Hi, so I am melting candy melts and putting them into moulds for ladybirds and bees, these are the two I am working on at the moment. The yellow melts I thinned down a bit with oil as they really were way too thick, but I didn't want to put too much oil in them. Problem with both moulds is they have holes in them when they have hardened. I have "banged" them on the benchtop in the hope they would settle properly, but that only worked to a certain extent. Any other tips please?

I have done chocolate moulds and they settle really easily and are quite runny. Just seems to be the melts.

lyndunc - 2019-06-21 15:02:00

This maybe of help to you. Copied from the Wilton Cake Decorating site in case you used their candy melts.

We recommend melting Candy Melts in a microwave on 50% power for up to 1 minute, and stirring well, as the melts will keep the wafer shape even when melted. You may need additional bursts at 30 second intervals, depending on your microwave strength, but at higher powers the melts may start cooking which will thicken them. To thin Candy Melts we recommend adding small amounts of vegetable shortening or Wilton EZ Thin until you reach your desired consistency. We also have a blog post on using Candy Melts and common questions here: http://blog.wilton.com/index.php/use-candy-melts-candy/

cookiebarrel - 2019-06-21 16:15:00

Still looking for reasons you would have bubbles, but just a thought maybe if you stirred it too much or too vigorously in trying to get it thinner you may have incorperated some air bubbles? Or maybe because you used oil ,

Edited by cookiebarrel at 4:18 pm, Fri 21 Jun

cookiebarrel - 2019-06-21 16:17:00

Based on the above and reading that article that was kindly posted, I wonder if I should try using the double boiler method. I have been using a lower power on the microwave, but maybe not low enough. And yes, maybe I stirred it too vigourously. Gives me a few different options.

I have been using the candy melts for moulding chocolate and that has worked wonderfully.

Will keep trying, cheers.

lyndunc - 2019-06-21 16:32:00

Also, I am using plastic moulds, not silicone moulds, so that may make a difference.

lyndunc - 2019-06-21 16:37:00

Have you tried using a thin bamboo skewer to gently release bubbles, after you've done the "tap on the bench" thing? I find that helps.

autumnwinds - 2019-06-21 19:10:00

Thank you Autumnwinds, I actually used a toothpick, so we think along the same lines. It certainly helped.

lyndunc - 2019-06-22 09:07:00

Well, weird stuff happening. The candy melts I have been using I bought from a different place than usual. So I tried melting some of the original supplies I had, and they melted fine. So I suspect it's the melts, not me. They are not out of date as I checked that. Will have a look at the ingredients and see if they have changed - the packet is different, but the brand is the same.

lyndunc - 2019-06-22 15:46:00

Definitely the candy melts, I used some of the usual ones in green this time and they melted perfectly. Will have to find another use for the ones that don't melt so well - any suggestions? Maybe use as decorations on cupcakes.

lyndunc - 2019-06-23 19:57:00