Using Candy in Your Baked Goods

Baking is a great pastime for people all around the world. The joy of creating your own baked treats and then getting to enjoy them or watch other people enjoy them can be quite addictive for a skilled baker or cook. Pies, cakes, and cookies are just some of the sweet treats that are popular among both kids and adults.

Sometimes though, you get tired of doing the same old recipes and want to try something a little different. One way to make your baking more interesting is to use candy in your baked goods. Here are some tips for using candy in your baking.

Candies start out melted before they are molded into shapes that harden upon cooling. So it is logical that candies can also be used in baking as it can undergo heat all over again without harming it. A lot of candies can therefore be baked in the oven with whatever you are making to create extra flavor.

Avoid hard candies for the most part, especially if you are using candy as toppings or embeds. People who are eating your cakes and cookies might not expect it when biting into them. Although you can melt hard candies for flavor, it is usually easier to purchase flavor extracts instead.

For cakes, candies are a great for both decorating and as an addition to the ingredients. A simple cake with white frosting can be transformed into a gummy cake by simply adding some gummy candies on it. With the different shapes and sizes that gummies come nowadays, the theme of bears, insects, ducks or even baskets can be achieved.

On the subject of gummies, there are ribbons of gummies that come in different colors and flavors. These ribbons can be sugared or not sugared and they could be plain flavors or the sour candy type. Licorice or strawberry licorice is another alternative.

Simply arrange the ribbons alternately on the sides of the cake to achieve a basket weave effect. And then, thread a coated floral wire through the candies and make an arch out of it for the handles. The size and shape of the basket really depends on the artist at this point, so use the imagination. The icing will bind the ribbons to the cake.

After the basket is made, simply grab some candy flowers (large and small lollipops) and arrange them like when fixing up a vase. There are also gum-paste flowers (gum-paste is also candy based) which come in millions of designs, including Snow White if one were to look for it. Fold over loosely some green (sour apple) gummy ribbons as the leaves, arrange some more until the floral candy cake in a candy basket is done. Make sure that all spaces are filled with assorted candy shapes so no vacant spaces are left.

This is not only an attractive cake but the same idea can be used for cookies and muffins as well. Simply douse the iced cookies or muffins with candy sprinkles, Reese's pieces or M&M's. These candies can also be baked into the item itself. So use the imagination and don't limit the ideas to just plain cakes!