Hi everyone,

So, I tried making the strawberries in tuxedos today, but it was a disaster! I couldn't get the Nestle White chocolate morsels to melt, they got harder the more they stayed in the hot water. What's a good white chocolate to use for this kind of work? Is there anything I can do to make the morsels smoother/softer???

Thanks for all the comments/suggestions!!!

It sounds like the chocolate overcooked, you have to be really careful. I always just melt mine in the microwave, I've also heard of people putting in a crockpot and putting on low. Sorry it didn't go well!!

how exactly did you do it?

When you do the double boiler, either a glass or stainless bowl over just an inch or so of water, make sure NO steam gets into the chocolate, or it will seize and then you're done for. Time to start over.

DO NOT boil the water, you just need to melt the chocolate, nothing more.

Again, the most important thing is NO moisture in the chocolate. Even the slightest bit of moisture is bad news.

Chocolate is my main business, so ask away if you need to.

I like to melt my chocolate in a double boiler like Cakeman66 said but I also melt in some Parafin Wax.

Lazy_Susan

Cakeman66,
Do you know if there anything I can add to white chocolate to make it whiter?
White chocolate in Australia is actually yellow! Well, it has a yellow-y tint. I want to "bleach" it to make it look nicer.
Thanks!

You know, I knew I'd get stumped!

I really don't. I'm not a fan of white chocolate, though I've not seen anything out there that isn't off-white. I try to use Nestle White Chocolate bricks as they're the best in my opinion. Still not white, but...

I've never really thought about making it "whiter". Now I'll be looking all over for the answer.

Thanks cakeman66! I'm sure we'll find an answer somewhere.....

Are strawberries even in Season now? I would like to have some for my Valentine's cake I need to make. Where can I find them?

Lazy_Susan

I just bought some Strawberries this weekend, I think they were from Mexico. No, they're really not in season yet, but I LOVE strawberries, and they were better than not having them at all! They weren't bad--when the CA berries make it here, that will help. I'm really just waiting for June when I can go pick my own and have shortcake for dinner!

Yeah I just checked Safeway Grocery Store Website and it says they have fresh strawberries. I'm wanting some for a Valentines Cake so I think I will go get some

Lazy_Susan

I've always used a double boiler as well, and Add just a little parafin to it. I think the key is the temperature, you can't rush it.

Good luck!

I put a little Crisco in my chocolate when I am melting it. I think it gives it a little smoother texture.

I didn't think of the glass bowl... I just put the chocolate in a pan and that pan in a bigger one with water... I don't know why, but to me, if I don't keep in the stove, I feel it's going to harden fast...I guess I should try the pyrex (will that work in a double boiler?) or microwave... We'll see next time! Right now I'm eating strawberries in milk chocolate, since the white didn't work!
Thanks everyone for the great suggestions!!

Oh! I got my berries this weekend from Costco and they are beautiful and delicious!!!!

Re: whitening white chocolate

You can add titanium dioxide to the white chocolate to whiten it. YOu could also try color-flo from AmeriColor mixed with their white coloring. There's a thread about color-flo and how it works on CC if you want to read it.

White chocolate is naturally cream colored, so you won't find a true white white chocolate. to get it true white you'll need to add an additive (mineral or coloring). Be carful using colorings though, you have to use the oil based ones(specific for chocolates)..not the water based ones or else the chocolate will seize.

Thanks cande!
Where will I find titanium dioxide? Isn't that a sunscreen?
I will do a quick internet search and see if I can find some info.......
Thanks!

Okay - I just found a company in my state that sells food grade titanium dioxide.
I never knew it was used in food....but I did a search and I see that it's used in chocolate, icing sugar, toothpaste, cakes etc to improve their brightness.
Thanks for the tip cande.

Make N Mold makes a white chocolate candy melt called Wedding White. They really are white, and have a marshmallow creme look when they're melted. They're in the wedding sections of some craft stores. Around here, the only stores that carry them are Hobby Lobby stores.

Deanna