Melting Confectionery Coating

1. Break coating into small pieces (or use wafers ) and place in the top of double boiler. Set aside.
2. Place hot water, not boiling, in the bottom section of the double boiler.
3. Place top of double boiler, containing coating, over the hot water. Do not get steam or water into coating or it will thicken.
4. Stir frequently until coating is melted, or reaches 115 F. on candy thermometer. Do not let it get any hotter.
5. Change water in the lower section of the double boiler to cool and stir coating in top section until it thickens slightly, or registers about 100 F. Continue to stir occasionally to keep mixture uniform.

1. Break coating into small pieces (or use wafers) and place in slow cooker.
2. Turn slow cooker to lowest setting and stir occasionally. The sides of a slow cooker get very hot. The coating must be stirred to melt uniformly, otherwise it will first begin to melt, then crumble and become impossible to work. (See PROBLEMS AND CURES.)
3. When there are just a few unmelted pieces of coating, turn the cooker off and begin to work with the coating. The ceramic pot will maintain the temperature for a long while.
4. Continue to stir occasionally to keep the coating mixed and uniformly heated. If the coating begins to cool and thicken, turn the slow cooker to low to warm it.

1. Place coating in a microwave-safe plastic container. Coating should be broken up; it will melt faster in small pieces.
2. Set the microwave oven to defrost and turn on.
3. When the coating looks wet, stop the microwave frequently and stir the coating. Coating does not lose its shape as it melts and must be stirred. Because of the way the microwave cooks and because of hot spots which occur in microwave ovens and glass containers, it is necessary to stir frequently to prevent scorching.
4. When the coating has only a few small lumps remaining, remove it from the microwave and stir until all is melted.
5. Place pan of melted coating into a pan of lukewarm water and stir until thicken slightly, then pour into molds. Stir coating remaining in pan occasionally to keep temperature uniform throughout.

White streaks (bloom) bay be caused by overheating, moisture or lack of stirring. Place coating in a pan and re-melt.

Storage
Scrape left over coating from pan onto waxed paper or release paper to cool and harden. When hardened, break up and place in a plastic bag. Store all coating at 60 -70 F. in an area free from strong odors and high humidity. To use again, follow the melting instructions.

Molding Confectionery Coating

1. Melt coating, using the method you prefer.
2. Mold should be clean, dry and polished with a soft cloth to give shine to your finished piece.
3. Spoon coating into molds. Do not overfill.
4. Tap molds vigorously on counter to release air bubbles. Any air bubbles that do not pop will show up as blemishes (pocks) on the surface and may be the cause of leaking in some filled pieces.
5. Place in refrigerator until hardened.
6. When hardened invert and tap gently. When the candy has set it will fall out. Avoid touching the molded pieces any more than necessary. Handling will leave fingerprints.

1. Cut mold to separate front and back, or left and right.
2. Put mold together lining up all curves and features, and trim mold so that when put together the edges are even.
3. Fill the deeper side with cool coating and tap on counter to remove air bubbles.
4. Place opposite half on top, line up all curves and features, and clip together with paper clips or bulldog clips.
5. Roll coating around inside until evenly coated then tap out air again.
6. Set mold in refrigerator with mold resting on its base until completely set. Release hollow piece by prying apart. Avoid touching the molded pieces any more than necessary. Handling will leave fingerprints.

Multiple Color Molding
Multiple colors may be used by painting the inside of the mold, where desired, with melted coating(ie. pink for ears, yellow for ties, etc.). When detail has thickened, spoon slightly warm coating into mold. Tap to release air. Refrigerate to set up.