Chocolate Candy Making
Source of Recipe
Grandpoohbah
Molded Chocolate is Magically Easy
Those cute molded chocolate candies and lollipops you see in boutiques and candy
shops are delightful to look at and they're great to give as gifts and party favors,
however, the price tag can be forbidding. Why buy them, though, when you can
make them yourself? From beautifully basic molded chocolates to the most elaborate
hand-painted edible figurines, it's fun, affordable and surprisingly easy to create your
very own molded chocolate candies!
Choosing Chocolate
There are two basic kinds of chocolate you can use for molding. First, there is
high-quality chocolate with a large ratio of cocoa butter in it. This kind of chocolate
tastes the best by far, but it is more expensive and more temperamental. If you'd like
to make the investment of a little extra money and time, you'll be rewarded with
breathtaking, divine-tasting handmade candies, better than you could buy in almost
any store. High quality chocolate will need to be tempered.
If you'd rather opt for something that's cheaper, easier to work with and doesn't
require tempering, choose confectionery coating. This product comes in a rainbow of
colors and flavors in addition to the traditional chocolate flavor. Confectionery
coating contains vegetable fat rather than cocoa butter, which makes it much more
stable, though it does not have the same rich, complex flavor as high-quality
chocolate. Confectionery coating is great to use when you're making candies with
kids.
Essential Equipment
Besides chocolate or coating, there are a few other supplies you'll need to have on
hand before your candy making adventure can begin. First, you'll need molds. Most
candy molds are made of plastic and are quite inexpensive, so you can stock up on
all the shapes, sizes and varieties you could ever want for any occasion. If lollipops
are the order of the day, you'll want to have molds that are specially made for this
purpose - and remember to buy some lollipop sticks as well. If your candies are
going to be multicolored you'll also need some small paintbrushes to accomplish this
feat. It's preferable to buy the brushes at the same supply store where you get all of
your other equipment so you can ensure you're getting food-quality brushes that will
not shed tiny hairs in your carefully crafted candies. You may also wish to invest in
some plastic squeeze bottles. These work fantastically for keeping messes to a
minimum, and they're also a convenient way to keep the chocolate warm once it's
been melted; all you need to do is place the bottles in a pan of warm water, and
change the water occasionally to keep it warm. Lastly, you'll need a small palate
knife or offset metal spatula for smoothing down the chocolate once you pour it into
the mold.
How to Melt Chocolate
The most important points to remember when melting chocolate or confectionery
coating are: Never let water or other liquid to come into contact with it, and do not
allow it to get too hot. Water and excess heat will both cause the chocolate to
separate, rendering it unusable. You can check the temperature of the chocolate by
dabbing a small amount of it on your lips. It should feel just barely warm - definitely
not hot. The coating usually comes in small discs just the right size for easy melting.
However, if the product you're working with comes in a large block, you'll want to
chop it into small pieces first. The easiest way to do this is on a cutting board, using a
serrated knife. There are several different ways to melt chocolate or confectionery
coating. Here are some of our favorite methods:
* In the Microwave
This is a very easy way to melt chocolate! Simply place the coating in a
microwave-safe bowl and zap it on high power at 10-second intervals, stirring each
time, just until it's completely melted. * In the Slow Cooker
One of these, set on low heat, is perfect for melting chocolate and keeping it at just
the right temperature while you work with it. All you need to do is stir it occasionally
and keep an eye on it to make sure it's not getting too hot. If it does get too hot, turn
off the slow cooker and stir in a couple of pieces of unmelted chocolate to cool it
down quickly. * In the Double Boiler
This method allows you the most temperature control, and is best for higher-quality
chocolate. Set up your double boiler with just a small amount of water - the water
should not be touching the top pan - and set it over medium-low heat. Add your
coating pieces and stir constantly just until the mixture is smooth, then remove the
pan from the heat.
Once the chocolate is melted and smooth you can spoon it into plastic squeeze
bottles if you like, and set the bottles in a pan of warm water to stay at just the right
temperature while you work!
Multicolored Molds
To make intricate, multicolored candies, buy different colors of confectionery coating
and some small, food-safe paintbrushes. Paint one color at a time onto the surface of
the mold and allow it to harden before proceeding with the next color. Once each
color has hardened, fill in the remainder of the mold with whatever color of chocolate
you like.
Pouring Chocolate
Pouring the chocolate is the easy part! Simply fill up each mold slowly with a squeeze
bottle or a spoon. Scrape off any excess chocolate with your palate knife or spatula,
making the back of the mold smooth and even. If you're making lollipops, now is the
time to insert the sticks, giving them a twist so that they're completely coated with
chocolate. All that's left to do now is tap the mold on the countertop (making sure to
keep it flat!) in order to release any air bubbles. To make the chocolate harden
quickly, freeing up the mold for more candy making fun, put it in the freezer for a few
minutes. Once the chocolate is firm enough to lift easily out of the mold, just invert
the entire mold onto a clean towel and twist very gently until all the adorable candies
pop out.
Once your candies are complete, store them in a dry place at room temperature. To
give them as gifts you can pack them in fancy little baskets, wrap them in cellophane
and tie them with festive ribbons. Or just put them out in your favorite candy dish and
watch everyone's eyes light up!
|
|
member logon
