4 Ways to Support Your Team During the Holidays

The holiday season is a whirlwind for retail candy makers, with employees working hard to spread joy through sweet treats. Supporting your team is important for keeping spirits high, showing how much their work is valued and improving employee retention. Here are some ways to help your team feel appreciated during the holidays, with insights from RCI candy maker members.

Stock the Break Room

Long hours and demanding tasks can take a toll on employees' energy and health. Stocking the break room with snacks and drinks can help boost morale and energy levels during busy seasons. Jason Mootz of Michael Mootz Candies shares, “Before every major holiday, we put out 'Holiday Survival Kits' for our team. These kits include protein bars, Emergen-C packs, fresh fruit and homemade energy bites. We also like to hand out gift certificates so staff members can share our chocolates with their families. They are a huge part of our success, and we so appreciate them.”

Share a Meal Together

Sharing a meal together can help employees recharge and celebrate the season. RCI member Jennifer Crudden of Rosalind Candy Castle shares, “We like to have lunch or dinner parties as a thanks for their extra effort throughout the holidays.” RCI member Jamee Enstrom Simons of Enstrom Candies agrees, saying, “During the holidays, our management staff makes breakfast for all employees one morning. That’s always a hit!” 

If a meal for the whole team is not in the budget this year, work out a trade for lunch from a local restaurant or caterer in exchange for chocolates for their team. Another idea is to host a potluck and you supply the main dish.

Express Employee Recognition

Recognition in the form of a simple thank-you note or shout out in the company newsletter or on the white board in the breakroom can make employees feel appreciated. Jamee Simons highlights the value of celebrating milestones, saying, “At our holiday party, we celebrate years of service milestones, with some employees having been with us for over 40 years!”

Encourage Open Communication

A supportive work environment begins with listening. Rosalind Candy Castle practices an open-door policy, Jennifer Crudden states, “We welcome the team to come to us with any questions or share personal issues they may be experiencing.” Building trust and fostering open dialogue shows employees that their concerns are heard and addressed.

With nearly three-quarters of retail workers reporting holiday stress (Zipline), it’s important to support your team during this time. Providing energy-boosting snacks, hosting team meals, encouraging open communication and recognizing efforts are simple yet meaningful ways to ease stress and show your appreciation. A little effort goes a long way in creating a happy and motivated team during the busiest time of the year.

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Get Ready for Small Business Saturday with Tips + Downloadable Graphics

Small Business Saturday can be a sweet opportunity for retail confectioners to attract more customers, boost holiday sales, and connect with your local community. Launched by American Express in 2010, this event encourages shoppers to support local stores on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. With over 60% of shoppers taking part and $23 billion spent in recent years, it’s a day every small business should make the most of. Here’s how candy shops can do just that:

Offer Special Treats and Bundles

Create limited-time specials just for Small Business Saturday. You could offer holiday-themed treats, “buy-one-get-one” deals, free samples with purchase or exclusive gift bundles. Special promotions like these make the day exciting and help attract both new and returning customers who love getting unique, seasonal treats.

Emphasize Local and Handmade

Small candy shops have something big-box stores don’t: locally made, handcrafted sweets. Promote your shop’s personal touch and unique offerings both in-store and online. People love knowing they’re supporting a local business, and studies show that many customers are more likely to buy when they feel a connection to the business, especially with food and treats.

Above is a preview of RCI’s member-exclusive collection of graphics for small businesses. RCI Members: Click here to login and download graphics from RCI’s member site. Not an RCI member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

Build Hype with Social Media and Email

Social media is a great tool to build excitement for the day. Share “behind-the-scenes” posts on Instagram showing how your candy is made or give previews of special treats. Engage your followers with sneak peeks, announcements, and even live updates. An email reminder to your customers with a discount or early access to treats can also bring them into the shop. RCI Members: Click here to login and download a collection of five social media graphics to help promote your small business on Small Business Saturday or any day of the year!

Partner with Other Local Businesses

Collaborating with like-minded businesses in your community can help bring in even more shoppers. For example, you could offer discounts for customers who visit another local store, or set up a joint event to encourage people to shop around. Cross-promotions help customers support several businesses in one outing and boost your store’s exposure.

Start a Loyalty Program

Small Business Saturday is a great time to introduce a rewards program. You could offer deals like “buy four, get one free” on small items or a discount card for future visits. Research shows that loyalty programs increase how often people shop, helping you keep customers well past the holiday season.

Participating in Small Business Saturday not only boosts sales, but it also lets you create connections and remind shoppers why local businesses are the heart of the community. Embrace the day, share your passion for confections, and enjoy the support of those who value what you do.

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

Boost Holiday Sales with Point-of-Sale Treats

 

With the holiday season approaching, shoppers will come to your store in search of the perfect gifts. To enhance their shopping experience and boost your sales, consider optimizing your point of sale (POS) strategy. A simple yet effective tactic is to offer small, enticing items right at the checkout counter. 

Photo credits (from left): Bruce’s Candy Kitchen, Marie’s Candies

A sleeve of beautifully decorated chocolate-covered sandwich cookies or a charming little bag of foil-wrapped chocolates can easily be added to a customer's purchase. Presenting small, eye-catching treats by the register, perhaps tied with a festive bow or ribbon, creates a visually appealing display that encourages impulse buys. This not only enhances the shopping experience but also prompts customers to treat themselves or grab a quick gift.

Positioning and Pricing for Success

To make this strategy effective, consider the placement and pricing of your POS items. Items should be easily visible and within arm's reach of customers as they wait in line. Keep the price reasonable—around $3 to $5—so customers feel comfortable adding these small extras to their purchase.

Highlight Seasonal Favorites

Offering seasonal items can add to the holiday spirit and draw customers in. For instance, a pair of holiday-themed chocolate truffles or a square of peppermint bark can create a festive atmosphere and resonate with customers looking for something special.

Encourage Shoppers to Treat Themselves

A small sign saying something like, “You deserve a treat!” can remind shoppers to enjoy a little pick-me-up. After a long day of holiday shopping, many people appreciate a small indulgence.

Before the holiday rush, take a look at your checkout area. Make sure it’s stocked with fun, affordable items that make great little gifts or quick treats. By adding these festive extras, you can increase sales and make your customers’ holiday shopping experience more enjoyable.

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

Elevate Your Boxed Chocolates with a Premium Centerpiece

This week’s tip is a simple but impactful one that can elevate your boxed chocolates and potentially boost your profits without adding much to your cost per box.

If you're aiming to give your boxed chocolates a more luxurious appeal, consider adding a single premium chocolate to each box and place it at the center making it the focal point. By incorporating just one high-end or expensive piece, you increase the perceived value of the entire selection. This elegant centerpiece naturally draws attention and suggests that your chocolates are of premium quality. By adding a high-end piece, you also may be able to raise the price and potentially increase your profit margin. 

You may already have a signature confection that checks all the boxes, if so make it the star of your boxed chocolates. Keep reading if you need inspiration to level up your confections.

Photo credit: Simply Recipes/Cindy Rahe

Gold-Leaf Champagne Truffles

A splash of champagne is sure to elevate any confection, and a hint of sparkle in the form of gold leaf or gold cocoa butter will take it to the next level. Check out this recipe for champagne chocolate truffles.

Photo credit: Lammes Candies

Sea Salt Caramels with Gourmet Salt

Gourmet sea salt can instantly add value to confections, along with an undeniable punch of flavor and satisfying crunch. The Hawaiian salted dark chocolate caramels are a top seller for RCI member Lammes Candies. Coated in dark chocolate and delicately sprinkled with pink Hawaiian salt flakes, it brings a perfect balance of flavor and texture, adding a luxurious showcase piece to any box.

Photo credit: Simply So Good

Hazelnut Gianduja

Made from premium hazelnuts and velvety chocolate, layered gianduja squares are as eye-catching as they are delicious. We like how Simply So Good tops each square with a whole blanched hazelnut for dramatic effect. The same concept could be applied by topping your already enrobed confections with other nuts, such a roasted pistachio or a whole candied pecan, even a single large coconut flake.

A single luxurious piece can transform each box into a memorable, upscale experience for your customers. By highlighting a unique, high-end piece as the focal point, you communicate quality that customers are willing to pay a little more for. Try using phrases like "Signature Piece" or "Exclusive Collection" on your packaging or displays to enhance this impression further.

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

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Game Day Sweets: 5 Football-Themed Treats for the Win

 

Football season isn't just a time for fans to gather and cheer for their favorite teams—it’s also a sweet opportunity for candy makers and chocolatiers to get creative. Game-day excitement will continue to grow until Super Bowl Sunday in February, creating a growing demand for football-themed sweets that add a special touch to each gathering. Whether it’s for tailgating, Super Bowl parties, or just family gatherings to watch the game, football-inspired treats appeal to both children and adults alike. Keep reading for fun and inspiring ideas that are sure to make shoppers cheer!

Photo credit: Peterbrooke Chocolatier, Annedore’s Fine Chocolates

Football-Shaped Chocolates

Rich, detailed moulds can capture the look of a classic pigskin football, complete with stitches. Consider offering various sizes, from bite-sized treats to larger centerpiece chocolates that fans can break open during halftime. RCI member Peterbrooke Chocolatier, for example, offers life-sized chocolate footballs filled with their signature chocolate-covered butter popcorn. As if this realistic chocolate football from RCI member Annedore’s Fine Chocolates wasn’t impressive enough, we love how they package it with a pretty branded ribbon in their team colors.

Photo credit: See’s Candies

Transform your chocolate Easter eggs into footballs by simply piping the football stitching with white chocolate.  This rocky road football by RCI member See’s Candies is a real showstopper!

Photo credit: Bon Bons Chocolatier

Tailgate Essentials

You don’t have to be a devoted football fan to love this sporty merchandising display by RCI member Bon Bons Chocolatier! Not only do they showcase a variety of sizes of chocolate footballs, teaming up their football-themed treats with other cute tailgate essentials, such as a Game Day platter and fun puffy vest koozies, makes us want to host a football watch party just because! 

Photo credit: Wockenfuss Candy Co., Fowler’s Chocolate Company

Team-Colored Candy

Fans love repping their team colors, and that can easily translate into candies and chocolates. Always a hit for snacking at football parties, jelly beans, gummies, or chocolate-covered pretzels can also be used to sport your local team colors. There’s no surprise which team Baltimore-based Wockenfuss Candies is backing with these vibrant purple non-pareils! RCI member Fowler’s Chocolate Company developed their own popcorn mix complete with mini chocolate footballs, chocolate drizzle and team-colored sprinkles. 

Photo credit: Vande Walle Candies, Li-Lac Chocolates

Chocolate Charcuterie Boards

RCI member, Vande Walle’s Candies has enjoyed success with their team-inspired chocolate charcuterie boards. Read RCI’s blog post for tips on building your own chocolate charcuterie board. RCI member Li-Lac Chocolates packs four varieties of sweet treats into a wooden tray to complete their chocolate football platter.

 

Photo credit: Just Candy Store, WH Candy

Themed Candy Bars

Another option is offering football-themed chocolate bars. Create custom wrappers for your own chocolate bars with football designs and clever sayings or better yet, chocolates that incorporate ingredients inspired by stadium snacks—pretzels, caramel corn or peanuts.

Photo credit: Facebook/Bruce’s Candy Kitchen

This social media post by RCI member Bruce’s Candy Kitchen is a nice reminder not to limit yourself to professional football teams. You may see just as much support, if not more, for high school and college football teams in your community.

Take advantage of football season by giving buyers a reason to spend on game day. Build a football-themed display by incorporating your local team’s colors (or black and white stripes will work too) and a chalkboard with spatterings of X’s, O’s and arrows…leading them straight to their next purchase!

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

Fall Flavor Frenzy: 5 Must-Try Pumpkin Spice Treats

 

Thanks to Starbucks and their iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte (also known as PSL), the arrival of fall is now synonymous with the warm, inviting flavors of pumpkin spice. This delightful blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves has transcended the beverage world and found its way into an array of treats and confections.

Let’s dive into some delicious ways to satisfy those PSL cravings now through November with creative pumpkin spice-inspired confections!

Photo credit: Amy’s Gourmet Apples

Pumpkin Spice Caramel Apples

Why not elevate the classic caramel apple with a pumpkin spice twist? For a limited time only, Amy’s Gourmet Apples dips a granny smith apple in caramel, before coating it in white chocolate. Lastly, the bottom is coated with graham cracker crumbs and topped off with a drizzle of orange chocolate for a seasonal spin.

Photo credit: Lore’s Chocolate

Pumpkin Seed Bark with Sea Salt

Get inspired by the flavors of fall with a pumpkin seed chocolate bark. Lore’s Chocolates sprinkles crispy, candied spiced pumpkin seeds and sea salt on top of dark chocolate. Put your own twist on this idea by adding chopped nuts, dried cranberries, or even candy corn. Your customers will love this festive treat!

Photo credit: Speckled Hen Chocolate Company

Pumpkin Spice Truffles

Craft rich, creamy pumpkin spice truffles by blending chocolate ganache with pumpkin puree and spices. RCI member Speckled Hen Chocolate Company makes a pumpkin truffle with real pumpkin, cream, butter, chocolate, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg all piped into an adorable mini chocolate pumpkin shell. 

Don’t have bite-sized pumpkin moulds? Consider rolling your pumpkin truffles in graham cracker crumbs or crushed pecans for an extra crunch.

Photo credit: Trolley Treats

Pumpkin Spice Popcorn

Add a twist to popcorn by drizzling it with white chocolate and sprinkling pumpkin spice seasoning on top. Trolley Treats adds pumpkin candies to their festive fall popcorn mix. This sweet-and-salty treat is perfect for movie nights or cozy fall gatherings. Package it in festive bags for a fun, shareable snack!

Photo credit: Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company

Pumpkin Pie Peanut Butter Cups

If you love pumpkin and you love peanut butter, we can’t think of a better way to celebrate fall! Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company blends natural peanut butter with pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices to make the ultimate fall confection. This concept could also be applied to a peanut butter meltaway recipe. Consider adding a sprinkle of crunchy graham cracker crumbs as a finishing touch.

These confectioners are embracing the pumpkin spice trend in creative ways, offering a variety of delicious options to satisfy consumers’ fall cravings. So go ahead, indulge in the flavors of autumn and make the most of this pumpkin spice frenzy!

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

5 Spooky Chocolate-Covered Treats for Halloween

Halloween season is back, bringing with it all the fun and spookiness we love! If you already make chocolate-covered treats, we’ve got some exciting ideas that require little effort and just a few extra touches. Here are five quick and easy ways to dress up your favorite chocolate-covered treats for a spooktacular Halloween!

Photo credit: Graham’sChocolates/Instagram

Ghost Truffles

RCI member Graham’s Chocolates crafts the spookiest cute treat each Halloween: ghost truffles! A hauntingly delicious dark chocolate ganache wrapped in a sweet white chocolate shell. Perfect for a delightful fright!

Photo credit: @beautyanddasweetz/TikTok

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Witches Brooms

Embrace the spooky spirit of Halloween with delightful chocolate-covered strawberry witches’ brooms! These fun treats feature a fresh strawberry dipped in milk chocolate and topped with a chocolate Cheerio® and drizzled with more chocolate and finished with a mini pretzel stick, perfectly resembling broomsticks. Click here to watch a step-by-step video.

Photo credit: Water’sEdge Chocolates/Facebook

Monster Toes

Get ready for a fun and creepy Halloween treat with these giant monster toes! RCI member Water's Edge Chocolates transforms chocolate-covered Twinkies^® into delightfully grotesque monster toes, complete with an edible chocolate toenail and chocolate jimmies to look like crazy hair. Perfect for Halloween parties or just for some spooky fun, these giant toes are sure to bring laughs and tasty bites!

Photo credit: The BearfootBaker

Pumpkin Sandwich Cookies

Turn classic chocolate-covered sandwich cookies into festive pumpkins! Simply dip cookies in orange chocolate and decorate as you like. We love the fun, whimsical touches used to decorate these pumpkins, from the misshapen googly eyes to the pecan stems. The possibilities are endless if you look at what you have on hand. Stick them on lollipop sticks for easy handling!

Photo credit: LikeMother Like Daughter

Frankenstein Crisp Rice Treats

Give your Rice Krispie® treats a spooky makeover! Dip treats in green chocolate and once set, add milk chocolate for hair, a jagged mouth and googly eyes. Add mini pretzel sticks to sides for his bolts.

These fun and easy ideas will add a delightful twist to your Halloween offerings. Make sure to share photos of your Halloween treats on social media and on your e-commerce site for greater exposure and sales potential. So grab your supplies, get creative and enjoy a sweet Halloween!

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

5 Ingredients + Accessories to Make the Holidays Sweeter

 

The holiday season seems to sneak up on us faster each year, especially for candy makers. If you’re looking to elevate your confections this year, RCI member LorAnn Oils shares five ingredients and accessories that can make your holiday candy-making even sweeter.

1. Desiccant Packs

Shipping delays can be a headache during the busy holiday rush, but desiccant packs are a simple solution. These food-grade packs absorb moisture, ensuring your confections remain fresh during storage and transit. By protecting your sweet creations from humidity, you can avoid spoilage and maintain that delicious flavor.

2. Invertase

For those rich, creamy treats we all love—think mint patties, truffles, and chocolate-covered cherries—invertase can be a game changer. This natural enzyme, derived from yeast, transforms table sugar (sucrose) into a liquid form by splitting it into glucose and fructose. This “invert sugar” not only enhances flavor but also keeps your candies fresh longer.

3. Dipping Tool Set

Creating eye-catching, sweet treats this holiday season is a breeze when you have a dipping tool set on hand. With dipping tools, like a fork or a spiral tool, you can easily dip and decorate fruits, candies, nuts and more with melted chocolate and other coatings.

4. Cream of Tartar

Rather than using liquid corn syrup, opt for cream of tartar when making hard candy. This age-old ingredient prevents sugar crystallization, ensuring your candies have that smooth, glassy finish everyone craves. Nobody wants large, crunchy sugar crystals ruining their holiday treats, and cream of tartar is your secret weapon for achieving the perfect smoother, glassy candies.

5. Soy Lecithin

Not all flavors respond the same when added into cooked sugars, particularly heavier, oil-soluble ones that can be more difficult to fully incorporate. The flavor may pool in moulds or float to the tops of candy, yielding uneven flavor throughout. To ensure an even distribution of flavors in your candies, add a small amount of soy lecithin to your boiled candy syrup. This emulsifying agent helps keep oils evenly mixed and emulsified throughout the batch. A quarter teaspoon of lecithin per cup of sugar will do the trick.

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, these “not-so-secret” ingredients and tools can take your confections to the next level of perfection. By incorporating these tips, you’ll create candies that are consistently longer lasting, fresher tasting, but also deliciously smooth and creamy. This holiday season, make your sweet creations the highlight of the festivities! Happy candy-making!

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

Trend Alert: Make Your Own Viral Dubai Chocolate Bar

 

If you’ve spent any time at all on social media lately, you’re probably familiar with the Dubai chocolate bar with its mesmerizing green filling. This viral treat has captured the attention of chocolate lovers and foodies, making them eager to try it. Adding to their allure, Dubai chocolate bars aren’t widely available across North America, prompting some eager fans to drive for hours just to try them.

What are Dubai Chocolate Bars?

Dubai chocolate bars are inspired by the rich culinary heritage of the Middle East, combining high-quality chocolate with exotic ingredients such as saffron, rose water and pistachio. These bars are often beautifully designed and colorful, making them visually appealing as well as delicious. They capture the luxury associated with Dubai, appealing to consumers looking for unique, gourmet sweets that offer a taste of culture.

The viral nature of these products has caught the attention of retailers everywhere. Many stores report selling out regularly, showcasing just how popular these bars have become. The buzz around Dubai chocolate bars is amplified by social media, where stunning visuals and unique flavor combinations inspire consumers to seek them out. This trend is a golden opportunity for candy makers looking to capture market share and engage new customers.

Instagram.com /@peterbrookewp

RCI member Peterbrooke Chocolatier of Winter Park, Florida is embracing this trend, and for good reason: creating your own Dubai chocolate bar can elevate your brand and satisfy the growing consumer appetite for unique, gourmet experiences. Click here to see how Peterbrooke Chocolatier makes it.

Photo credit: Kemnitz Fine Candies

RCI member Kemnitz Fine Candies, based in Plymouth, Michigan, sells their version of the Dubai Bar with toasted phyllo dough, pistachio cream and tahini inside a crisp milk chocolate shell.

Making your own Dubai chocolate bars lets you stay on trend and show that your brand is all about creativity and luxury. These attractive bars are great for marketing, as customers love to share their finds online. Embrace the trend and let your chocolate bars take consumers on a delicious journey to Dubai!

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

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Fact or Fiction: Testing Tricks for Longer Lasting Caramel Apples

 

In the quest to keep caramel apples fresh for as long as possible, Joe Sofia from Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate investigates the effectiveness of a popular preservation method: the lemon juice trick. This method, which suggests dipping the wooden sticks in lemon juice before use, is believed to extend the shelf life of these sweet treats. But does it really work?

The shelf life of a caramel apple is typically only one to two weeks. The primary issue arises at the point where the stick is inserted into the apple. Over time, this area turns brown and becomes unappetizing due to enzymatic browning—a biochemical reaction triggered when apple flesh is exposed to oxygen. This phenomenon is what often limits the apple's appeal and shelf life.

Variables Affecting the Rate of Browning:

Temperature: Temperature plays a significant role; refrigerating caramel apples can slow down this process.

Apple variety: the variety of apple used can affect how quickly it browns, as different types have varying compositions

Without the stick, the shelf life of caramel apples could be considerably longer, since the caramel, nuts, and chocolate used in their preparation generally have a much longer shelf life.

The apples on the left illustrate the effects of unsoaked sticks, while the apples on the right show the results of sticks soaked in lemon juice.

Does the lemon juice trick really work?

The lemon juice trick involves soaking the wooden sticks in lemon juice before inserting them into the apples. It has been suggested that this trick helps to preserve the apples by reducing browning at the stick insertion point. However, Joe Sofia's testing did not reveal a significant difference between apples with lemon-soaked sticks and those with unsoaked sticks. After a week, both types of sticks—whether soaked in lemon juice or not—showed similar browning around the insertion point.

Given the limited impact of the lemon juice trick, another approach to extending the shelf life of caramel apples is to forgo the stick altogether. By using large dipping forks, beaker tongs, or scissor-style tongs to dip the apples in caramel, candy makers can avoid the browning issue associated with the stick. While this method may slow down the dipping process, it might be a worthwhile trade-off for those focused on maximizing freshness. For customer convenience, sticks could still be provided separately for those who prefer them.

In conclusion, while the lemon juice trick does not significantly extend the shelf life of caramel apples, exploring alternative methods like going stickless could offer a practical solution for preserving these delightful treats.

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.