i bought a whole bunch of chocolate molds a few weeks ago....
there are so many cool ones, ones that look like a blackberry...video game controller...i pod...credit cards...cute purses, life sized baby bottles cowboy boots...well the list goes on and on...
i've been coloring white almond bark and filling them....the customers love them on their cakes....and it saves so much time and stress not having to draw all these things on....plus it adds dimension to the cakes.
after i get used to using them. i'll have to learn how to temper chocolate so it can taste yummy too.
anyhoo...just wanted to share, i love saving time
Littlecake---Glad you're having fun with the chocolate molds. I agree. It is fun!
We took cake decorating classes and then moved into chocolates. We've kind of incorporated our business into cakes, chocolates, cookies, and other sweet treats, as a result of it. However, we've been learning more and more how to include them with each other, as well.
Painting the molds before you pour also adds a lot of enhancement to the chocolates. Try it! You'll be addicted to it like we are!
I love chocolate molds too! You are RIGHT they save TONS of time and energy for me, because, well, I'm not THAT talented! LOL I wish I was....but hey....we can't ALL be Maria Sousas now can we?
Between my friend and I we can probably chocolate mold almost anything! It is too much fun!
Glad someone else enjoys them as much as I do!
Beth in KY
They're not only good for cakes, cookies and cupcakes but they're fun for kids. Both of mine love to make candy that they get to eat, even really little kids can help put sucker sticks in. My oldest is almost 10 and I taught him to melt the bark almost two years ago, I even sometimes make him do plain candies I need for a project if it's for us.
Suckers in designs to match a birthday theme also end up in our favor bags whenever possible.
The last few weeks I've been making hard candy for the first time and my kids are really impressed with me now.
littlecake, you are going to love using chocolate molds! I have done candy for over 20 years.....a long time before I ever thought about cakes. I use a lot of candies in my cakes.....people love them! There are so many different ideas and molds out there...really something different to add to your creations.
i've "painted" the inside of the molds with a little bit of colored chocolate and a paint brush...there seems like there ought to be a way to keep the "palette" warm...like a heating pad or something, any ideas?
i've "painted" the inside of the molds with a little bit of colored chocolate and a paint brush...there seems like there ought to be a way to keep the "palette" warm...like a heating pad or something, any ideas?
Actually you can do just that. A heating pad on low will do the trick.
What we did for melting colored chocolates is to set up a water-bath in an electric skillet. Then we put white chocolate and colorant into baby food jars. One of my colleagues had just switched her baby to that type of food, so we got LOTS of jars! As we need various colors, we mix up a baby jar (or half) of particular colors and paint away!
I love chocolate molds too! I have dozens of them! I store them by category, divided with manila folders, in large plastic drawer units. I have 5 of them full!
I also have a shallow drawer unit filled with different colored candy. All leftovers get reused.
An electric skillet is great for keeping the chocolate warm. The newer ones can be set so low, even filled parchment cones can be placed directly on the surface.
You can also use fondant and gumpaste in your molds. For best results, dust with cornstarch, then pop the item in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Should pop - or peel - right out, depending on the shape.
You can even mold sugar in the chocolate molds. Just be aware that the sugar may scratch the mold and any flaw in the mold will be transferred to your chocolates.
If the details are too difficult to paint inside the mold before filling, get yourself some cocoa butter. Mix powdered colors with melted cocoa butter and you can paint on any chocolate surface! Make sure you use food grade cocoa butter, not Coppertone!
Have fun!
do you guys have any good websites about painting chocolate and anything else that would be good to help me learn?
i learned one thing the hard way today....put a skewer in the piece while you're pouring it if you want to use it as a cake topper....DUH.
i'm so excited about adding this to my stuff....thank you so much for your replies...also do you have any favorite mold sites?
the ones i bought were so affordable like 2 bucks eack, the best $$$ i spent in awhile!
They're not only good for cakes, cookies and cupcakes but they're fun for kids. Both of mine love to make candy that they get to eat, even really little kids can help put sucker sticks in. My oldest is almost 10 and I taught him to melt the bark almost two years ago, I even sometimes make him do plain candies I need for a project if it's for us.
Suckers in designs to match a birthday theme also end up in our favor bags whenever possible.
The last few weeks I've been making hard candy for the first time and my kids are really impressed with me now.
Not to hijack, but can you describe how you make hard candy in them??? I thought that the sugar would be too hot and would melt the plastic.
TIA
oh yeah...and molded sugar items too!
https://secure.lucks.com/bpcsom/nxcsc.nsf/ItemInformation?openagent&SID=67DEF78EEB61FC3F882574D90013235E&Item=23739&
http://www.candylandcrafts.com/Catalog/images/nauticaln1-3.jpg
http://www.candylandcrafts.com/Catalog/images/nauticaln3-4.jpg
aaaaaaaand they keep almost indefinitely without worry that they'll melt.
They're not only good for cakes, cookies and cupcakes but they're fun for kids. Both of mine love to make candy that they get to eat, even really little kids can help put sucker sticks in. My oldest is almost 10 and I taught him to melt the bark almost two years ago, I even sometimes make him do plain candies I need for a project if it's for us.
Suckers in designs to match a birthday theme also end up in our favor bags whenever possible.
The last few weeks I've been making hard candy for the first time and my kids are really impressed with me now.
Not to hijack, but can you describe how you make hard candy in them??? I thought that the sugar would be too hot and would melt the plastic.
TIA
You are right that you can't use the regular chocolate molds for hard candy. You buy special hard candy molds, they're made of a plastic that won't melt from the hot sugar, they're normally white instead of clear. You can use hard candy molds for chocolate too, I know I have a couple from way before I even thought of trying out hard candy.
I haven't found the selection of hard candy that they have for chocolate. Alot of the sucker hard candy molds have the space for pencil pops.
I make lots of chocolate and I was taught to use an electric pancake griddle. You lay a hand towel over the top and keep it on low. It keeps your chocolate, pallets and whatever else warm. I love it because you can leave your stuff out until you are done. You can leave it on all day while you take a break or whatever.
In case anyone doesn't know Wilton is making special Halloween candy melts, lime green and black. My sister found them at Michael's and they're both vanilla flavored.
Since I live 180 miles from the nearest Michael's she sent me some. 
I'm thinking the black will be really nice since you need so much coloring to acheive it.
heres where i got em...they are mostly under 2 bucks!
https://www.candymoldcentral.com/scripts/default.asp
do you guys have any good websites about painting chocolate and anything else that would be good to help me learn?
i learned one thing the hard way today....put a skewer in the piece while you're pouring it if you want to use it as a cake topper....DUH.
i'm so excited about adding this to my stuff....thank you so much for your replies...also do you have any favorite mold sites?
the ones i bought were so affordable like 2 bucks eack, the best $$$ i spent in awhile!
I like www.customchocolateshop.com. very affordable and a very LARGE selection.
If you do use a water bath to keep your chocolate warm, be really careful not to get ANY water (not even a drop!) in your chocolate, or it will seize and get grainy. HTH!
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