4 Tips to Stop Sea Salt Caramels from Sweating

Suffer from sweaty sea salt caramels? You're not alone. Many candy makers have faced this common issue and shared possible solutions in the RCI member forum, The Candy Dish.

When making sea salt caramels, finishing with high-quality sea salt is best. However, even with quality salt, storing salted caramels in a cool room with 50% humidity can still cause the salt to sweat or become clear on the caramel. Here are four RCI member tips to prevent similar problems when storing sea salt caramels:

1.     Some salts are harder than others. Use a harder and more dense salt, such as pink Himalayan sea salt, which is less likely to absorb moisture.

2.     Store sea salt caramels at room temperature, rather than reducing the temperature.

3.     Dehumidify your storage area to at least 40%.

4.     Shrink wrap the boxes or cases to completely enclose the product before storing.

Nobody likes a sweaty sea salt caramel! Give these tips a try to keep your sea salt caramels dry.

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Candy Hack: A Simple Solution to Spread Brittle More Evenly

 

For many candy makers and chocolatiers this is the busiest time of the year. That’s why, for the month of December, we’re sharing some of our favorite candy hacks—quick and easy solutions to common confectionery conundrums. This week we’re sharing a pro tip for pulling brittle with greater consistency.

 

Do you ever have trouble with staff stretching large slabs of brittle in an inconsistent manner? By cutting brittle into several smaller strips rather than one large slab, RCI member Kevin Wenzel of Wiseman House Chocolates has been able to reduce waste and produce product with a more even thickness.

 

After pouring and spreading, run a large metal spatula under the brittle to break the cold/heat bond from the cooling table. Then cut the brittle into several long sections and stretch on one side, then flip each section over and stretch it again. This approach will help achieve more even thickness and reduce the amount of product from the edges that is scrapped.

 

Stay tuned, next week we will share tips for prevent your sea salt caramels from sweating.

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.

Candy Hack: Make Meltaways with Untempered Chocolate

 

For many candy makers and chocolatiers this is the busiest time of the year. That’s why, for the month of December, we’re sharing some of our favorite candy hacks—quick and easy solutions to common confectionery conundrums. This week we’re sharing a pro tip for making meltaways.

The most common way to make a meltaway is to combine tempered chocolate with melted coconut oil until it is smooth. Because coconut oil is a lauric fat, it must be added at a lower temperature so not to throw the chocolate out of temper. If the chocolate becomes untempered (or was never tempered to start with) the nice, smooth texture of the meltaway will eventually be replaced with an unpleasant mouthfeel due to the formation of fat globules.

Mixing Things Up
Consider this alternative method to making stable, smooth-textured meltaways with untempered chocolate. Instead of adding fat to tempered chocolate, combine untempered chocolate and coconut oil in a mixer. Mix at a slow speed until the temperature is below 78ºF/25.5ºC and has visibly thickened. Referred to as the “mixer method,” it achieves the same desired stability and texture the meltaway is revered for, without the hassle of keeping temper.

Stay tuned, next week we will share a simple trick for greater consistency when spreading brittle.

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.

Candy Hack: How to Fix Ganache Gone Wrong

Hello, December! For many candy makers and chocolatiers this is the busiest time of the year. That’s why, for the next four weeks, we’re sharing some of our favorite candy hacks—quick and easy solutions to common confectionery conundrums.

This week we’re sharing a quick fix for ganache if the chocolate and the fat separates. RCI member Robert Baker, of Sweet Tooth Candies, shares that instead of throwing out the batch, simply lay a sheet of butcher paper over the bowl of ganache for a minute or two. The paper will absorb the excess fat, leaving a smooth and silky ganache.

Click here for RCI’s quick-reference guide for troubleshooting other common mishaps with chocolate. 

Stay tuned, next week we will share a surprising tip for making meltaways with untempered chocolate.

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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Try this! Candy Thermometer Hack

If your candy thermometer has ever got in the way of stirring a bubbling hot candy concoction, then you’ll appreciate this week’s quick and easy hack.

RCI member Hilliard’s Chocolates makes approximately 5,000 pounds of their signature almond toffee crunch each year. With all the stirring it takes to whip up that much toffee, the Hilliard’s team developed a simple, yet, innovative solution for keeping that sometimes pesky candy thermometer in its rightful place.

As pictured above, Hilliard’s has screwed two eye hooks into their wooden paddle, so the thermometer slips right into place, preventing it from getting in the way while stirring.

Even small adjustments like this can make a big impact in improving efficiency. Do you have any simple hacks that improve your efficiency in the candy kitchen? If so, we’d love for you to share on RCI’s Facebook page.

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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Tips for Making the Best-Ever Batch of Caramel Popcorn

August may have just begun, but when you see school supplies fill the store aisles, you know fall is just around the corner.

There's something warm and comforting about caramel corn in the fall--but sticky, clumpy caramel corn is no fun at all! After reading this week's quick tip, you will never want to make caramel corn without this ingredient!

If your caramel corn sticks together and becomes difficult to separate, adding lecithin will help. Randy Hofberger of R&D Consultants advises mixing lecithin with a little oil and adding this mixture at the end of your caramel corn recipe. This will help the caramel spread apart easier and save you the hassle of manually pulling it apart. 

Allergy Alert! 

It is advised that individuals with soy allergies do not consume products that contain lecithin. Although lecithin is a byproduct of soy, there is always a chance soy protein will find its way into lecithin. Lecithin derived from sunflower or canola are more allergy-friendly alternatives to soy. 

Don’t cry over spilled lecithin.

Resist the urge to clean spilled lecithin with a damp cloth or spray cleaner, which will cause it to gum-up and make it worse. Instead, cover the spill with sugar and it will clean right up without a sweat.

New Flavor Inspiration

Once you’ve perfected your caramel popcorn recipe, consider experimenting with different flavors and ingredients to take your corn to the next level. Here’s some inspiration for the upcoming fall season.

Bourbon Caramel

Equally suited as a tailgate party snack or a jolly holiday treat, bourbon caramel corn will keep ‘em coming back for more.

Dulce de Leche

Dulce de leche is a South American delicacy made with slow-cooked milk and sugar. A natural fit for caramel corn, it offers a rich, creamy and more complex flavor for your caramel popcorn.

Pumpkin Spice

Is it even fall without pumpkin spice? We don’t think so!

In the past, Starbucks has released their pumpkin spice latte as early as the end of August. Get ready for the craze by introducing pumpkin spice caramel corn for this fall season.

Here’s to making your best batches of caramel corn ever and to a sweet fall season!

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Tips for Making Caramel Stick to Apples + Summer Inspiration

Have you ever experienced problems with caramel slipping off your caramel apples? The wax on your apple may be the culprit. By simply wiping each apple with a damp cloth prior to dipping, you can remove the waxy residue that rests on the apples.

An apple naturally produces a waxy film to protect itself, however, in some instances additional food-grade wax is added by suppliers to further increase an apple’s shelf life. For this reason, it could save you time and effort to request unwaxed apples from your supplier, if they do add wax to their apples.

If that doesn’t help, consider adding white compound to your caramel at a 5 to 1 ratio to help it better adhere to the apple.

If you can’t wait to test this out, here’s a few summer-inspired caramel apples ideas to try too!

Patriotic Caramel Apples
Show your patriotic stripes with drizzles of red and blue over a white chocolate coated caramel apple.

 

Zesty Coconut Caramel Apples
Think tropical by adding a generous helping of toasted coconut and a little lime zest to your caramel apples.

 

Wormy Caramel Apple
Turn shoppers heads with these fun, wormy caramel apples!

S’mores Caramel Apples
Transform your caramel apples into a s’mores lover’s dream by adding layers of graham crackers, marshmallows and drizzled chocolate. 

Was this tip helpful? If so, let us know 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.

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Throwback Tip #166: Never Make Caramel Corn Again…without this ingredient!

Photo: Land O'Lakes

There's something warm and comforting about caramel corn in the fall--but sticky, clumpy caramel corn is no fun at all! After reading this week's quick tip, you will never want to make caramel corn without this ingredient!

If your caramel corn sticks together and becomes difficult to separate, adding lecithin will help. Randy Hofberger of R&D Consultants advises mixing lecithin with a little oil and adding this mixture at the end of your caramel corn recipe. This will help the caramel spread apart easier and save you the hassle of manually pulling it apart. 

Allergy Alert! It is advised that individuals with soy allergies do not consume products that contain lecithin. Although lecithin is a byproduct of soy, there is always a chance soy protein will find its way into lecithin. Lecithin derived from sunflower or canola are more allergy-friendly alternatives to soy. 

Don’t cry over spilled lecithin.

Resist the urge to clean spilled lecithin with a damp cloth or spray cleaner, which will cause it to gum-up and make it worse. Instead, cover the spill with sugar and it will clean right up.

Make It Festive

With the quick addition of ingredients like pretzels, roasted nuts, candy corn and colorful candy-coated chocolates this sweet and salty treat is easily be transformed into a festive trail mix for fall parties, trips to the pumpkin patch and tail gate parties.

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 #286: Make Softer Creams that Won't Dry Out

With the holidays upon us, we’re sharing a quick and easy tip for achieving softer creams.

Did you know the type of corn syrup you use can affect the texture of your creams? Get softer, creamier creams by using corn syrup with a higher dextrose equivalent (DE).

Problems with creams that dry out? Corn syrup with a higher dextrose equivalent will create greater humectancy (or moisture retention) within your creams.

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. Review past blog posts for quick and actionable tips to apply to your business. 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.

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

Tip #278: Make Your Strawberries Last Longer

Since strawberries soak up water like a sponge, which can lead to moldy or mushy berries, it is important to be mindful of how you wash your strawberries before coating them in chocolate.

If you don’t plan on using your strawberries right away, experts agree it is best to store them in the refrigerator and wash them no more than a couple hours before using them. If you hull your strawberries before coating them, wait to do so until after they are washed. Cut strawberries will absorb even more water, making them more susceptible to mold, while also diluting their flavor. Below are two member-recommended methods for washing strawberries to make them last, we suggest experimenting to find which method works best for you.

Damp cloth method: Since strawberries are often prewashed, some experts suggest wiping strawberries with a damp cloth instead of submerging them in water to keep the moisture content low. Keep in mind as much as strawberries like to soak up water, they are equally adept at soaking up other things like pesticides. If you choose this method, consider sourcing strawberries from local farms that don’t use pesticides or are certified organic.

Vinegar solution method: If you prefer a more thorough cleaning, RCI member, Luisa Chocolatier, recommends washing strawberries in a solution of cold water and non-pasteurized apple cider vinegar (use approximately 3 tablespoons for every one gallon of water). After, first, wiping away any dirt with a clean towel and discarding unwanted mushy or moldy berries, gently submerge berries in the vinegar solution for five minutes. Next, place the strawberries in a colander to drain excess water before placing in a single layer on top of a dry towel to air dry. Once the strawberries are dry, they can be placed in their original containers, which have since been cleaned and dried as well, until they are ready to dip.

Since excess water will prevent chocolate from sticking to strawberries and also cause chocolate to have a dull appearance, both methods emphasize the importance of drying strawberries before dipping them into chocolate. Try one of these methods and let us know which works best for you!

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. Review past blog posts for quick and actionable tips to apply to your business. 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.

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

Throwback Tip #72: Use This, Not That To Break Up Chocolate

We have a quick Good Manufacturing Practices tip for you this week. When you receive pallets of chocolate or the ten-pound bars of chocolate from your chocolate supplier, you need to break them into smaller pieces to melt down and create your confections. How do you go about doing that? 

Many candy makers will break the chocolate into smaller pieces by smashing it with a hammer. However, if you are using a hammer with a wooden handle, you risk the wood chipping off in the process and small shreds of wood landing in your chocolate. Additionally, if you are using a hammer with a rubber handle, it likely has small crevices that can easily hold chocolate and create bacteria.

Lessen your risk with this week’s tip! Pitch the old hammer and replace it with a stainless steel or titanium crowbar to break your chocolate into pieces for melting. Of course, it is still a good idea to clean the crowbar on a regular basis. With no other elements such as wood and rubber on the bar, it is much easier to clean and sterilize so it is ready for safe use with food.

For $15 or less, you can create a more food safe candy kitchen. Now that’s cost effective! Do you have a quick and easy tip to improve food safety in your business? If so, please share in the comments below.

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. Review past blog posts for quick and actionable tips to apply to your business. 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.

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

Tip #273: Don’t Skip This Step When Roasting Nuts

Not only do roasted nuts add satisfying crunch and crave-worthy sweet and salty flavors to chocolate confections, the pungent aroma of freshly roasted nuts, alone, can lure nearby shoppers into your candy store. This week’s brief tip, shared during RCI’s Chocolate Boot Camp^®, is a must for candy makers who roast their own nuts.

REDUCE THE RISK OF BLOOM

To reduce the risk of fat bloom, due to fat migration, wait at least 48 hours to coat roasted nuts with chocolate. This practice allows the oils to reabsorb into the nuts. Keep in mind, dry roasted and whole nuts will have less free fat than those that are oil roasted.

STOP CRACKS IN THEIR TRACKS

Waiting to enrobe roasted nuts will also help lessen the chances of unwanted cracks in these chocolate-covered morsels. Quick and easy tips like these will help ensure your nutty delights look and taste as good as they smell!

Stay connected with RCI through Facebook for more tips and inspiration dedicated to the retail candy maker. Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

Tip #250: The Best of 2017: Top 5 Tips of the Week

As we prepare to bid farewell to 2017, we’ve pulled the topics most important to candy makers with the top five most-read tips from the year.

#5: Troubleshooting: Hazy Chocolate Moulds

A little hazy on what’s causing the buildup of a film on the surface of your chocolate moulds? You’re not alone. Learn what causes this common problem and get preventative tips on how to avoid it.

#4: Give Your Candy Shop the WOW! Factor on a Budget

Save money by finding new uses for old items to create eye-popping displays with “wow factor!” Old ladders, tables, or wooden crates can make for unexpected and memorable ways to display your confections.

#3: Making Meltaways with Untempered Chocolate

Consider this alternative method to making stable, smooth-textured meltaways with untempered chocolate.

#2: Here’s How to Clean Chocolate Moulds the Right Way

Did you know chocolate moulds that aren’t cleaned properly can cause chocolates to lose their desired smooth and glossy shine? Follow these five easy steps to ensure your plastic moulds are cleaned properly and produce perfectly glossy chocolate masterpieces every time.

#1: Turn Caramel Apples Upside Down

This simple tip is about to turn your world upside down, literally. Long-time RCI member, Fascia’s Chocolates started using this unconventional approach to caramel apples after practicing the traditional method for 53 years.

We look forward to bringing you more great tips to help you build your business in 2018! Wishing you a safe and happy New Year!

Tip #246: Making Meltaways with Untempered Chocolate

The most common way to make a meltaway is to combine tempered chocolate with melted coconut oil until it is smooth. Because coconut oil is a lauric fat, it must be added at a lower temperature so not to throw the chocolate out of temper. If the chocolate becomes untempered (or was never tempered to start with) the nice, smooth texture of the meltaway will eventually be replaced with an unpleasant mouthfeel due to the formation of fat globules.

Mixing Things Up

Consider this alternative method to making stable, smooth-textured meltaways with untempered chocolate. Instead of adding fat to tempered chocolate, combine untempered chocolate and coconut oil in a mixer. Mix at a slow speed until the temperature is below 78º F and has visibly thickened. Referred to as the “mixer method” in curriculum shared at RCI’s Chocolate Boot Camp^®, it achieves the same desired stability and texture the meltaway is revered for, without the hassle of keeping temper.

Newcomers and veterans alike are invited to learn techniques of chocolate making, like this, during RCI’s Chocolate Boot Camp February 19-22, 2018 in Waterbury, CT at Fascia’s Chocolates. This popular hands-on course covers topics such as:

• Tempering
• Moulding
• Enrobing
• Chocolate Artistry
• and more!

SPACE IS VERY LIMITED! This course is expected to sell out! For complete information and to register online, visit retailconfectioners.org/bootcamp.

Throwback Tip #48 Set a Thermometer Alarm Below Desired Temperature

This week’s tip helps you manage your time and maintain the quality of your candies, which is especially important with the busy holiday season ahead.

Set your candy thermometer with an alarm for one or two degrees lower than your cooking time to ensure you don't overcook.

When you start a batch of caramel and walk away to work on packaging, you’ll be alerted to the candy cooking process with enough time to remove it or begin the next step before it gets even one degree too high.

Source: CDN

Programmable candy thermometers like the one pictured on the left are available on Amazon starting at $21.99.

Looking for other supplies? From thermometers to taffy. Chocolate to caramels. Moulds to mixers and peanuts to packaging solutions, RCI's Buyer's Guide is your all-in-one resource for products and services needed to run your business. Remember, RCI members can login to access RCI Buyer’s Guide on the member side of the website or call the RCI office to be connected to a supplier.

Stay connected with RCI through Facebook for more tips and inspiration dedicated to the retail candy maker. Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

Tip #238 Turn Caramel Apples Upside Down

If you love caramel apples, but you hate how apples don’t always set straight and level, then this super simple tip of the week is about to turn your world upside down, literally.

Instructors at RCI’s Caramels, Toffees & Brittles course, recommend turning apples upside down before inserting caramel apple sticks into the base of the apple.

Thanks to this tip, long-time RCI member, Fascia’s Chocolates of Waterbury, Connecticut, started flipping their apples after 53 years of practicing the traditional method of inserting sticks through the top of the apple, near the stem. Carmen Romeo, of Fascia’s Chocolates, says their apples now set more steadily and less caramel seems to gather on the bottom.

Try this tip yourself and let us know which method you prefer in the comments below.

Stay connected with RCI through Facebook for more tips and inspiration dedicated to the retail candy maker. Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

Tip # 217: Get the Crunch Without the Cracks

Randy Hofberger of R&D Candy Consultants, LLC, is an active member of RCI and the lead instructor for RCI’s Chocolate Boot Camp^®. This week’s post is an excerpt from his article “Crunch Without the Cracks,” which offers eight tips to reduce cracking in chocolate-covered pretzels, cookies and crackers.

Texture is so very important in our foods and is a large part of the eating experience. Many of our most popular confections have a crunchy texture and using baked goods such as cookies, crackers and pretzels is one way to provide this. When coated with chocolate, however, there is a chance the finished product will crack, making it less appealing to consumers.

What cause these fissures to develop? While it may seem that there are little micro earthquakes occurring on your pretzels or gremlins attacking the chocolate-covered cookies, one of the main culprits can be moisture entering these dry baked goods and causing them to expand. To prevent moisture from coming in contact with the finished product, one of the most obvious solutions is to use packaging with a good moisture barrier. While this will solve many of the cracking problems, there are other factors that can cause cracking. Also, this will not help any of your products that are open to the atmosphere in your display cabinets.

Other suggestions to reduce cracking in chocolate covered pretzels, cookies and crackers include the following:

1. Have a uniform coating. Unequal coverage will cause different contraction rates and, thus, cracking.
2. Thicker coating is a stronger coating and a better moisture barrier. Coverage should be complete without pin holes, air bubbles or thin spots.
3. Using a chocolate formulated to be softer will be less prone to cracking.
4. Enrobed baked goods will generally have less of a heat load and will require a gentler (less) cooling.  Good cooling tunnel conditions will have little or no air movement at the tunnel entrance and a temperature of approximately 65ºF.  Air velocity may be gradually increased to about 700 CFM until the chocolate is set – at which time velocity may be increased to 1200 CFM. Coldest tunnel temperatures exceed the low 50sºF. Total tunnel time should be a minimum of eight minutes, but 12 minutes is better.
   If your operation requires you to maintain consistent tunnel settings because of various product mixes, increasing the tunnel belt speed will give less total cooling and more line production. 
5. Enrober/tunnel/feeding area relative humidity should not exceed 55%.
6. Pieces to be enrobed should be room temperature or warmer (up to 78ºF).
7. Pretzel and cookie packages can be opened the evening prior to enrobing. This will help them equilibrate to the atmospheric conditions.
8. Rough-surfaced centers reduce cracking and the loss of the chocolate shell, e.g., salted pretzels are better than unsalted pretzels.

 Stay connected with RCI through Facebook for more tips and inspiration dedicated to the retail candy maker. Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

The Best of 2016: Top 5 Tips of the Week

We've curated the most-read tips from 2016, to pinpoint topics that are most important to candy makers. 

From troubleshooting tips to sky-high merchandising inspiration, plus a customer service must-read, the following posts deliver quick and easily executed tips to simply the lives of confectioners, like you!

#5: Stop Sea Salt Caramels from Sweating

Suffer from sweaty sea salt caramels? Take tips from fellow candy makers and RCI members on how to avoid this common problem.

#4: Take Merchandising to New Heights

Get step-by-step instructions for creating this eye-catching truffle tree.

RCI MEMBER BONUS: Click here to login to RCI’s member site and snag three variations of ganache recipes on page 9 of RCI’s Kettle Talk magazine.

#3: Coat Marshmallows in Dextrose 

Nobody likes hard, dried-out marshmallows! Keep your ‘mallows soft and pillowy all year long with this popular tip of the week.

#2: Remind Employees of the Value of Customer Service 

An oldie, but a goodie, this throwback from 2012 covers four customer service basics that are too important not to review with your team on a regular basis.

 #1: Say “Buh-Bye” to Chocolate Bloom

Bloom is easily identified as one of the most common problems facing candy makers. No surprise, this post tops the list with common causes of chocolate bloom, as well as simple solutions.

Stay connected with RCI through Facebook for more tips and inspiration dedicated to the retail candy maker. Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.