Candy Melts...am I The Only One?

Decorating By karateka Updated 3 Jul 2006 , 2:09pm by beachcakes

karateka Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
karateka Posted 1 Jul 2006 , 12:38am
post #1 of 15

I have serious trouble with those candy melts. I can never get them to melt into a consistency that will flow from a bag, so I can make transfers. They always melt into something like super thick fudge topping, and some colors even seem to harden up the longer you heat them, no matter how gently I heat the stupid stuff. Am I doing something wrong? I'd dearly love to try a chocolate transfer, but based on past experience, I'm very wary....

14 replies
TastersDelight Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
TastersDelight Posted 1 Jul 2006 , 12:40am
post #2 of 15

I find the Wilton ones are a little weird sometimes, but never had trouble with Merckens.

Are you microwaving or double boiler? If your using double boiler make sure no water/steam travels into the chocolate, that's what it kind of sounds like is happening.

hope this helps

leily Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
leily Posted 1 Jul 2006 , 12:41am
post #3 of 15

I have the same problem... I haven't figured out anything that will work well for me yet.

karateka Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
karateka Posted 1 Jul 2006 , 12:42am
post #4 of 15

I was microwaving. I've even tried adding oil, but that only helped a little. stumped.

nicoles0305 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
nicoles0305 Posted 1 Jul 2006 , 12:42am
post #5 of 15

When I'm having trouble with melting down candy melts, sometimes I'll add just a few drops of veggie oil, it helps t melt better and gives it a better consistency. And it will not affect how it hardens. HTH.

~Nicole

TastersDelight Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
TastersDelight Posted 1 Jul 2006 , 12:49am
post #6 of 15

i'm stumped too, never had trouble microwaving, are they from the same bag, maybe there "bad"?

fearlessbaker Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
fearlessbaker Posted 1 Jul 2006 , 12:49am
post #7 of 15

Try to get the Merkens. When you first start to use them in the micro start eoing it in 20 sec. and stir after each time. Remember that sometime they keep their shape so they may not look melted even though they are. When I use them for anything other than molding I keep a very hot tumbler of H20 around and invert the deco bag while I use a second bag and just keep rotating. Or use a plastic tip on your bag and then you can put that back in the micro. Now, yet another way is to use a heating pad to keep your deco bag on to keep it warm. Once it seizes it's gone. but interestingly if you mold something out of it you can remold it. Hope all this helps.

NEWTODECORATING Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
NEWTODECORATING Posted 1 Jul 2006 , 12:53am
post #8 of 15

I use candy melts alot and have done several transfers now. I like to add about a tablespoon of Crisco to a bag of candy melts and microwave them for 30 sec. at a time until I can stir them smooth. The Crisco doesn't effect the hardening of the transfer.

karateka Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
karateka Posted 1 Jul 2006 , 12:53am
post #9 of 15

Thanks everyone....I'll give that a try sometime next week. I think I have a heating pad....and I know I have a few plastic tips. I don't know what brand my candy melts are..I'll have to check that out.

candy177 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
candy177 Posted 1 Jul 2006 , 1:02am
post #10 of 15

Perhaps you scorched them? I've done that. The more you nuke them, the harder it gets.

Usually Crisco does the trick, however, I usually buy mine at the local cake/candy supply so...try Crisco. icon_razz.gif

debsuewoo Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
debsuewoo Posted 1 Jul 2006 , 1:03am
post #11 of 15

What are you melting them in? I use the plastic bottles that you can buy for melting chocolate and have not had any problems thus far. I found some super cool bottles that have couplers for cake tips on them..... they are awesome!

beachcakes Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
beachcakes Posted 1 Jul 2006 , 12:33pm
post #12 of 15

I'm so glad you asked this question! I've been having the same problem. I recently bought five bags of Merckens and two of them did this to me. I couldn't get it all melted - i was doing it at 30 sec at a time on 1/2 power, but it was kind of chunky? and the more i nuked it the worse it got until it finally got thick and I coudln't use it. One of the days it was very foggy and i thought maybe somehow it absorbed moisture from the air? But I ended up dumping the batch; it just about killed me - the Merckens was quite expensive with shipping.

fearlessbaker Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
fearlessbaker Posted 1 Jul 2006 , 6:36pm
post #13 of 15

Beachcakes, Where do you get your Merkens? Try www.ambassadorfoods.com It is much less there and you don't have to have a business license. You may need to buy a larger quantity but not as large as other wholesalers. They have a great catalogue and I get my Callebaut etc. there. It's worth a try.

cowdex Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
cowdex Posted 2 Jul 2006 , 11:33am
post #14 of 15

I melt mine a a Wilton clear disposable bag with the end
NOT cut. I have that sitting in a Pyrex 2 cup measering cup (so the bag kinda stand upright). I zap it until it is in the chunky stage & pull it out and just kinda work it with my hand. The heat of the melted stuff will melt the chunks.

beachcakes Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
beachcakes Posted 3 Jul 2006 , 2:09pm
post #15 of 15

thanks fearless! I dont' remember where I got them - cakesbysam or Pfeil & Holig maybe? Thanks for the link! I'll check it out! Do you think i got a bad batch?

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%