Knowing how to make chocolate candy at home is a fun skill to have
You don’t have to be a professional chocolatier to create delicious confections featuring chocolate. Making these tasty treats at home is not only enjoyable, but can save you some money, as well. Once you know how to make chocolate candy at home, you can create homemade treats that are sure to impress your friends and family.
Choosing Your Ingredients
One of the best parts about making these treats in the comfort of your own kitchen is that you are able to control the quality of ingredients that are used. This means you can pick the best ingredients possible, or at least the best you are able to afford.
Use the highest-quality candy making chocolate you can find. Doing so will make your confections taste especially delicious. Since this ingredient is the main component of the treat, you’ll want to make sure it is the best you can afford.
Choosing great ingredients is reflected in the taste of your confections. Bottom line is, when you skimp on selecting good elements, your treats won’t taste as good as they could.
Molded Candy
Creating molded candy is fairly easy and lots of fun. These treats can be given as gifts, or enjoyed as a snack whenever you’d like. To start, place a pound of chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Choose whatever chocolate you desire; milk, dark or semi-sweet.
Set the microwave to half power, and allow the ingredient to cook for about a minute. Stir, then cook for another minute or until everything is just melted — avoid over-cooking.
Pour the ingredient into a squeeze bottle, then squirt it into a mold. Using this method is usually easiest; however, if you don’t have access to a bottle, use a spoon. Tap the sides of the mold gently when it is filled to remove any bubbles. Place sticks in the molds if you are making lollipops.
Set the mold into the freezer so that the candies take shape. Small or bite-sized pieces are often ready in about five minutes. Larger pieces could take up to 10; however, check the molds before you remove them to ensure they are adequately cooled and set.
Turn your mold over so that the candies are facing the counter or other surface and gently tap on the back to encourage the molds to become loose. They should fall right out. If not, you may need to push the treats out.
Almond Buttercrunch
Nuts and chocolate is a classic combination and for good reason: it’s delicious. You will often find this duo in candy bars and cookies, as well as a number of other delicacies, such as almond buttercrunch candy.
To make, preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 14-by-18-inch baking sheet. Next, sprinkle the contents of one 11.5 oz. bag of high-quality milk chocolate chips. Place the sheet into the oven for about five minutes, or until the chips melt. Remove the pan from the oven and spread the chocolate so that it creates an even layer.
Turn your stove onto medium-high heat and sit a large, heavy saucepan over the burner. Pour 1 lb. of brown sugar and two cups of butter into the pot. Stir constantly and allow the ingredients to reach a temperature of 300 to 310 degrees Fahrenheit — use a candy thermometer to know for sure.
If you don’t have a candy thermometer, you can check the mixture’s readiness by placing a drop into cold water. If it creates brittle, hard threads, it’s ready. Remove the pan from the stove and stir in 3/4 of a cup of blanched, slivered almonds.
Pour the almond-laden mixture over the melted chocolate on the pan. Now sprinkle another 11.5 oz. bag of milk chocolate chips over the mixture. The heat from the butter and almond creation will melt the chocolate. Now sprinkle 1/4 cup of almonds on top.
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You can cut the confection into squares now and let them harden, or allow the sheet to harden now and break it apart like brittle later on — either way is fantastic.
Knowing how to make chocolate candy at home allows you to treat yourself — and others — to the gift of chocolate at an affordable price.
Resources:
Candyland Crafts: Molding Chocolate Candy
AllRecipes: Almond Buttercrunch Candy