Christmas Tree Surprises
Cercle V

Christmas Tree Surprises

Made with Hukambi 53%

An original recipe by Virgilia Lebigre

4 steps

Makes 12 pieces (Ref.: 12771)

Recipe Step by Step

Step01

HUKAMBI 53% GANACHE

480g Heavy cream 36%
80g Invert sugar
635g HUKAMBI 53%
1195g Total weight

Heat the cream and invert sugar.
Gradually pour the hot mixture onto the couverture.
Immediately mix to make a perfect emulsion.
Step02

HAZELNUT ALMOND SPONGE

490g Eggs
395g Raw hazelnut flour
395g Confectioner’s sugar
445g Egg whites
85g Sugar
110g Pastr y flour
80g European-style butter
2000g Total weight

Beat together the whole eggs, hazelnut flour and confectioner’s sugar in a food processor.
Beat the egg whites until stiff, adding the sugar little by little.
Sift on the flour and melt the butter.
Mix some of the beaten egg whites with your first mixture, followed by the flour, the rest of the egg whites
and the melted butter combined with a small portion of the egg and hazelnut flour mix.
Step03

HUKAMBI 53% COATING MIX

Melt the couverture and cocoa butter at 115°F (45°C).
Step04

HUKAMBI 53% NUT CLUSTERS

120g Chopped roasted peanuts
120g Crushed roasted hazelnuts
120g Crispy wheat flake cereal
240g HUKAMBI 53%
600g Total weight

Mix the peanuts, hazelnuts and crispy wheat flake cereal.
Add the tempered chocolate, put the mixture in molds and leave to set.

Assembly and finishing

Christmas Tree Surprises

As needed HUKAMBI 53%
400g 70% Peanut Paste
120g Ground roasted Cantonese peanuts


Make the ganache, cover it with plastic wrap and let it set at room temperature.
Make the hazelnut sponge, spread 1kg into each one of two 40 × 60cm baking sheets lined with a silicone mat and bake in a ventilated oven at 390°F (200°C) for
approx. 10 minutes with all the oven vents shut.
Make the spray mix.
Pour a thin layer of tempered Hukambi 53% inside the Christmas tree mold and let it set.
Make the nut clusters and immediately place them in a 6cm ring with a depth of 3cm, before leaving them to set.
Spread 50g of ganache on the inside of the molded chocolate using a small angled spatula.
Using a piping bag without a nozzle, fill the point of the Christmas tree with 5g of ganache and a 3cm sponge disk.
Continue with 5g of peanut paste, 2g of Cantonese peanuts and then a 4cm sponge disk.
Add 6g of ganache with a 5cm sponge, then 10g of peanut paste, 2g of peanuts and a 6cm sponge disk.
Repeat this process with 15g of ganache and a 7cm sponge disk, 15g of peanut paste, 2g of Cantonese peanuts and an 8cm sponge disk.
Finish off with 22g of ganache and a 9cm sponge disk, then seal with the Hukambi 53% couverture.
Leave to set in the refrigerator.
Turn out the tree, use some tempered chocolate to stick it on the nut cluster base and then spray it with coating mix tempered at 84/85°F (29/30°C) to give
it a velvety finish.
Garnish with decorative Christmas balls.

Meet the Chef

Virgilia Lebigre Valrhona Le meilleur pâtissier - Les professionnels
Pastry chef at Tain l’Hermitage

Virgilia Lebigre

Learn more