Urgent Help Needed! Modeling Chocolate/candy Clay
Decorating By cakinqueen Updated 8 Feb 2006 , 6:30pm by SquirrellyCakes
I used 5 lb of CK candy kote wafers and 1 2/3 cup of corn syrup. It was really oily last night I kneeded it and wrapped tight in plastic wrap over night. I unwrapped it and could use it as a weapon. I remember reading somewhere you could soften in microwave at 50% I did that. Its now crumbly, and gets hard if it sits for more than 3 mins(I was trying to work with small batches). What am I doing wrong? Can this be fixed? I have more chocolate and corn syrup but I am afraid to do anything.
Thanks for your help
Candy clay is going to be hard the next day. I'm not sure I'd microwave it. It should soften up from the warmth of your hands if you kneed it.
I have no idea if these are good recipes, or whom to credit, but thought I would share.
Chocolate Clay
Clay made with Candy Melts will be softer than clay made with real dark chocolate. For dark chocolate, use 10 ounces. chocolate to 1/3 cup corn syrup. Milk and white chocolates as well as compound coatings require less syrup. Chocolates with a high-ratio of cocoa solids will require a little more than 1/3 cup syrup. Since all chocolates vary so much, you may have to adjust the quantities. To make a firmer clay, use a little more chocolate (or slightly less corn syrup).To make a softer clay, use slightly less chocolate (or a little more corn syrup).
I work with several different recipes. My favorite:
1# semi sweet chocolate
1/2 cup glucose
2 tsp ice water
Gently melt the chocolate. Stir in glucose and mix together lightly. Add water. Stir together being careful not to overmix. Spread mixture out thinly and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to ripen overnight.
Toba Garretts
1# semi sweet or bittersweet chocolate
2/3 cup corn syrup
Thanks for your recipes. I had to throw out all 5lbs it was such a waste. But I could not bring it back to life. I halfed what I had left added more chocolate then when that didn't work I took other half added corn syrup that didn't work. I see glucose being added rather than corn syrup, that could be the problem.
Thanks again
I have only ever made it up in smaller batches at a time, the 14 ounces of Candy Melts to the 1/3 cup light corn syrup and not had a problem. I then knead only small portions at a time the next day.
Sorry this didn't work out for you!
Hugs Squirrelly
I make the candy clay very often & use the same recipe that SquirrellyCakes uses. It will look oily & it will be hard the next day. I would not recommend heating it in the microwave even at 50%. You can over cook the melts & ruin the clay. That would just be a waste of your time & money. The best way to work with this stuff is just knead it in your hands. You own body heat will soften it up perfectly.
Don't give up. The end product is WELL worth the effort!
Good Luck 
I am wondering if making up such a large batch made it a bit unmanageable to work with. Also the corn syrup ratio was a bit low in relationship to the ratio that Wilton recommends.
Hugs SQuirrelly
I am going to try again tonight. The reason why I made such a big batch is I am making a headboard to a bed that is 22 inches wide. I thought it would be easier to make up the bigger batch and work from there. Thankfully the candy was given to me so I didn't waste alot of money. I had made it befoere and didn't have a problem. Thanks for all your advice and help.
Not sure if there is a reason that you want to use the candy clay for this, but I wonder if just making it like a chocolate transfer would give you another option, just melting the chocolate, doing your outlining, letting it dry and filling in with the chocolate. Letting that dry and putting an extra coat of chocolate on top.
Thought I would also add this in case you were interested. Another idea for making a heard board or parts of a bed is to use those special wafers from Poland that are quite large and are like icecream cone wafers, but can be cut. They can be covered with chocolate or fondant also. I will attach a picture of the Polish Tortes so you can see what I am talking about. Also, if you go to
www.r-bdesigns.com
Try this link for a great bed cake a cake pal of mine made.
http://cakes.r-bdesigns.com/smf/index.php
If the link doesn't work, it can be found under - Topic I made my Bed by Pattrice
Under Cooking/Cakes January 30/2005 Pattrice
I just made some 2 weeks ago. I thought I'd ruined it when I was mixing it. Too much oil. I almost threw it out but thought I'd let it set overnight and it turned out great! I used the recipe from this website and one bag of Wilton candy melts (14 oz).
When I let it set, I poured in onto the parchment so that it was not thick. Breaking of pieces to mold was really easy that way. I didn't need much to work with at a time. I also found that it was easier for me to paint with Wilton gel paste color than petal/luster dusts. The color was more bold that way, even though whenever I touched it, some would rub off onto my fingers! But it turned out great and worth the effort!
Here's a pic!
HTH!
Mirjana
Wonderful cake kiddo, looks really good!
Hugs Squirrelly
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