A classic fudge recipe that works is one of the sharpest tools in the home candy maker's toolbox. Well, it’s not sharp; it’s yielding and smooth, creamy and rich, and always a welcome treat for visitors. And since treats season is upon us, with candy and gifts being exchanged … [Read more...]
Candy and Chocolate
The Best Candy Thermometers: What You Need to Know
In the two-thousand-plus year history of home candy making, there has been only one great leap in technology: the leap from judging sugar concentration in syrup purely by physical operations like making actual balls and threads to judging sugar concentration by using a … [Read more...]
Homemade Butter Fingers
Butterfinger candy bars are—along with their cousins Clark, 5th Avenue, and Zagnut—candy delights that we, as adults, often only get when we raid our kid's Halloween hauls. Wouldn’t it be great if you could make these treats at home any time of the year? Wouldn’t that make your … [Read more...]
Candy Temperatures: Chocolate-Dipped Caramels
If there's a time of year when you're likely to make candy—this is it! But soft caramels can be tricky. Either they're too hard and pull out your fillings, or too soft and won't hold their shape. The secret is nailing the sugar cooking temperature with absolute precision. Once … [Read more...]
Thermal Tips: Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cake
Whether a special occasion is coming up or a sweet tooth simply needs to be satisfied, a moist and flavorful layer cake fits the bill perfectly, and we have your thermal tips for success from start to finish. Chocolate cake is always a favorite, but sometimes you want a … [Read more...]
Valentine’s Day Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Who doesn't love receiving a gift of something sweet from their sweetheart? This Valentine's Day make your own chocolate dipped strawberries! It couldn't be easier: only two ingredients to work with, dip the strawberry in chocolate, allow to set, and they're ready to serve. Keep … [Read more...]
Candy Chemistry: Peanut Brittle
Candy, especially good home-made candy, is a great way to inject a bit of fun into your every-day life! Sadly, candy making can be seen as technically too difficult, or as something only made by generations past. But peanut brittle with its crisp texture and combination of sweet … [Read more...]
Chocolate Tempering Made Easy
Working with chocolate is a sometimes-demanding and very rewarding process. In this post, we'll address tempering methods in the context of making chocolate bark. Chocolate bark is a simple application for a first-time chocolate project that is a great way to get your … [Read more...]
Caramel Apple Tips: Best Candy Thermometer and Sugar Temps
The Importance of a Candy Thermometer Sugar has very specific cooking stages between the temperatures of 230ºF-350ºF (110ºC-177ºC). Precise temperature control, understanding what's happening to the sugar, and being aware of how to avoid crystallization are things you need to … [Read more...]
National Toasted Marshmallow Day: The Perfect Gooey Marshmallow
Some of my fondest memories of camping and otherwise being in the mountains are with campfires. One thing can always be guaranteed, if there is a campfire, someone is bound to pull out a bag of marshmallows. One of the beauties of campfire cooking is its simplicity. No … [Read more...]