Posts Tagged ‘candy making’
Written on March 25th, 2010 by blogno shouts
Suppose you’ve already made up or purchased the candy centers from a Cake and Candy store and are now ready to dip them in chocolate. We’ve always used the Merckens Brand of melting chocolate. The taste is of excellent quality and it is very uncomplicated to melt in the microwave or double boiler. This type of chocolate is a confectionery coating, also known as Rainbow Wafer, Confectionery Coating or Summer Coating. It can be used in candy molds by the beginner and/or professional candy maker. Compound Coating should not be confused with ‘Real’ chocolate. The confectionery compound coating has a rich chocolate velvety flavor, and may contain tiny amounts of cocoa butter or chocolate liquor, but they primarily contain other vegetable fats and cocoa for easier handling and quicker set up. Confectionery coating does not contain wax, which could be a health danger for some people. Use Merckens® instead and stop eating wax! Confectionery coating is not as sensitive to the high humidity and temperatures of summer. This sort of chocolate is easy to use and packed in a wafer form.
Drop one center in at a time, press it below the surface with the prongs of a dipping fork or spoon. Instantly lift it out. Rapidly lift it to a piece of waxed paper, and with a toothpick push it off, or turn it upside down and lay it on, rapidly lifting the fork; and in doing so, give it a twist to form the treads on the ends of the fork into desirable designs. With a little preparation you’ll be able to dip very rapidly, and can soon learn just how to turn the fork to make the most beautiful designs. If your melting chocolate is of the correct consistency each bon-bon will have a smooth, glossy finish.
A number of people might like to use nuts to decorate the top of the dipped candy. Slice the nuts in half prior to dipping and be sure to have them nearby. Just after a bon-bon is dipped, take the nut and place it on top of the candy. It is imperative to do this rather quickly, so that the coating does not harden. If you are too slow the nuts will not bond. Another technique to decorate the bon-bon is to drizzle white icing onto them. Make sure that the candy has thoroughly dried, then line them very close together in rows. Have your icing thinned out. Get a fork and dip it into the icing, pick up the fork up and drizzle over the bon-bons.
The utensils that you’ll need for this task can be found at cake decorating supply shops. For extra information please contact us at our wholesale cake and candy supply outlet.
Written on February 12th, 2010 by blogno shouts
Merckens® Compound Coating Chocolate is a Confectionery Coating, also known as Rainbow Wafer, Melting Wafer, or Confectionery Coating. The beginner and/or expert candy maker use this compound coating in candy molds. Compound Coating must not be confused with ‘Real’ chocolate. The Merckens® Confectionery Compound Coating has a strong chocolate velvety flavor, and might contain cocoa butter or chocolate liquor, but they principally contain other vegetable fats and cocoa for easier handling and faster set up. The colored confectionery coatings have a enjoyable vanilla flavor and that same velvety melt-in-your mouth feel. Confectionery coating does not contain wax, which could be a health risk for some people. Confectionery coating is not as susceptible to the elevated humidity and temperatures of summer. The chocolate is recognized for their creamy texture and distinctive milky flavor and its ease of in the wafer form. “Coating Chocolate” can also be used in a good number recipes that call on for “chocolate”.
The Merckens® line of Rainbow Compound Wafers is a leading brand in the home candy-making and cake-decorating markets. Merckens® chocolate is also a main ingredient in seasonal novelties, fund-raising and private-label candy bars. If a thinner coating is desired, paramount crystals* can be added. If adding flavors or colors, use an oil-based flavor. This product is prepared and packed using apparatus that may get in touch with wheat/gluten, eggs, dairy or dairy products, peanuts, soy or tree nut. The product is also Kosher. Unlike real chocolate, compound coatings do not have to be tempered**.
The Way to Melt Compound Coatings:
Double Boiler Method
1. Heat water in the bottom of the double boiler – take away from heat before the water boiling. You should be able to touch the water without burning your hands.
2. Put the top pot (or bowl), with a little quantity of Rainbow Coating, on the top of the pot with hot water. The water must not come in direct contact with the compound coating.
3. Swirl until melted; keep on adding compound coating until the desired amount of coating is melted.
Microwave Method Based on the wattage, you should find out the correct heat setting for your microwave.
1. For one lb. of Rainbow Coating, cook one minute on high-level. Mix.
2. Keep on cooking on medium in 10-second intervals, stirring every time, until the Rainbow compound coating is fully melted.
Crock Pot or Slow Cooking Method:
1. Put Compound Coating in a crock-pot; turn on medium for ½ hour, check every 15 minutes.
2. Once the chocolate has reached the proper consistency turn to low.
*Paramount crystals are chips of partly hydrogenated palm kernel oil pooled with lecithin and citric acid (as a preservative) for the use in confectionery coating and chocolate work. Once used it keeps the chocolate fluid. Used similarly to cocoa butter in chocolate work, except that paramount crystals have virtually no flavor (tasteless).
**Tempering chocolate is a process of using manipulation and temperature manipulation to force the chocolate into one particular crystalline form so that when molded it forms a stable solid with a smooth, glossy exterior. Failure to properly temper chocolate can result in dull-looking pieces with poor texture.
For more information pay a visit to your nearby oasis cake decorating supply store. Merckens Brand Chocolate can be found at stores that sell candy making supplies.
Written on January 30th, 2010 by blogno shouts
Candy molds are candy making supplies and are typically made out of clear plastic or rubber, and in some cases they are made out of metal. The material used to make a candy mold depends on the kind of candy they are meant to be used for. They also come in an huge variety of shapes and sizes.
Here are just a few of the shapes that candy molds come in:
-Thanksgiving: Horn of Plenty, Corn Cob, Turkey, Pilgrims, Pumpkin
-Graduation: Girl Grad, Boy Grad, Cap and Diploma, Congratulations Lollipop
-Halloween: Jack-o-lantern, Frankenstein, Ghost, Moon, Spider, Skeleton, Black Cat, Witch
-Anniversary Candy Molds: Congratulations Bar, Congratulations Lollipop
-Christmas: Christmas Tree, Santa, Poinsettia, Snowman, Toy Soldier, Reindeer, Star
-St. Patrick’s Day: Four Leaf Clover, Leprechaun, Shamrock, Irish Hat
-New Baby: Rattle, Baby Feet, It’s a Girl, It’s a Boy, Baby Bottle, Diapers, Stork
And we are just barely scratching the surface when it comes to the number of different shapes and designs that candy molds are available in. Plus, with the various colors of ingredients that can be used to make molded candies there is no limit to the ways your candy can be designed and personalized.
You can also use candy molds for making many other specialties other than just createing candy. Candy molds are great for making ice cubes or sugar cubes for a special event. They are great for making cream cheese treats, rice crispie treats, holiday mints or jello jigglers for special occasions. Some people even utilize candy molds to make decorations out of plaster. As you can see the only bound is your imagination when it comes to using candy molds.
Different candy molds are designed for different uses and they are made from different materials depending on that use. The materials used are customarily plastic, rubber or metal. Many candy molds are designed to make molded chocolates so they don’t have to be very heat resistant; while others are made for making hard candy and suckers, so they are made of material that can resist high heat so that the hot candy can be poured right into the mold.
Now, let’s say you want to make candy for a wedding or to celebrate your child’s sports team. By using different colored dipping chocolate or other different candy making ingredients you can come up with candies personalized to the color schemes of the wedding or the sporting teams’ uniforms.
Other good uses for the molds that tolerate heat is using them to make cookies or little cakes or even for making your own decorative soaps. The list goes on and on as to the ways in which candy molds can be applied to make treats and decoration to personalize a special event.
Here are just a few more ideas for utilizing candy molds: Gum Paste, Cement, Modeling Clays, Candles, Fondant, Sidewalk Chalk, Cinnamon, Play dough, etc. When it comes to working with candy molds you can let your imagination wander.
If you have an interest in finding cake decorating supply and candy making visit our website to receive our help!
Written on January 29th, 2010 by blogno shouts
FROSTING ALTERNATIVES
There are many cake decorating supplies that come in handy while creating a cake.
Canned and Tube Frostings – Easiest and quickest, prepared canned frostings are available in grocery stores in the baking aisle with the cake mixes. They commonly come in white, chocolate, and a handful of other well-known flavors. Keep a few ready-to-use tube frostings on hand in different basic colors to add the finishing touches.
Fondant Frosting – Gaining in popularity in this country in recent years, fondant frosting provides a beautiful smooth finish to your cake decorating creation. Fondant can be rolled out and draped over a cake, poured on as a glaze, or sculpted into shapes. It is easily tinted, and can be flavored as well. Ready-made fondant is obtainable through party supply outlets. There are also many recipes online for homemade fondant.
CAKE DECORATING WITH CANDY AND SMALL TOYS
Cookies, candies, and other materials can be used for special and impressive effects. Frosted sugar cones can serve as the fins on a space ship cake or the turrets on a castle cake. Make a surprise cake filling with jelly.
A wide variety of plastic stand-ups or cake toppers are available in craft stores. Or, simply utilize a toy which fits in with the party theme as a cake topper and give it to the party child when the party is over. Action figures, small dolls, animals and cartoon characters all make good options.
Add cool candy accents with M & M’s, licorice pieces, licorice whips, animal crackers, oreo cookies, paper umbrellas, pretzel sticks, tootsie rolls, jimmies, gummies such as worms, bears, etc, gumdrops, mini marshmallows, colored coconut, jellybeans.
THE LATEST CAKE DECORATING FADS!
There are many novel choices for placing the finishing touches on your party cake. Dress it up in style with one or more of these unequalled special effects:
Spray Color Mist – is a fun addition to your baking repertoire. Frost your cake white, then spray on edible color from an aerosol can. Available in many colors, it can be utilized with stencils to make unrivaled designs, as a highlight to whipped topping – even on your child’s mashed potatoes!
Luster Dusts – are an edible food safe “dust” which can be used on any frosting recipe that dries hard and firm to the touch. Brush it on white frosting for a metallic-like glossy sheen or layer it for interesting color effects.
Cake Stampers – can be used along with brush-on color for fondant icing. Simply stamp shapes and designs into the finished fondant and tint with brush-on color.
Cake Stencils – Place stencil on iced cake and sprinkle edible glitter, confetti sprinkles, or utilize spray-on color mist.
Edible Color Markers – These unequaled markers are used just like an ink marker. Draw fun designs on cakes, cookies, fondant frosting, even cheese, fruit slices and bread. Decorating marker kits are obtainable for children.
Edible sugar-shape decorations,
decorative candles, themed cake picks and rings, and edible glitter are all fun tools in your cake baking arsenal.
Now you’re armed with lots of great ideas for cake decorating success – without fear!
If you have an interest in finding cake decorating supply and candy making visit our website to receive our help!
Written on January 25th, 2010 by blogno shouts
You can begin your cake decorating with different cake decorating supplies such as icing tips, cake pans, mixer, icing bags, royal icing recipes, metal spatulas for icing, and mixing bowls. With the experience that you have, you may be ready for more baking inventory or cake decorating. The items below are the suggested items to be bought for cake decorating:
1. 2 lbs fondant icing, rolled, white, vanilla flavored – This fondant icing for cakes is non-stick and pliable. With a rolling pin, the icing may be rolled on the cake. This icing makes an foppish and satin- smooth finish to the cake. For the 3 dimensional cake decorations, the icing may be used as modeling paste. The Fondant has the perfect quality. It is available in many flavors and weighs. The product maybe utilized over the thin icing layer or with powdered sugar for it not to stick. Aside from the mellow and adorable flavor, it is also pliable and user friendly. The cake will have a sleek, beautiful and elegant look with the use of Rolled Fondant Icing.
2. 3.5 lbs Buttercream icing – The product is ready to be used in icing and cake decorating.
3. Hexagon pan – This cake pan has straight sides, a hemmed rim to make it more long, even wall thickness and in 16-gauge anodized aluminum. You may choose from wedding set, round set, oval set, square cheesecake pan with detachable bottom, heart pan, petal pans, and cut-corner pan.
4. Round pans by Magic Line – This set of cake pans include 5 pans of different sizes (14, 12, 10, 8, and 6 inches) which are perfect for cake decorating and baking needs.
5. 2 set cake pans of 2×2 inches to 20×2 inches. Cake pans that are 3 in deep are more affordable.
6. Fluted, round cake pans.
7. Angelfood Non-stick cake pan.
8. 3 tier dessert and cake stand
9. Rolling pin
All these cake decorating instruments and supplies can be found at several sites over the internet. The site contains all the new tools and gadgets that you will need for your cake decorating. The web caters to a starter baker or the professional one. You will not find it hard to get the tool that you want because this site has it all. It is also perfect for the people who are considering the cake decorating a business. The store has a reasonable price for each item so you are assured of getting your money’s worth.
From a simple hobby, cake decorating can grow to become your bread and butter. The cake making industry is a great industry that proves to be a business to other wealthy people. The need for cakes is unlimited and as long as there is a celebration you have a reason for being in the cake industry.
If you have an interest in finding cake decorating supply and candy making visit our website to receive our assistance!