch the shavings as they fall.

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Hold it with one long side facing upward for small curls, or hold it flat for larger curls.
4
Hold the peeler in your other hand.
- For smaller curls: Press it down firmly on the side of the chocolate bar and drag the peeler along the edge.
- For larger curls: Scrape along the broad area of the chocolate bar, on the flat surface side.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using a glass dish

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1
Prepare the chocolate first.
- Put 1 to 1/2 ounces of chocolate into a heavy-based saucepan. Add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil or similar shortening.
- Place the saucepan over a low heat. Warm gently, stirring often until the chocolate and shortening has melted.
It should be longer at one end, to catch the curls once you push them off.
Spread it over the base of a glass baking dish. Use a metal spatula or the edge of a butter knife to help spread it evenly. Allow to set.
Hold it at a 45-degree angle and push the spatula edge into the chocolate sheet to lift up sections into curls. Push the curls onto the parchment paper at one end.
This will keep them from squashing or melting from your body heat.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using an oiled worktop

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1
Melt chocolate in a bowl set over simmering water.
- The chocolate must be at room temperature before using it.
Allow it to cool for one minute.
Pour the melted chocolate onto this surface and spread out thinly with a metal spatula. Ensure that it is evenly spread across the whole surface.
When it is about to set, hold a long and sharp knife upright, holding it non-blade side, lower end, with your other hand.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using a grater

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Place the grater or shredder over the top.
3
Grate the chocolate against the grater's holes. Allow the chocolate pieces to gather on the parchment paper at the base.
- Large grater holes produce large shaved chocolate pieces.
- Smaller grater holes produce fine or powdery chocolate shavings.

Community Q&A

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Question

Can I make shaved chocolate with a food processor?

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Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Staff Answer

If you have a grater disc for your food processor, it is possible to make shaved chocolate with it. Fit the grater disc. Add broken chunks of chocolate to the food processor through the feeder tube of the processor as you run it. One benefit of this is that the chocolate won't get as warm as when held in your hand against a grating tool. Remove the bowl from the processor and gently tap the shaved chocolate onto a plate for use.

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Question

The chocolate seems too soft to grate. What should I do?

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Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Try chilling the chocolate briefly in the refrigerator before you plan on grating it. You can also hold the chocolate with a piece of parchment paper or a silicone glove to avoid transferring your body warmth to the chocolate. Just be sure to keep your fingers away from the grater.

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How do I grate chocolate?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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To grate chocolate, you'll need a hand grater, a zester (special chocolate ones exist), or a box grater (use the smaller holes). Another alternative is a drum grater, which is a good choice when you want to prevent the chocolate melting, as it keeps the chocolate away from your warm hands. You can also freeze chocolate and/or the grater before grating, to prevent melting. Hold the chocolate bar in one hand, and the grater of choice in the other (or stand a box grated in place), then grate the chocolate downward over a plate. Keep your fingers away from the sharp grater edges. For a drum grater, follow the manufacturer's instructions.

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Tips

Straight vegetable peelers work well and easily for shaving chocolate but it won't look as professional as the other methods.

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If you want smaller shavings, cut with a sharp kitchen knife and scrape onto the food using the knife. Don't touch with your fingers or the shavings may melt from your body heat.

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Store the chocolate shreds inside layers of greaseproof paper inside an airtight container.

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Warnings

Hold the chocolate with care when using a peeler; a slip could cause the blade to cut your skin.

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Things You'll Need

Using a vegetable peeler
- Vegetable peeler, preferably a straight one
- Parchment paper or plate

Using a glass dish
- Heavy based saucepan
- Parchment paper
- Metal spatula
- Toothpick or skewer

Using an oiled surface
- Bowl and saucepan or double boiler
- Clean surface, such as a marble board or cutting board
- Metal spatula
- Long, sharp kitchen knife
- Parchment paper