Valentine’s Day Inspiration: Sweet Heat

If you are a fan of Red Hots^® and Atomic FireBalls, then you’ll love this week’s Valentine’s Day inspiration from RCI member Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Confections.

What started as a nod to these classic hot candies has become a popular Valentine’s Day treat among Wilbur’s of Maine’s customers and the limited availability of a once-a-year batch adds to its appeal. A batch of cooked creams serves as the base, which is enhanced with hot cinnamon flavor from LorAnn Oils. The sweet and spicy concoction is piped into rubber heart-shaped moulds and dipped in chocolate. The result is a sweet center followed by a red-hot burn that candy lovers and heat seekers will adore. 

In the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, it is known as a Cinnamon Heart Cream at Wilbur's of Maine, but any remaining stock is rebranded as an “Atomic Fireball Cream” after the holiday. So, if you are looking to add a new and exciting treat to your product line for Valentine’s Day, add a little sweet heat to your classic cooked creams. If cooked creams aren’t your bag, add hot cinnamon flavor (and a little red dye) to your kettle corn recipe or even caramels for a red-hot punch!

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Tip #161: Heat Things Up This Fall!

As the temperature outside starts to cool, heat things up by adding sweet and spicy treats to your product lineup. Not only are spicy flavors incredibly trendy right now, a little heat from red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper can produce a more dynamic flavor in any confection. As a general rule, spice balances sweet and vice versa. If you have a product that has been described as “too sweet,” try adding a hint of spice to the recipe to better balance the sweetness.

Javier Sanchez, with Savage Bros. Co., took a traditional confection to the next level during his demonstration at last week’s Philadelphia Candy Show. Red Pepper Peanut Brittle is perfect for chilly tailgate parties and bonfires, or as a gift for the heat-seekers among us.

Red Pepper Peanut Brittle

Recipe by Savage Bros. Co.

Ingredients:

4.5 lbs sugar

3 lbs corn syrup

1.5 lbs water

4.5 lbs raw peanuts

1 lb butter

.38 oz vanilla

1.13 oz baking soda

.5 oz salt

2.5 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions:

Prepare cooling table with warm water flow. Set kettle temperature to 400 degrees. Place sugar, corn syrup and water in kettle and bring to a boil. At 250 degrees, slowly add peanuts so not to decrease temperature. At 280 degrees, add butter.

At 290 degrees, turn off heat and start the water flush for 45 seconds. Add red pepper flakes and mix. Add salt, baking soda and vanilla. This will allow brittle temperature to reach 300 degrees by the time it’s finished mixing.

When ingredients are thoroughly incorporated, pour onto warm table or tray and either shake pan or use a spatula to spread brittle to desired thickness. Slowly start to cool table down.