What do you do with candy melts?

Candy melts are a waxy, sweet type of confection that can be melted and used for a variety of creative projects. The melts come in many colors, shapes and flavors, so the possibilities are endless. Some popular ways to use candy melts include making molded confections and chocolates, using them as cake and cupcake decorations, making candy bark, dipped and layered treats, creating candy-coated apples, and decorating cookies.

Additionally, they can be melted and used as an edible glue for attaching decorations such as sprinkles to cakes or as a thick, drippy coating for pretzel rods, candies and other treats. With candy melts, there’s so much opportunity for baking, sculpting and decorating all kinds of delicious desserts.

Can Candy Melts be eaten?

Yes, Candy Melts can be eaten. Candy Melts are made up of a compound of sugar, cocoa butter, meringue powder, and other additives, depending on the flavor. They are often used to make chocolate decorations, but they can be enjoyed just as they are.

Chocolates made with Candy Melts typically have a smooth, creamy texture and a deep, concentrated flavor. The melting quality of Candy Melts makes them an ideal treat for dipping, molding, and making chocolates.

Eating them as is can be satisfying but you can also jazz them up with a few of your favorite ingredients. Mix in some chopped nuts, cookie crumbs, or dried fruit for a fun and delicious treat.

Is it better to use chocolate or Candy Melts?

It depends on what you are using the chocolate or candy melts for. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

If you are looking for a quick and easy way to add color, decorations, and flavor to your desserts, candy melts might be a better choice than chocolate. Candy melts are pre-made wafers pre-colored with artificial coloring, which requires minimal effort to melt and use.

Candy melts are also less expensive than chocolate, so if you’re on a tight budget, they may be the right choice.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a more refined flavor, chocolate is the way to go. Chocolate is made with real cocoa, which gives it a richer, more complex flavor. It also melts at a higher melting point than candy melts, resulting in a thicker coating.

However, high-quality chocolate can be quite expensive, so this might be an issue if you are working with a tight budget.

Ultimately, it comes down to what you need the chocolate or candy melts for. If you are looking for ease of use and an economical option, candy melts are a good choice. If you are looking for a more flavorful option, go for real chocolate.

How do you melt the Candy Melts?

To melt Candy Melts, you will need a double boiler or a microwave-safe bowl. If you’re using a double boiler, add the Candy Melts to the top of the double boiler and heat on low. Stir continuously with a heat-resistant spatula until completely melted.

If you’re using a microwave-safe bowl, add the Candy Melts to the bowl and heat on HIGH for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between. Don’t melt all at once. Remove from the microwave and continue stirring until completely melted.

Once melted, use for dipping, coating, molding and decorating.

What happens if you add water to Candy Melts?

Adding water to candy melts will essentially ruin them and turn them into an unusable and unappetizing mess. The key to properly melting candy melts is to do so in a double boiler, where indirect heat is used to melt the ingredients.

If you add water directly to the melts, it will create a reaction that will render the product unable to be melted or used in any capacity. Additionally, adding water will ruin the flavor of the candy melts, making them taste unpleasant and no longer edible.

To avoid any disaster-related kitchen mishaps, make sure to always melt your candy melts using a double boiler or a melting pot specifically made for candy melts.

Can You melt candy melts in a Ziplock bag?

Yes, you can melt candy melts in a Ziplock bag. To do this, first place the candy melts in the zip-lock bag. Submerge the bag in a pot of hot water and watch closely until the candy melts are completely and evenly melted.

Make sure the water does not come in contact with the bag and melted candy. Once melted, remove the bag and carefully take it to a flat surface. To prevent spillage use scissors to cut the corner of the bag and gently pipe or squeeze out the candy melts onto a baking sheet as desired.

After that, let the candy melts cool for the desired shape. This melting technique can be used with candy making tools such as cookie cutters to create interesting shapes and designs.

What can I mix with Candy Melts to make it thinner?

You can mix vegetable shortening, corn syrup, Crisco, or canola oil with Candy Melts to make them thinner. Vegetable shortening is the most common choice because it is made from a combination of fats and oils, making it easy to melt.

Adding a few tablespoons at a time until you reach the desired consistency will ensure that the Candy Melts don’t get too thin all at once. Corn syrup will also work, but it usually gives the Candy Melts a slightly different taste, which some people may prefer.

Crisco and canola oil can be used as well, but they tend to give the Candy Melts a greasy texture. It’s best to add a teaspoon at a time until you get your desired consistency. It’s important to remember that no matter what type of thinning agent you use, the flavor of the Candy Melts will be affected.

Do you put Candy Melts in the fridge to harden?

No, you do not put Candy Melts in the fridge to harden. Most Candy Melts come with a special coating that hardens when it comes in contact with air, and so doesn’t require cooling. If you put them in the fridge, they may become too hard before you’re ready to use them.

To help them harden, try leaving them out somewhere cool, and avoid coming in contact with moisture or heat. Or, if you are using the Candy Melts with lollipop sticks, stick them upright in a Styrofoam block while they cool and harden.

This can be a great way to get them to keep their shape and avoid deforming.

Do I need to spray silicone molds for Candy Melts?

No, you do not need to spray silicone molds for Candy Melts. Fabricating silicone molds is often an expensive and time consuming step not necessary for Candy Melts projects. However, spraying them with a light coating of oil or butter can help prevent the Candy Melts from sticking to the mold and making it easier to remove and clean.

This may also help you from having to scrape pieces of the treat from the mold and give you a cleaner candy shape. You should experiment with different levels of oil or butter to see which works best for you.

Additionally, some silicone molds are made with heat resistent outer layers, and do not need an added layer of oil or butter. It is best to consult the instructions that come with your silicone molds and follow the best practices recommended by the manufacturer.

How do you get chocolate out of silicone molds without breaking them?

In order to successfully release chocolate from a silicone mold without breaking it, it is important to properly prepare the mold before use. Grease the mold lightly with a light cooking oil such as vegetable or corn oil.

This will act as a release between the chocolate and the mold so that the chocolate will come out easily when the mold is inverted. Place the mold in the freezer for at least 30 minutes prior to use.

This will create a colder temperature which will make the chocolate harder and thus easier to remove from the mold.

Once the mold is filled with the melted chocolate and allowed to cool, place the mold in the freezer for another 10-15 minutes. This will ensure the chocolate has become even harder and will easily pop out when the mold is inverted.

When inverting, do so quickly but carefully. Gently tap the back of the mold to help the chocolate release from the mold. If tapping and inverting does not work, run warm water over the back of the mold.

The heat from the water will help warm the chocolate and make it easier to remove.

What is the easiest way to remove chocolate from molds?

The easiest way to remove chocolate from molds is to first chill the chocolate in the refrigerator or freezer for 15-20 minutes. This will help the chocolate to set evenly throughout the mold and make it easier to pop out of the mold.

Once chilled, gently tap the bottom of the mold and loosen the edges of the chocolate by running a butter knife or small spatula or dowel around the edges of the shape. After that, you may need to tilt the mold to help loosen the chocolate shape.

Finally, you should be able to pop the chocolate out of the mold.