How to Color Modeling Chocolate – It’s so Easy

The first time I made modeling chocolate I kept wondering how I’d color it because it didn’t seem like it would be simple? When I made them I used candy melts to get the color of modeling chocolate I needed, but I wanted to make custom colors. I think everyone needs a good flesh tone color so you can sculpt faces arms and legs. Let’s face it if you want to make a few arms and legs to decorate with a good flesh color is better than yellow. Remember, knowledge is power and I wanted to know so I can play with modeling chocolate.

How to Color Modeling Chocolate with Food Gel Colors or Candy Melts | The Bearfoot Baker

 

Supplies to Color Modeling Chocolate:
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Candy Melts-any color or all the colors
Corn Syrup
Soft Gel Paste Food Color

Recipe
Modeling Chocolate Recipe

When you look at the picture below you can see some of the colors of candy melts that are being sold in stores. This is just the beginning of the colors. Lime green, light cocoa, turquoise, orange, vibrant green, bright pink, black, lavender, and dark cocoa are a few more you may have seen.

Color Modeling Chocolate | The Bearfoot Baker

Look at all those gorgeous candy melt colors! They’re beautiful. Can you imagine all the things you can make with them? Flowers, birds, animals, and anything else you can imagine. But first, we need a good recipe. Click here for the How to Make Easy Modeling Chocolate recipe.

There are different ways to color modeling chocolate. You can use colored candy melts, add soft gel colors to the corn syrup, or wait until the modeling chocolate is made and then add a little food gel color. Let’s start with the colored candy melts.

How to Color Modeling Chocolate -It's Easy | The Bearfoot Baker

  • The hardest thing is deciding what color of candy melts you want to use to make your modeling chocolate. Once you decide that, the rest is easy.
  • Don’t use a wooden spoon to stir the candy melts. Wooden spoons retain moisture which can ruin the chocolate. They can also absorb previous cooking odors so your chocolate could taste like spaghetti. Yuck!

Color Modeling Chocolate the Easy Way | The Bearfoot Baker

Candy Melts

  • Melt your candy melts according to the directions on the package.
  • Here is how I melt mine: I start by melting them in the microwave set at fifty percent power for one minute.
  • When the microwave stops, stir the chocolate.
  • Place the candy melts back in the microwave (at fifty percent power) and set it for thirty seconds. Remove and stir. Continue that until the chocolate is melted just be careful not to overheat it. It usually takes mine about 2 1⁄2 – 3 1⁄2 minutes to melt. When I remove it from the microwave it may look like it’s not melted all the way. Give it a stir it and you’ll see the candy melts become a beautiful melted chocolate.

Corn Syrup

  • Heat the corn syrup in the microwave for 10-15 seconds at fifty percent power.
  • Add a little food gel color to the corn syrup and give it a good stir.
  • Add it to the modeling chocolate and stir it until it starts to set up. You will know when it starts to become thick. Stop and don’t over stir.

The Simple Way to Color Modeling Chocolate | The Bearfoot Baker

  • Place the warm modeling chocolate on a piece of plastic wrap and push it out into a thin layer. This will help it cool off faster.
  • Wrap it up and wait for thirty to forty-five minutes and then knead it.
  • You may need to break it into smaller pieces so it’s more manageable.
  • Next, wrap it in plastic wrap and let it sit overnight.
  • Knead it again and wrap it in plastic wrap. Wrap it nice and tight and store it in an airtight container or Ziploc bag.
  • You can store it for up to three or four months or you can place it in the freezer for up to two years.

Now you may be asking what’s the difference in making colored modeling chocolate with white candy melts and a little food gel paste and making modeling chocolate from colored candy melts. There really isn’t that much difference. The main thing you need to remember is to not overheat the candy melts and don’t over stir after you add the corn syrup. Other than that it’s pretty much the same.

Oh yeah, there is one other thing I need to tell you. If you color modeling chocolate with white candy melts and food gel colors, your modeling chocolate will be lighter than the color of your corn syrup. The white chocolate will make the modeling chocolate lighter. So it may take you a few times to adjust to how much food gel color you add to get the color you want. Don’t give up. Just keep practicing and you’ll master the color in no time.

Use Candy Melts to Color Modeling Chocolate | The Bearfoot Baker

Color Modeling Chocolate by using Candy Melts | The Bearfoot Baker

It doesn’t matter if you’re using colored candy melts or white candy melts with food gel color added to the corn syrup. The steps are still the same.

  • Melt the candy melts following the directions on the package.
  • Add the corn syrup and stir, but be careful not to over stir.
  • Place it on the plastic wrap and press it out until and let it sit for thirty to forty-five minutes.
  • Unwrap it and knead it.
  • Place it in the plastic wrap and let it sit overnight.
  • Knead it in the morning and wrap it nice and tight.
  • Place it in an airtight container or a Ziploc bag.

It Isn't Hard to Color Modeling Chocolate | The Bearfoot Baker

Color Modeling Chocolate with Food Gel Colors

Adding food gel color to premade modeling chocolate is a fun way to add color and it’s nice to see a white ball of modeling chocolate turn into the color of your dreams.

  • Just add a tiny amount of color to the modeling chocolate and mix so it’ll be easy to work with.
  • Add a small amount at a time because adding too much will change the texture and could make it too soft. Small amounts of food gel are the way to go until you get the color you desire.

Color Modeling Chocolate Video

As you watch the video pay attention to the color of the corn syrup when it’s poured into the melted candy melts. You can see the modeling chocolate is a lot lighter than the corn syrup in the bowl. This is what I was talking about. You may need to adjust the amount of food gel colors you add to get the color you want.

Making it with the colored candy melts will give you a more accurate color.

How to Color Modeling Chocolate | The Bearfoot Baker

The candy melts that were used were the exact same color as the modeling chocolate. Simple. You don’t have to temper the chocolate or go crazy trying to figure this out. Trust me. Try it! You love working with this stuff.

Next, we’re going to mix fifty percent fondant with fifty percent modeling chocolate and see what happens.

How to Make Easy Modeling Chocolate 

Bear hugs,

Lisa