5 Creative Beer-Themed Confections

The continued popularity of beer in confections has led to many creative applications, which may very well be the golden ticket for St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. If beer and confections don’t seem like a natural pairing, keep reading for inspiration to concoct your own beer-inspired confections.

Photo: Delish / The Liddabit Sweets Candy Cookbook © 2013

Beer & Pretzel Caramel

Few things pair with beer like pretzels, but why eat plain old pretzels when you can eat pretzels drenched in beer caramel?!

Photo: Food52

Beer Marshmallows

Pillowy homemade marshmallows spiked with dark stout beer, enveloped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with crushed pretzels may fill the dreams of a true beer enthusiast. Considering adding this flavor and texture bomb to your product lineup.

Photo: Jelly Belly

Beer Jelly Beans

Expand your beer-themed offerings with these fun beer-flavored jelly beans packaged in a clever keepsake tin.

Photo: Vosges Haut Chocolat

Smoke and Stout Caramel Chocolate Bar

This chocolate bar by Vosges Haut-Chocolat appeals to the senses with the addition of stout beer, smoked salt and burnt sugar caramel.

Photo: Surprising Recipes

Guinness Pretzel Truffles

This truffle recipe trades the cream for Guinness stout beer and adds an element of crunch with…you guessed it, crushed pretzels.

Not only would these hoppy confections be a great match to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but they would also add to your repertoire for Father’s Day, Oktoberfest and creative and unique gifts for beer lovers. Cheers!

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: Think Win-Win with Cross-Branding

In the popular leadership book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People^®, author Stephen Covey identifies the win-win mentality as one of those habits. Covey describes win-win as “a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions.” I can think of few greater examples of practicing “win-win” in business than by collaborating with a fellow local business to create a new product that highlights the best of both brands.

Cross branding is a marketing and product development tactic that continues to grow traction in the confectionery industry. The possibilities can stretch as far as your imagination allows, but here’s some inspiration.

Photo: Hilliard’s Chocolates

Craft Beer
RCI member, Hilliard’s Chocolates teamed up with a local brewery to create a craft beer collection featuring beer caramels and beer brittles. The popularity of micro-breweries has exploded in recent years, making it pretty likely there’s a nearby micro-brewery (or two, or three…) that would be happy to team up with your business to develop a unique, new product.

Photo: Stafford’s Chocolates

Wine
Even if you don’t live near California wine country, you may be surprised to find a local winery near you. According to vineyards.com, wine is produced in all 50 US states. Many wines make a great complement to a chocolate ganache center, like in the red wine chocolate truffles by RCI member Stafford’s Chocolates.

Photo: Rhéo Thompson Candies

Coffee
Partner with a local coffee roaster to develop a signature coffee flavor or a confection featuring their coffee. Known for their Mint Smoothie^®, RCI member Rhéo Thompson partnered with a local coffee roaster to develop a one-of-a-kind coffee blend featuring their signature flavor.

Photo: Vande Walle’s Candies

Dairy
Local dairy farms are a great opportunity for sourcing fresh cream and butter for your recipes. Don’t overlook goat milk as an alternative ingredient for customers with dairy allergies.

Photo: Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Confections

Fruits & Nuts
Is your region known for producing a specific fruit or nut? If so, you may not have to look too far to connect with local farmers to feature their products in your confections. You may even find this route to be more economical than sourcing those ingredients elsewhere.

Of course, developing a marketing and merchandising strategy is essential to make any cross-branding reach its full potential—you could also benefit by teaming up with the partnering company’s marketing team. Once your new product has been developed send out a press release to the local media announcing your partnership. Make sure to include the partnering company’s logo on your packaging and marketing materials, this will help to sweeten the deal for your partner and make it more likely they will help promote your product. Also, invite them to sell the product in their retail store and e-commerce site to promote the product to their network of followers.

Cross branding is a win-win for all those involved, but especially your customers when they get to enjoy the end result of your sweet collaboration!

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.

Dad's Favorite Things List: Sweet Gift Ideas for Father's Day

Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate dads in a big way this year! Father’s Day is June 20^th and we’re sharing sweet gift ideas that appeal to just about every dad and grandpa out there!

Mr. Fix It

For the dad who likes to tinker and fix things. He may have a toolbox full of tools and gadgets, but does he have a toolkit made completely of chocolate?

Credit: Nothing But Chocolate

The Fisherman

Give Dad a fish story he’ll never forget. How about a life-sized chocolate-moulded fish, so sweet his pals will have to believe he’s telling another tall tale! Looking for tips to perfect your moulding techniques? Read this past blog post.

Credit: Munson's Chocolates

The Executive

Give hard-working dads and grandfathers a tie they’ll actually love. Click here to check out a tutorial on how to create shirt-and-tie treat holders as ready-to-give gifts.

Credit: Doodlecraftblog.com

The Foodie

Have some fun with the foodie dad by faking him out with a sweet twist on his favorite foods. The only way to improve on a good, old-fashioned hamburger would be to make it all out of chocolate, of course.

Credit: LindyPopsChocs

The Beer Enthusiast

For the beer-enthusiasts out there, RCI members like Joy Lyn’s Candies and Hilliard’s Chocolates have found that confections like brittle and caramel really do pair well with beer.

Credit (left to right): Hilliard's Chocolates and Joy Lyn's Candies

The Wine Connoisseur

Since a bottle of wine would be too predictable, why not dip the whole bottle in fine chocolate? Sure, wine is fine, but wine and chocolate is even better!

The Daring Dad

These treats aren’t for the faint of heart, but for the thrill-seekers and daring dads who have ever wondered, “what does a chocolate-covered jalapeno/pickle/cricket taste like?” It can’t be too bad, after all, it is covered in chocolate!

Credit: Wickles Pickles

Host a “Pin-to-Win Dad’s Sweet Dreams” Contest

If you're looking for an opportunity to increase your exposure on Pinterest, consider hosting a "Pin-to-Win Dad's Sweet Dreams" contest. Start by asking participants to create a Pinterest board full of their dad's favorite treats from your website. Require entrants to include your company name in the description (for brand awareness purposes) and email you the URL to their board or post a link to your Facebook page (Check out this Pinterest contest for ideas of how to communicate the idea to your followers).

Appeal to shoppers by offering gift ideas they can’t get from big box stores. We hope you find at least a couple ideas to apply to your business and are inspired to dream up a few more of your own.

Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address 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.

4 Worry-Free Chocolate Pairings

Options for good chocolate pairings are seemingly limitless, from the ever-popular wine and beer pairings to bourbon, cider, tequila and even cheese. If you are considering hosting an in-person or virtual chocolate tasting and pairing event or even just looking for fun ways to spice up your holiday offerings, RCI member Carmen Romeo of Fascia’s Chocolates shares guidelines for easy, worry-free pairings.

Wine

White and milk chocolate pairs best with sweet red or white varietals, while dark chocolate goes better with more complex red wines.

Beer
Chocolate pairs well with many craft beers, however, when attempting to pair with India pale ale (IPA), chocolates with citrus flavors are best.

Bourbon
It is recommended to match flavors when working with bourbon. Some of Fascia’s favorites include pairing a coffee bourbon with a mocha meltaway or a cinnamon bourbon with a cinnamon cream.

Cheese
Cheese can be an unexpected, yet, surprisingly well-received addition to a wine and chocolate or beer and chocolate pairing. Try Carmen’s “no-fail” pairing by finding the best, sharpest Pecorino Romano cheese, pair it with a semi-sweet chocolate wafer or cup, topped with coarse-ground black pepper and a glass of Zinfandel wine—the spicier the better.

Help shoppers get in the holiday spirit by hosting pairing events (in-person or virtual) or by simply recommending new, exciting ways to enjoy your chocolates. Cheers to a spirited holiday season!

Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week 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 Must-Try Fall Flavors…that don’t involve Pumpkin Spice

It's back! Starbucks officially launched their coveted Pumpkin Spice Lattes (aka PSL) earlier than ever—August 25. By some standards, the return of PSL is the signal that fall is around the corner. If you choose to go by the “more official” calendar date to mark the first day of fall, you’ve got until September 22 [insert sigh of relief here].

Regardless of when you choose to acknowledge the true arrival of fall, it won’t be long before it’s time to say “goodbye” to cool and refreshing flavors like watermelon and citrus, and “hello” to warm and cozy fall flavors like, well, pumpkin spice. Thanks to Starbucks, you can expect to find pumpkin spice in everything from coffees to cookies, candles to skin care, and, yes, even deodorant. Click here to check out some of RCI’s favorite pumpkin spice ideas.  

Even if you draw the line at trading in your favorite deodorant for the seasonal variety, there’s something comforting about fall flavors, but you don’t have to limit yourself to pumpkin. Keep reading for a list of equally craveable flavors to fall in love with this fall.

Apples

Apple Pecan Caramel Bark, by Hilliard's Chocolates

Pumpkin may reign king of fall, but one might say the apple is queen. This certainly isn’t a surprise if you already make caramel apples, but you may consider different ways to incorporate the unofficial fruit of fall, by mimicking the flavors in apple cider or warm apple pie.

RCI member, Hilliard’s Chocolates, evokes all the fall feels with their Apple Pecan Caramel Bark. Presented at a past Candy Clinic, the bark combines white chocolate, cinnamon oil, dried apples, caramel and cinnamon sugar for a welcome fall treat. RCI members: Login at retailconfectioners.org/candyclinic to view past presentations like this one.

Brown Butter

Land O'Lakes

Take your rich and buttery confections to the next level with brown butter, which is essentially a magical transformation that happens moments before it becomes burnt butter—naturally Martha Stewart has a solution for fixing burnt butter, click here for video. The nutty and complex flavor of brown butter will elevate any recipe. Check out this recipe for Browned Butter Salted Caramel Sauce by TheChunkyChef.com.

Chai Tea

Real Simple

Quite possibly a distant relative to the pumpkin spice latte, chai tea is a strong-flavored tea with a hint of sweetness. Ginger and pepper add a kick of spice, which is evened out with earthy notes from cardamom and cloves, plus a dash of cinnamon. Why not try this Food Network recipe for Chai Chocolate Truffles, which Giada De Laurentiis compares to a “giant warm hug.”

Dark Beer

CraftBeer.com

Beer is a great addition to any caramel and brittle recipe, but if you’re already incorporating beer into your confections try experimenting with the darker beers of the season. Take note of seasonal beer varieties like porter and stout, which will soon replace the lighter ales of summer.

RCI member, Joy Lyn’s Candies partners with a local brewery to create a peanut brittle made with Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale. Coined as “Beer Brittle,” this popular confection is made in small batches and offers a subtle hint of hops and malt.

Pears

The Kitchen McCabe

If your customers love your caramel apples, get ready to knock their wooly socks off this fall with caramel-dipped pears. Experts agree pears that are not quite ripe with long stems for dipping are best--the most popular varieties being Bosc, Anjou, Comice and Seckel pears. Unlike apples, most pears (Seckel being an exception) don’t take well to having sticks inserted into them, which is why a sturdy stem is important. Check out this recipe for Caramel Dipped Pears from TheKitchenMcCabe.com.

It’s undeniable, the pumpkin spice trend isn’t going anywhere…at least until Starbucks launches their holiday-themed drink menu (enter: Peppermint Mocha), but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other great fall flavors to peak shoppers’ interest. We want to know, what’s your favorite fall confection? Please share in the comments below.

Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week 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.

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

Dad's Favorite Things List: Sweet Gift Ideas for Father's Day

Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate dads in a big way this year! Father’s Day is June 21^st and we’re sharing sweet gift ideas that appeal to just about every dad and grandpa out there!

Mr. Fix It

For the dad that likes to tinker and fix things. He may have a toolbox full of tools and gadgets, but does he have a toolkit made completely of chocolate?

Credit: Nothing But Chocolate

The Fisherman

Give Dad a fish story he’ll never forget. How about a life-sized chocolate-moulded fish so sweet his pals will have to believe he’s telling another tall tale! Looking for tips to perfect your moulding techniques? Read this past blog post.

Credit: Munson's Chocolates

The Executive

Give hard-working dads and grandfathers a tie they’ll actually love. Click here to check out a tutorial on how to create shirt-and-tie treat holders as ready-to-give gifts.

Credit: Doodlecraftblog.com

The Foodie

Have some fun with the foodie dad by faking him out with a sweet twist on his favorite foods. The only way to improve on a good, old-fashioned hamburger would be to make it all out of chocolate, of course.

Credit: LindyPopsChocs

The Beer Enthusiast

For the beer-enthusiast dads out there, RCI members like Joy Lyn’s Candies and Hilliard’s Chocolates have found that confections like brittle and caramel really do pair well with beer.

Credit (left to right): Hilliard's Chocolates and Joy Lyn's Candies

The Wine Connoisseur

Since a bottle of wine would be too predictable, why not dip the whole bottle in fine chocolate? Sure, wine is fine, but wine and chocolate is even better!

The Daring Dad

These treats aren’t for the faint of heart, but for the thrill-seekers and daring dads who have ever wondered, “what does a chocolate-covered jalapeno/pickle/cricket taste like?” It can’t be too bad, after all, it is covered in chocolate!

Credit: Wickles Pickles

 Host a “Pin-to-Win Dad’s Sweet Dreams” Contest

If you're looking for an opportunity to increase your exposure on Pinterest, consider hosting a "Pin-to-Win Dad's Sweet Dreams" contest. Start by asking participants to create a Pinterest board full of their dad's favorite treats from your website. Require entrants to include your company name in the description (for brand awareness purposes) and email you the URL to their board or post a link to your Facebook page (Check out this Pinterest contest for ideas of how to communicate the idea to your followers).

Appeal to shoppers by offering gift ideas they can’t get from big box stores. We hope you find at least a couple ideas to apply to your business and are inspired to dream up a few more of your own. We invite you to share your creative Father’s Day gift ideas in the comments below.

Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week 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.

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

Tip #311: 5 Must-Try Fall Flavors…that don’t involve Pumpkin Spice

Rumor has it Starbucks will officially begin serving up their coveted Pumpkin Spice Lattes earlier than ever—August 27, if you’re curious. That’s only a week away! If you choose to go by the “more official” calendar date to mark the first day of fall, you’ve got until September 23 [insert sigh of relief here].

Regardless of when you choose to acknowledge the true arrival of fall, it won’t be long before it’s time to say “goodbye” to cool and refreshing flavors like watermelon and citrus, and “hello” to warm and cozy fall flavors like, well, pumpkin spice. Thanks to Starbucks, you can expect to find pumpkin spice in everything from coffees to cookies, candles to skin care, and, yes, even deodorant. Click here to check out some of RCI’s favorite pumpkin spice ideas.  

Even if you draw the line at trading in your favorite deodorant for the seasonal variety, there’s something comforting about fall flavors, but you don’t have to limit yourself to pumpkin. Keep reading for a list of equally craveable flavors to fall in love with this fall.

APPLES

Apple Pecan Caramel Bark, by Hilliard's Chocolates

Pumpkin may reign king of fall, but one might say the apple is queen. This certainly isn’t a surprise if you already make caramel apples, but you may consider different ways to incorporate the unofficial fruit of fall, by mimicking the flavors in apple cider or warm apple pie.

RCI member, Hilliard’s Chocolates, evokes all the fall feels with their Apple Pecan Caramel Bark. Presented at a past Candy Clinic, the bark combines white chocolate, cinnamon oil, dried apples, caramel and cinnamon sugar for a welcome fall treat. RCI members: Login at retailconfectioners.org/candyclinic to view past presentations like this one.

BROWN BUTTER

Land O'Lakes

Take your rich and buttery confections to the next level with brown butter, which is essentially a magical transformation that happens moments before it becomes burnt butter—naturally Martha Stewart has a solution for fixing burnt butter, click here for video. The nutty and complex flavor of brown butter will elevate any recipe. Check out this recipe for Browned Butter Salted Caramel Sauce by TheChunkyChef.com.

CHAI TEA

Real Simple

Quite possibly a distant relative to the pumpkin spice latte, chai tea is a strong-flavored tea with a hint of sweetness. Ginger and pepper add a kick of spice, which is evened out with earthy notes from cardamom and cloves, plus a dash of cinnamon. Why not try this Food Network recipe for Chai Chocolate Truffles, which Giada De Laurentiis compares to a “giant warm hug.”

DARK BEER

CraftBeer.com

Beer is a great addition to any caramel and brittle recipe, but if you’re already incorporating beer into your confections try experimenting with the darker beers of the season. Take note of seasonal beer varieties like porter and stout, which will soon replace the lighter ales of summer.

RCI member, Joy Lyn’s Candies partners with a local brewery to create a peanut brittle made with Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale. Coined as “Beer Brittle,” this popular confection is made in small batches and offers a subtle hint of hops and malt.

PEARS

The Kitchen McCabe

If your customers love your caramel apples, get ready to knock their wooly socks off this fall with caramel-dipped pears. Experts agree pears that are not quite ripe with long stems for dipping are best--the most popular varieties being Bosc, Anjou, Comice and Seckel pears. Unlike apples, most pears (Seckel being an exception) don’t take well to having sticks inserted into them, which is why a sturdy stem is important. Check out this recipe for Caramel Dipped Pears from TheKitchenMcCabe.com.

It’s undeniable, the pumpkin spice trend isn’t going anywhere…at least until Starbucks launches their holiday-themed drink menu (enter: Peppermint Mocha), but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other great fall flavors to peak shoppers’ interest. We want to know, what’s your favorite fall confection? Please share in the comments below.

Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week 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.

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