Candy molds are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, many of which are multiple cavity molds produced from silicone. The Silicone chocolate candy molds that are used by commercial candy makers are often made from uniquely made metal molds that have the candy maker’s logo or other marking impressed in the mold. For those who wish to try chocolate making on a budget, molds are available that are made from plastic but great care has to be exercised otherwise the molds may melt due to the heat of the chocolate as it is poured into the molds.
Candy making molds are available to produce both hard and soft candy. Hard candies are often fruit flavored and produced in shapes which are far from exotic, simply shapes such as round, oblong, square and rectangle are the basic choices. These molds are ideal for those candy makers who are making a lollipop; it is simple to include a stick as the candies are being poured.
When molds are being used for the production of a chocolate candy, the molds are normally brushed with two or three layers of chocolate first. Once this shell has hardened chocolate can then be poured into the shell to fill it. After the entire chocolate has set, the silicone molds can be inverted and slowly manipulated to drop out a perfect chocolate. The idea of coating the mold first with a couple of layers of chocolate makes it ideal if the candy maker wants to include a different center such as a nut of a cream filling.
Chocolate candy molds come in a variety of designs, many of which are seasonal. Favorites are Christmas trees and Easter bunnies. These decorative chocolates are invariably solid chocolate so there is no need to create a shell first, simply pour the chocolate into the mold, drop it a time or two on the counter to release any air bubbles and when the chocolate has cooled, invert the mold and the chocolates will drop out.
Although candy making molds are designed for making candies, there are some homemakers who use the same mold for making small, highly scented soaps. During the soap making process, the ingredients are also in a liquid state as are candies and chocolates. Although the expensive silicone molds will not take up any taste from this operation, people who make these decorative soaps often use the inexpensive plastic molds.
