questions about candy making

[Tiggeroo]

Almond bark- does it really have almonds in it? What is it, where do I find it? Is some brand better then others? I might need a large quantity so can I buy it that way?

Tempering - I tried it and didn't do well. Does all chocolate have to be tempered? Is there some chocolate better then others for this? I used chocolate chips. One batch seemed sort of right the other didn't.

ps. I don't like the fake chocolate so with either of these I want to use good chocolate. How can I do this.

 

[tinkerella]

Hi,

Economy Candy on Rivington Street (Lower East Side) in New York City sells it in dark chocolate, milk choclate, and while chocolate.

Tinkerella

 

[Tiggeroo]

NY is a bit too far for me to go for candy supplies. I either want to order it or find a local place. I just need to know what to look for maybe at Sam's.

 

[lovemygoofy]

My Sam's here sells a big block of Girahdeli chocolate that I use for baking.

Depending on what and who I'm using it for, I will melt some of it in the microwave with a bit of milk. If I need to it be very melted, liquid like I do the cheap double boiler method. I take a big pan and heat up some water and stick a mixing bowl in the water just on top so the bottom is being heated and sit there to stir the chocolate until its melted.

I'm pretty sure that almond bark just has almond extract and not actual almonds in it.

 

[plutolovr]

Don't use chocolate chips for anything but chocolate chip cookies. They are not the same as real chocolate.

Real chocolate does need to be tempered and it's a complicated process. If not done right your chocolate will not set up properly.

I use Merckens chocolate to make candy. It does not need tempering and it comes in dark, milk and white, and also colored. I believe there's also a sugar free version. You just melt it and use. Do a search for them. I live in South Jersey and go to a place called Cannons in the Clementon area. They sell it in 1, 2 and 5 pound bags. I'm not sure if they'll ship but go their website and there's information for you there. Hope this helps.

 

[Nevergrow'nup]

I get my almond bark at walmart. It doesn't have almonds in it but it does say on the package that it is made with machinery that also produces products with nuts. I only use this when there is no nut allergy worries.

I also don't temper this. I microwave it first for 1 min. then 25 sec at a time stirring in between times.

 

[Tiggeroo]

clementon is a doable drive, also dh works there pretty frequently so if I knew exactly what I wanted I could send him there. Merckens has a good taste?

 

[curlybop]

I get my almond bark at Kroger. Just b/c it's in small cubes, instead of a huge block. Melts much quicker. Merckens has a great taste, but no one around me sells it. Used to get it from a seller on eBay, but she no longer sells it either.

 

[pperfectmom]

I make bourbon balls every year for Christmas and usually temper the chocolate. It is a pain in the butt and this year I did not have the patience for it and decided to use the big blocks of Ghiradelli from Sam's. It says double chocolate but tastes like milk chocolate to me. It is definately not as good as tempering the good stuff yourself but is much more forgiving. I, for one, would love one of those devices that temper your chocolate but they are like $300-$400 so I don't think it will be in my stocking any time soon. As far as the almond bark stuff, stay far away from it if you actually LIKE the taste of chocolate.

 

[aprilgail2]

clementon is a doable drive, also dh works there pretty frequently so if I knew exactly what I wanted I could send him there. Merckens has a good taste?

The merkens melting wafers are fake and they really DO taste it...they are as bad as the wafers you get in the bags at craft stores. I work for a chocolate company and we make real chocolate but in the store out front we also sell that melting stuff. The ladies tha buy it insist that they are using "real" chocolate and don't want to hear any different LOL...I show them the ingredients and they still don't believe it. They say you can't tell the difference but if you gave my daughter both, even when she was 5 years old, she can tell the difference and she won't eat that fake stuff.
Our almond bark is milk chocolate with almonds in it, nothing else.

 

[Imzadi]

I think the Fudge Shoppe on the Boardwalk has almond bark. Also, many people on the Budget Board say they get it at Walmart. If you have a Trader Joes near you they have some. Not sure it fit's called almond bark there, just big broken up blocks of chocolate.

 

[Mandy_in_NC]

I buy my Almond Bark from Wal-Mart. It does not have any nuts in it. I makes really good candy. I am going to make some candy when I get home tonight from work.