In the sense of true culinary definition...is there any difference b/w these three:
Candy Clay....Chocolate Plastic....Modelling Chocolate

Some use corn syrup or glucose or a cooled boiled sugar mixture...and theres the whole debate on "milking the fat" out before using, but honestly, is there any difference?
I'm waiting on the new CIA book to come in the mail but 'I'll be a monkey's uncle' if the answer is in there - so I had to ask here on CC.

In my experience, they are very similar. Making it yourself with chocolate and corn syrup saves some money (I do NOT milk the fats-it makes the clay too dry)

However, if you can afford to buy modeling chocolate, the commercial product tends to handle a bit better, for me anyway.

I don't use that particular recipe (I got my recipe out of a cookbook published by a fellow CC'er so I don't feel comfortable sharing the recipe without her permission) and I knead the fat out of it per her recipe, and it works great.

It's been my understanding that all those terms refer to the same thing. Jacque Torres called it chocolate plastic, some call it chocolate leather, etc.

Deanna

As far as I have found, those are just 3 different names for the same product. Some people just prefer to use different ingredients, sometimes.

HTH

I just posted a pic of a monkey cake that's covered in modeling chocolate that had the oil kneaded out of it while it was still warm. If kneading out the oil doesn't work for you, you need to go with whatever does. As with everything in cake decorating, all roads lead to Rome.

Deanna

ok sounds like they are all the same thing - just making sure I wasnt missing something - thanks

Candy clay is made from candy melts. Not actual real chocoalte. I don't know the difference between chocoalte plastique and modeling chocolate, but I'm pretty sure they use real chocolate that contains cocoa butter rather than candy melts that uses palm kernel oil or whatever the heck it is.

They are all similar but the one I like lately is JenniferMI's pearl clay. That stuff is a dream!

Yes that's Jen's stuff. She's been selling out of the videos like crazy. I think GlobalSugarArt is carrying them now. The Pearl Clay you can't buy, you make it. It's very easy to make.

bobwonderbuns - have you seen her "Fondant Frills" DVD? I'll buy it if it has tons of how to do super hard stuff.

I knead it in my hands not like bread on the counter letting the oil drip though my fingers into a bowl. I do not put it on ony thing to absorb the excess but I do wipe my fingers to get part of it off. then let it set

If you let the stuff in the bowl set overnight it will be a very hard fat that is why if you do not knead it you can get hard pieces in your finished product.


some people say it can be grainy but I bet they are warming it in the microwave instead of kneading it. and over heating it.

I love Jennifer Dontz's recipe- so easy, so tasty and makes a beautiful product!