Hello all....
I am currently on to another project that involves modeling chocolate. I have found that it is nearly impossible to paint on modeling chocolate even with alcohol, as the color kinda starts to bead up. Does kneading in the color with the modeling chocolate work well??????

Yes, you can knead color into the product easily. Your regular gel colors will work - the corn syrup in the chocolate (or candy melts) allows the gel colors to incorporate smoothly. I have colored "real" white chocolate, Merckens, Wilton, and Make 'n Mold brands this way. Just be aware that all of these products have a yellowish base color that will affect your final color.

Thanks... I have always had a problem with coloring modeling chocolate. I normally prefer to paint most of my stuff but with this project I will not be able to. Thanks for your help... I am going to try kneading it in now.

I actually just did this Saturday. I tried several different things and what ended up working the best was a mix of Malibu (the only clear alcohol I had in the house) and gel coloring. The first time I tried to paint modeling chocolate my paint beaded up too; the trick is to use a lot less alcohol than you think you need. I only had to paint 3 little fish but I used 1/4 tbs gel color and 1 tbs alcohol and it went on smooth. When it was mixed it looked really dark, almost too dark, but I had already tried several different variations at that point and had messed up several of my fish so I was willing to try anything to get it right. I had to do several layers to get the bright colors that I wanted but it ended up looking great in the end.

I did that while painting a cell phone and it about drove me nuts. I have always painted on fondant and it was always so easy but when I tried it on the modeling choc I wanted to cry, as I had to do layer after layer. Kneading it in does work well. I am having to make a bulldog and it is turning out great. I don't know why I ever make figurines out of fondant or gumpaste. Modeling chocolate is wonderous.

I like to paint with luster dusts and confectioners glaze on modeling chocolate.

I just made a camera out of modeling chocolate and used gel coloring to paint it...worked fine

Those are amazing!!!!!!

I think that I will have to practice some more. My one run in with the phone did me in until today.

Do you think that my color beaded up because I touched the modeling choc. before I painted it? I have noticed that it gets a greasy feeling after your hands warm it a bit, and after it sets it dries semi hard and looks like fondant. Was thinking that since I was handling the modeling choc, my hands warmed it up so and thats why the color was beading.

that could definitely be the case!! I put the modelling chocolate on the cookies as soon as they came out of the oven and it melted it a bit and it got really greasy and I thought they were ruined, but I just let them sit for about an hr. and they firmed up and reabsorbed the oil and were fine. I did mix a little white coloring in with my colored gel, so maybe that made a difference?? I added the white to get the right color, but I wonder if it changed the way it adhered?

Well, it just gives me something other ideas to experiment with. Working with the modeling choc is great and I wanna continue using this stuff. I am determined to Find A Way. I now have a new quest and it is to me the queen of modeling chocolate.

I like to mix my regular gel colors into my modeling chocolate while it is still warm and oily. I put on gloves and mix it up with my hands, letting the excess oil drip off. Then I put it in Ziplock bag and let it set overnight.

does your modeling chocolate get hard as rock? Is it suppose to be that hard?

Yes ma'am mine does, but as soon as I start to move it around it softens right up.

What is a good recipe to make modeling chocolate?

I use the recipe on the back of the bag of Wilton candy melts. It is also on the Wilton website.

It's very simple, one bag of candy melts and 1/3 cup of clear corn syrup. Melt candy in microwave, add corn syrup and stir.

It's very important that you wait several hours, preferably overnight, before you try to use it.

Kim

I noticed above, someone said modeling chocolate is the Wilton candy melts? The stuff that they use as they do fondant? So it tastes better and is easier or harder to work with than fondant. TIA

I use 14oz chocolate melts and 1/3 cup corn syrup but I'm in a relatively humid climate so you might need to change it up a bit. I'm sure others have different variations; I've seen at least 6. Wilton also has one that my friend uses all the time.

It is made with candy ,melts and I find that it is much easier to work with then fondant or gumpaste. Only problem i have is painting on it. You can paint on it but it you touch it after painting your hand comes away with coloring.