Instructions

1. Melt cocoa discs in the microwave in 30-second intervals, until they are melted. Sir in corn syrup. Pour the mixture on a sheet of wax paper and cool it completely.

2. Knead a piece of the cocoa mixture until it's soft. Gradually knead the cocoa mixture into the fondant until it's a uniform brown color. If the color is too light, knead in some black-gel food coloring.

3. Dust a sheet of wax paper with cocoa powder. Place the fondant on top and dust it with more cocoa powder. Put a second piece of wax paper on top and roll out the fondant with a rolling pin until it's 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick.

4. Remove the top piece of wax paper. Use a sharp knife to "draw" a bark texture on the wood by pulling the knife vertically across the fondant. The lines should occasionally intersect, and circular "knots" can be drawn in with the knife. Alternately, lay a wood-grain mat over the fondant and press hard; remove the mat slowly to reveal the texture.

5. Roll additional chocolate fondant into thin ropes and press them gently over the lines to add three-dimensional tree-bark texture.