Chocolate making sounds super fancy, but even amateur chocolatiers acknowledge that the craft is accessible enough for beginners to get started with minimal technical skills.
You can’t just use regular old kitchen items or bakeware though. You’ll need some specialty tools to really dive into the craft of chocolate making.
Candyland Crafts in Raritan has everything you need to get started and make professional quality chocolates at home as soon as today.
Here are some of the things we recommend you pick up.
Chocolate Molds
You absolutely cannot make chocolate without a chocolate mold. It is vital to ensure the chocolate sets and conforms to a shape, whether you’re making a straightforward chocolate candy bar or fun themed shapes to liven up your next holiday party.
Chocolatiers don’t always agree on what material is best for chocolate making, as molds are available in plastic, silicone, metal, and glass. Luckily, Candyland Crafts carries all of the above, so you have your personal pick of which to try first.
Spatulas and a Palette Knife
Chocolatiers love a good palette knife. This tool closely resembles a spatula with a long, flat head. It is used to spread chocolate thin on surfaces for tempering and to ensure there are no lumps. For a glossy final product, a palette knife is a must.
You’ll want spatulas of various sizes to help scoop, smooth, and remove chocolate as needed. Spatulas are incredibly versatile, and you should never be too far from one at any given moment during chocolate making.
Thermometer
Like most culinary applications, temperature plays a critical role in how your food will turn out in the end. For tempered chocolate, a working temperature between 85 and 87 degrees Fahrenheit is a great range.
No matter how many years of experience you may have, you will not know with certainty if you’re in that exact range without a good thermometer at your side.
Piping Bags and Nozzles
You’re going to work hard to ensure evenness to the mixture, and want a uniform appearance and consistency throughout. That’s where using a piping bag and appropriately sized nozzle will help you finish the job without risking ruining things at the last minute.
Spoons and spatulas can disperse the mixture unevenly into the mold, resulting in lumps and inconsistencies. A high quality, professional grade piping bag and nozzle will alleviate this and make for the easiest way to fill a mold that you can find.
Candyland Crafts offers a variety of piping bags and nozzles of all shapes and sizes, so you can nail that final step prior to setting and get perfect tempered chocolate every time.
Chocolate Making Classes
All of the right tools are for naught if you still aren’t quite sure how to make chocolate at home in the first place.
Candyland Crafts offers classes in many different skills including chocolate making. Their experienced pros have ample experience and tools to help guide you along your chocolatier’s journey.
Stop by for all your chocolate making supplies or chocolate making classes today!
