making a 3D Chocolate candy...tips?

[FINFAN]

DD's turnabout dance it themed "Diamonds are Forever" and she wants to ask her "friend" by making a 3d chocolate diamond and writing "Turnabout w/me?" on it. I have ordered the mold, but neither DD or I have ever made candy before ...who can help us? Do I need a double boiler or can she melt chocolate in the microwave? Is there a certain recipe to follow? Also, any tips on how to get it out and still be 3D and not broken? Her guy loves Hersheys chocolate if that helps any.

Thanks,


Pam

 

[piratesmate]

I've always used melting caps for molded chocolates so I don't know if it's any different with Hersheys stuff.

My molds came with directions that said to oil them first. I just take a folded paper towel, hold it against the top of the oil bottle & turn it over really fast. Then I use that spot to rub the mold. If the mold is too large I might do the bottle thing again, but I rarely need to do that. I've never had trouble getting the chocolate out...but what I make isn't very thick - nothing is over an inch. I guess something thicker could give you issues. You just kind of turn over the mold & twist.

I used to put the chocolate in custard cups & do them in an electric frying pan that had water in it...just warm enough to heat the water. That keeps the chocolate melted without burning. More recently the pan died & I did it in the microwave. I have no idea how long though. You have to be very careful not to overcook it though!! DD tried & wasn't stirring to check...just eyeballing it. The chocolate was retaining its shape even when nearly melted so she did it too long. It gets hard & grainy and you can't remelt it after that.

As for writing on it...I don't know what you're planning to do, but if shes good with a paintbrush I've done that to paint colors on the molds. Buy a brand new brush (obviously ) - I use a 000 which is really fine. And then just paint it one with white chocolate.

HTH

 

[FINFAN]

Thanks Piratesmate! The painting idea is perfect! I read that Ghiradelli milk chocolate squares turn out fairly well in the microwave, so I think since they are in DD's budget that she will practice w/those first. I will pont out to her to stir it. I also read to put the mold into the freezer after the chocolate has been poured into it to make removal easier...DD is combining Valentines Day w/the choclate "dance request"...using one gift to cover 2 events. Like I said, she is on a budget!
I ahd to order the mold and do not have it yet, so not sure actual size off the top of my head..I hope it is a manageable size to work with for a beginner.


Pam

 

[cryssi]

I made chocolate pour boxes and 3d ornaments for christmas. I've never made chocolates before. I used wilton candy melts and colored white chocolate.

I put the chocolate in plastic disposable decorating bags and nuked until soft, kneading the bag every 30 seconds. Then I piped it into the mold, tapping on a hard surface to get out all bubbles (for the pour boxes), swirling it around the mold for the ornaments. I put the molds in the fridge to harden, then popped the chocolates out of the molds. I found that it works best if your mold is clean (ie: don't re-use the mold unless you wash it or you will have a heck of a time trying to get that chocolate out). I haven't tried the paintbrush method, but if I get a more complicated mold, I will.

p.s. those ornaments are filled with m&m's and decorated with royal icing...

 

[piratesmate]

Yeah - I've put my molds in the freezer also. It does speed up the process...especially when you're making a couple pounds. But be careful not to leave it in too long...or remove it into a warm kitchen. Quick temp changes can cause "fat bloom" which turns the chocoalte white or grey. If the chocolate "sweats" - again rapid temp change or high humidity - you get "sugar bloom" and again the chocolate turns white or grey. I usually only leave them in a few minutes...maybe 5 - 10 minutes? Just long enough to fill the next set of molds....

ETA: Yes! What Cryssi said!! Definitely don't forget to tap the molds on the counter to get out the air. How could I have forgotten that? LOL

 

[FINFAN]

WOW cryssi! Those are from a first attempt? They are fab! Does the Wilton chocolate taste close to Hersheys? I guess this guy is a huge chocolate lover, but milk chocolate, doesn't like the bitter or cocoa type.
Great job on the ornanments! Thanks for the tip pn the bags...I did read about getting the bubbles out somewhere!


Pam

 

[piratesmate]

I missed that those were your first attempt, Cryssi! What a great job!!

 

[cryssi]

the wilton candy melts are ok...they don't taste like real white chocolate, but then again I don't like white chocolate anyway, so it's all good. I like them well enough.

I think that you will be fine with hershey bars, just practice first! I made tiger butter at christmas, too, and used hershey bars, they hardened just fine. I also use hershey bars as frosting on buttermilk brownies, yum, break up the bars and put the pieces on the brownie as soon as it comes out of the oven, it will melt by itself then you just spread it around...always a big hit!

OK, but back on topic...thanks! the ornaments were a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. be sure to post pics of the results... and definitely...everything that Deb said...!!

good luck!
c

 

[cryssi]

I missed that those were your first attempt, Cryssi! What a great job!!

thanks! I think I'm mainly a cookie person, but I've always wanted to do candy... I'm mezmerized by the racks of chocolate molds at the cake supply shops...roflmao

 

[FINFAN]

Well, DD is freaking out...the candy mold still hasn't arrived, matter of fact looks like a delivery date of 2/12...not much time for a practice run and then the real thing to have by 7 a.m. on the 14th! So, keep those tips coming, like I said, neither she or I have ever done anything like this before so working under pressure is probably not a good thing!


Pam

 

[cryssi]

how did they turn out?

 

[FINFAN]

Well, one thing I did not plan for was a mold that needed clamps ! It does not have a hole or anything to pour the chocolate into, so we winged it...did 2 1/2's,I oiled a baggie and placed it over the open top of the mold and popped them into the freezer. The 2 pieces popped right out which was REALLY nice, but now how to join then w/out a seam... so we melted/ tempered more chocolate and "glued" the 2 together...took so much time she ran out of time to paint the words on the diamond...but since it was 2 pieces, she just quick wrote on a piece of paper, put saran wrap over that, slid it into the chocolate diamond, "glued" it shut and saranwrapped the whole thing. She decorated a box and it looked really nice . I took a quick picture of the finished diamond in the saranwrap...chasing today but will post it soon. DD called on her way to work and said he said yes to the dance, and that he said it was the best chocolate he has ever had! So she was thrilled. She used Ghiradelli milk chocolate chips, so I guess they turn out o.k.
Thanks for all the help, but glad the pressure is off her!


Pam