Chocolate sprinkle hearts are a sweet hostess gift, and would also be a pretty addition to a party table. I made a batch of them on Midsummer's Eve, when we were invited to a friend's house for dinner. Having intended to make iced cookies, then running out of time, I remembered seeing these in Annie Riggs excellent Sweet Things, and quickly made some to take with us.
They were warmly received, and as we nibbled them after dinner with our coffee, my friend's husband (since renamed The Silent Assassin) offered to make us Vodka Espressos , which suggestion we welcomed with enthusiasm, our defences being already weakened by the champagne and pomegranate aperitifs, and excellent wine with dinner.
A vodka espresso tastes like sweet, cold coffee, but makes your brain feel like you are propelling yourself at speed in high heels into a moving truck. Drinking lots of vodka espressos makes your brain feel like you are propelling yourself at speed in high heels into a moving truck but you don't feel any pain until the next morning.
However, on the topic of the altogether more innocent chocolate hearts; what follows is not really a recipe, more of a friendly nod in the direction of some melted chocolate and a piping bag, if you want to make these pretty little things:
Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper and pour in your choice of sprinkles, giving the tin a shake to distribute them in a even, generous layer.
Melt 200g of plain, white or dark chocolate in a bowl suspended over a pan of simmering water. When it is melted and smooth, remove from the heat and allow to cool, stirring it every few minutes until it has cooled and thickened sufficiently to leave a ribbon trail, at which point you must the act with cool headed efficiency to pipe the hearts before the chocolate becomes too cold and stiff to pipe.
Decant the chocolate into a waiting piping bag (with a star tipped piping nozzle if you feeel so inclined, or just with the end snipped off), and pipe the chocolate hearts on top of the sprinkles. They will dry and harden in just a few minutes, ready to be packed into a pretty box or container.
For maximum effect, enjoy on Midsummer Eve, in the company of friends with a killer streak for making cocktails...