The Cake Ball Chronicles: The Long & Shortening of It

Shortening may not be a desirable ingredient in your kitchen, but we've yet to find one that tops it. So far, we've found that it makes everything, from buttercream icing to melted chocolate, do its job a little better.

We add a tablespoon or two to each bowl of melted chocolate. We've found that it is especially helpful to thin out the white chocolate, which tends to be too thick for dipping. We still add a little bit of vegetable oil, too... we think it's the combination of the two that makes for chocolate perfect for dipping.

If your chocolate is clumpy, thick, or bubbly, just close your eyes, take a deep breath, and add a scoop of shortening. You'll be glad you tried it!