Creme Candy Recipes

BUTTERCREAM CANDIES

Steps:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl using a handheld mixer), beat the butter until creamy (about 2 minutes).
• Add the confectioners' sugar. Beat on low for about a minute. Add the milk, vanilla, almond extract, and pinch of salt. Beat on high until smooth and creamy (about 3 minutes).
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place the buttercream mixture in the refrigerator to chill for one hour, up to 24 hours.
• When ready, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and remove the chilled buttercream from the refrigerator.
• Scoop out the buttercream with a one tablespoon scoop and roll it into a ball. Place it on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining buttercream. (If the mixture gets too sticky, add some confectioners' sugar to your hands.)
• Place the balls of buttercream in the refrigerator to chill for another hour, up to 24 hours.
• In the last few minutes of chilling the buttercream balls, melt the chocolate. Add the chocolate pieces and oil to a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 20-second increments, stirring after every 20 seconds, until the chocolate is melted and creamy. Let it sit for about 5 minutes to cool before dipping the buttercream balls.
• Remove the buttercream balls from the refrigerator. Working one at a time, gently drop the balls into the melted chocolate, making sure they are completely covered in chocolate.
• Using a fork, lift out the chocolate-covered buttercream. Use a toothpick or another fork to slide the buttercream candy onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Drizzle the remaining chocolate over the candies. Place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate has set.
• Store candies in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

KENTUCKY CREAM CANDY

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients.
• Cook over medium heat but do not stir after mixture starts to boil.
• Continue boiling until mixture reaches 265 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• Pour on marble slab or cool hard surface.
• As edges cool, push toward center once.
• When cool enough to handle, pull with buttered hands (Keep hands cool with damp cloth).
• Pull and fold over in a half twist.
• When pulling is completed, cut into pieces with scissors.
• Makes approximately 30 half twists.
• Recipe History: an old recipe for cream candy.
• Candy is not hard like taffy but has a softer and smoother consistency.
• This candy tends to melt in your mouth.

CREAM SODA AND RASPBERRY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Make the cupcakes: Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/180 degrees Celsius. Line a standard muffin tin with 12 paper liners.
• Use a small, sharp knife to trim the ends of the lemon and then cut away all the skin and pith. Slide your knife between the membranes to release the segments, then roughly chop each segment into 3 or 4 pieces. You need 24 pieces in total. Stuff each of the raspberries with the lemon pieces and set aside.
• Add the butter, sugar and cream-soda extract to the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment in place. (Alternatively, do this in a large bowl with a hand-held mixer). Mix on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes, or until pale, fluffy and aerated. Scrape down the sides if needed, then turn the speed to medium and add the eggs, one at a time, making sure each is completely incorporated.
• Scrape the bowl. Then, with the speed on medium-low, add the mascarpone, flour, baking powder and salt, and mix to combine. Turn the speed to medium and mix for 15 seconds, or until everything is smooth and evenly combined. Use two spoons to evenly divide the batter among the liners, so they are about two-thirds full. Press two raspberries, hole sides up, into the center of a cupcake so they're submerged halfway in the batter. Repeat with the remaining berries and cupcakes.
• Bake for 30 minutes, or until springy to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Leave to cool for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Once the cupcakes are cool, make the toppings: Blitz the raspberries into a smooth purée using a small food processor or blender. (Alternatively, mash them very thoroughly with a fork.) For the frosting, add the mascarpone, cream, sugar and cream-soda extract to the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment in place. Start the mixer on low, then gradually increase the speed to medium-high and whisk for about 1½ minutes, or until soft to medium peaks form. You don't want it to be runny at all. (Alternatively, do this in a bowl with a hand-held mixer.) Add the blitzed raspberries, stirring just 3 or 4 times and not more so that the frosting is streaky with red bits throughout.
• Fit a piping bag with a star-shaped piping tip (about 1 ¼-inches/30-millimeters wide) if you have one. (Alternatively, snip a hole in a piping bag or resealable plastic bag.) Place the bag tip-side down into a cup and fold the top over the rim to help keep it upright. Use a spatula to transfer the mascarpone cream to the bag and then pipe tall swirls of the cream on top of the cupcakes. Just before serving, sprinkle with the meringue and, if using, the popping candy.

BOSTON CREAM CANDY

Steps:

• Butter an 8x8-inch baking pan.
• Line the pan with a piece of parchment large enough to hang over two sides.
• Butter the paper, too, and tuck it flat against the pan.
• Put the chopped pecan pieces in a handy spot where you'll be working.
• Combine the sugar, salt, Karo syrup, half-and-half, cream, and butter in a heavy-based 3-qt pan (do not use a smaller pan), stirring with a wooden spoon over low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• This can take a while, and it's hard to see; you should feel the texture (rub a little between your fingers or run your finger along the mixture clinging to the spoon) to be sure all the sugar is dissolved.
• Turn the heat to medium and cook, stirring, until the mixture foams to a boil.
• Add the baking soda.
• Lower the heat and stir like mad.
• The mixture will double in volume and then gradually subside and begin to take on a golden hue.
• After the mixture settles a bit, put in a warmed candy thermometer.
• Continue to stir constantly, scraping the sides, and cook over medium-low heat until the thermometer registers just 240°F.
• Watch very carefully, as the thermometer will hover at 239° for a while and then move up.
• You must remove the mixture before it passes 240°F.
• Remove the pot from the heat and take out the thermometer.
• Continue to stir quickly.
• The candy will look like a loose caramel sauce.
• Add the vanilla (watch out, it may sputter) and stir carefully to incorporate.
• Add the pecans and continue stirring quickly.
• Don't take your eyes off the mixture at this point.
• Watch and feel it as it begins to thicken, lighten in color, and become harder to stir.
• When it has thickened enough to leave a path on the bottom of the pan while you're stirring, it's just about ready.
• The moment you notice that the mixture is just beginning to lose its glossy shine, turn it out into the buttered pan.
• Don't wait until the mixture looks completely matte or it will be too dry when you try to cut it.
• If you stop stirring at the right moment, the mixture will firm up almost the second it hits the pan.
• Too soon, it will never be anything more than caramel (although very good caramel); too long, it will harden in the pot.

COCONUT CREME CHOCOLATES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix marshmallow creme, coconut, vanilla and salt until blended. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour., Shape mixture into 1-in. balls. Place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate, covered, at least 3 hours., In a microwave, melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip coconut balls in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set.