Candy making

[sheilarose2]

I want to learn how to make chocolate candy for the holidays. I'm not talking about fudge. I'd like to make the type that you use the molds to make like santas, snowmen, suckers. I thought it might be something fun that my son could help with-to make for his classroom and to give as gifts to family and friends. I have no idea on where to start. Does anyone know how to do this and will it be easy. Thanks.
Sheila

 

[Lynn CC]

I went to a kitchen store and got the molds and the lolipop sticks. They sold the chocolate in bags of different weights that you just melt too. It was easy and the kids loved the homemade pops! Have fun

 

[swea_pea1]

I periodically make candy for the holidays...people do love it and yes, it's very easy. Some tips I've picked up: Use a double boiler, not the microwave, to melt the chocolate. I think the chocolate stays melted longer so you can work with it in the double boiler. Put marbles in the bottom pan in the water, that way you can tell when the water needs to be replenished. Also, I use one part white chocolate to two parts milk chocolate. It makes it so the candy melts in your mouth and you can hardly taste the white. Also yummy is putting a tablespoon or so of peanut butter in the chocolate.

You can go ahead and send me some of the rejects...I'll be your volunteer taster

 

[BlkBearSuz]

I love making these chocolates for the different holidays. It's so easy and fun. Here are a couple websites about candy making. They might be helpful for you.
http://www.makenmold.com/
http://www.wilton.com/

 

[aprilgail2]

Those little "chocolate" wafer things you use to make chocolate at home are not really chocolate. If you get a good chocolate bar and look at the ingredients they are not the same as those do it yourself at home things. I work for a chocolate company and we do sell those do it yourself chocolate things but they are not what chocolate really is. One of themoms made some for one of my daughters school parties, my 4 year old took one bite and asked me "mommy whats wrong with this, it doesn't taste like chocolate"....I mean its fun to make at home with your kids but its not so great to actually consume!

 

[whirlsy]

I would have to disagree with the above poster~ we make these all the time and they taste great. even creamy. They dont taste like hersheys but they come across like a white chocolate would. They are quick and easy and the kids love them. My dd class loved them and asked for more.

 

[eeyore74]

I make molded chocolates. Did them for my wedding favors. I get my stuff from candylandcrafts.com.

They have everything you could need, plus instructions. It's not difficult to do at all, just takes some practice to do fancier things.

You'll have fun making them.

 

[KathyFP]

I grew up making candy with my grandmother. Many many years now.

A previous poster is right - you should mix some white withthe chocolate tomake it milk chocolate.

Definately use a double boiler. If you do colors, use an electric frying pan, heat water in it and then use glass baby food jars for the different colors.

I would go to a real candy store that specializes in candy making to get the chocolate. Some times the over the counter stuff has a lot of wax.

We get our chocolate from the Amish here in PA (bythe hundre pound blocks)

Good Luck

 

[MICKEY88]

Originally posted by swea_pea1
I Also yummy is putting a tablespoon or so of peanut butter in the chocolate.

You can go ahead and send me some of the rejects...I'll be your volunteer taster

adding peanut butter does sound yummy...but could be very harmful if any of the children are allergic to peanuts

 

[wdw4us]

and learned from a local candy shop. She would have a one day class that lasted all day right around this time of year and at Easter. I learned more in a few hours from her. Then bought the stuff to make it from her.

What she did is put the candy wafers in a jar - like a canning jar, filled about 3/4 of the way up. She would boil water in a pan about 1/2 the height of the jar. Then take the water off the stove - put on a hot pad and the let the jar sit in the water to melt the wafers. DO NOT put the jar in the pan while it is on the stove - wait. I pre measured the water with the jar in the pan to make sure it would not overflow when I put it in the hot water. Let the jar sit for a bit in the warmed water and then stir with a wooden spoon (long handle) till smooth. AVOID getting any water in the jar as this would ruin your consistency. It's like a double boiler but you can have many colors that way at once and not worry about having to have a lot of pans.

You can keep your chocolate in the jars and reheat as needed throughout the day.

It was fun, I've made a lot of chocolates and they are always welcomed.

Try giving your local candy supplier or cake decorator a call to see if they have any classes coming up.

denise

 

[Harley Chick]

Don't forget that you can also make things like chocolate covered pretzels or chocolate truffles. They're really easy (and quick to make). Have fun.

 

[KathyFP]

Grandma makes chocolate everything. She uses a lot of colors for her candy and they look great.

Gram was making chocolate covered oreos for as long as I can remember. She makes all of the nut clusters. She will make chololate covered minni marshmellows (espcially at Easter). She has boxes and boxes of molds.

Now I am getting hungry. No chocolate before breakfast!

 

[believe]

I go to a specialty cake/candy store for my products (sticks, molds, chocolate). I use coffee mugs and a pan w/water. This allows me to melt as I go, just in case I have to quit because of time or company. I am not precise in my measurements. I just put water in a pan, about 1/4 to 1/2 up the coffee cup and add the chocolates to the cups to melt. If you go to a specialty store it is best to buy the chocolates that are already colored....they melt more consistantly. You can also make simple caramells by taking kraft caramels and dipping them in the chocolate then placing on wax paper. I have also made cashew turtles by melting caramels, mixing with cashews, spoon on to wax paper...once they have formed a bit then dipping into chocolate. Chocolate covered cherries and peppermints are easy to make also.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Originally posted by KathyFP

We get our chocolate from the Amish here in PA (bythe hundre pound blocks)

Good Luck

OMG.... a hundred pound block of chocolate. mmmmmm... DANGER DANGER DANGER

How big is it?