Tagged with 'candy melts'

4th of July Cupcakes with Easy DIY Toppers!

Fourth of July is right around the corner & what better way to celebrate than with festive, delicious cupcakes? 

Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue or just enjoying a quiet family gathering, our Sweet Shoppe Melting Wafers in Cardinal Red, Sky Blue, & Ultra White can help you create stunning & patriotic cupcake toppers with minimal effort. 

Here’s how you can create these easy DIY cupcake toppers that are sure to impress!

What You’ll Need:


Instructions:

  1. Prepare Your Cupcakes: Start by either baking your favorite cupcake recipe or grabbing some ready-made cupcakes from the store. Set them aside while you prepare your toppers.
  2. Prep Your Melting Wafers: Place your Sweet Shoppe Melting Wafers in microwave-safe bowls, one color per bowl. Microwave them in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until the wafers are completely melted & smooth. Check out our youtube channel for more precise instructions on how to melt our Sweet Shoppe!
  3. Shape the Toppers: Line a baking sheet or plate with parchment paper. Place your star-shaped outline underneath the parchment paper (or the outline of your choice) on top. Pour our melted wafers into a piping bag & carefully trace the design.
  4. Set the Toppers: Allow the melted wafers to cool & harden. To speed up the process, place your baking sheet or plate in the freezer for 2-5 minutes. This will help the toppers set quickly & make it easier to peel off the parchment paper.
  5. Peel Off the Toppers: Once the wafers have set, gently peel the toppers off the parchment paper. Be careful not to break the delicate edges.
  6. Decorate Your Cupcakes: Place your newly created star-shaped chocolate cupcake toppers on top of your frosting. Our vibrant cardinal red, sky blue, & ultra white colors will make your cupcakes stand out & perfectly capture the patriotic spirit of the 4th of July.

PRO TIPS:

  • Use a metal spatula to help release your designs without breaking them. You can use the edge of the table by pulling the parchment paper down on the edge to help easily peel your designs off.
  • You can also use cookie cutters to create uniquely shaped cupcake toppers! Simply pour your melted wafers into your cookie cutters & follow the same steps.
  • If you’re having trouble getting the chocolate to release from the cookie cutter, you can lightly spray the inside of the cookie cutter with non-stick spray before pouring in the melted wafers.
  • Mix & match colors to create a variety of designs or try swirling two colors together for a marbled effect!

These delicious cupcake toppers are not only easy to make but they also add a delightful touch to your holiday treats. Your guests will be impressed by your creativity & effort & only you will know just how simple they were to create.

Happy 4th of July from all of us at Stover & Company! 

Shamrock Pretzel Tutorial

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, & what better way to celebrate the delightful holiday than with an easy-to-make holiday treat? Say hello to our Shamrock Pretzel Sticks, a charming combination of crunchy pretzels & sweet melting wafers that not only captures the essence of the holiday but these treats also make for a visually stunning addition to your St. Patrick's Day festivities!

Follow along with Alicia in this video with this easy to follow St. Patrick's Day recipe!

Ingredients:

Tools:

Instructions:

  1. Create the Shamrock Shape:
    Begin by grabbing three pretzels & arranging them in the shape of a shamrock. One on top & one on each side. Feeling lucky? Add a fourth pretzel!
  2. Melt your Sweet Shoppe Spring Green Melting Wafers:
    Follow the melting instructions provided for the Sweet Shoppe Spring Green Melting Wafers.
  3. Create your Shamrock Shape:
    Once your melting wafers are melted down to a smooth consistency, dip just the sides of one of your pretzels & attach it to the other two pretzels to form a shamrock shape. Add a bit of melting wafers to the edges for extra support. Dip a cake pop stick into the melted wafers & lay it flat on top of the pretzels. Allow it to dry, securing the shamrock onto the stick.
  4. Coat with Melting Wafers:
    Once dry, dip the shamrock pretzel into your melted Sweet Shoppe Spring Green Melting Wafers, tapping off any excess. Lay it flat on parchment paper or place in a cakepop stand to dry.
  5. Create a Marble Effect:
    Melt your Sweet Shoppe Forest Green Melting Wafers & add melting coating to a piping bag. Drizzle the Sweet Shoppe Forest Green over your melted Sweet Shoppe Spring Green. Dip your shamrock pretzel into the coating ensuring a smooth, consistent coating. Gently rotate the cakepop stick from side to side as you remove your treat to create a beautiful marble finish.
  6. Let Them Shine:
    Allow your Shamrock Pretzel Sticks to dry completely. Once set, they are ready to steal the show at your St. Patrick's Day celebration.

Will you be making this festive St. Patrick’s Day treat? We’d love to see what you create! Tag us on social or share your images in our Facebook Community group: Stover’s Confection Connection!

May your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations be filled with luck & deliciously green treats!

New Size, Same Sweet Shoppe!

We’re kicking off 2024 with a minor update to our beloved line of compound coating wafers! Our Sweet Shoppe Coating Wafers are transitioning to a brand new, smaller size wafer! 


No need to worry, nothing about the product will change other than the size of the wafer itself! This shift in size doesn’t just offer a change in appearance; it amplifies your usage possibilities. Reducing our Sweet Shoppe wafer size by almost 50% allows for a smoother & quicker melting experience, enabling you to coat, drizzle & decorate with ease! 


At Stover & Company, we understand that consistent quality matters most to our customers! While the size of our wafer may be new, we are committed to providing the same premium ingredients & qualities you’re used to with our Sweet Shoppe products.


Here’s what you can expect during the size transition: 

 

  • There will be some crossover between wafer sizes as we work through our existing inventory. This means if you order more than one unit, you may receive an order containing both wafer sizes!
  • Rest assured, our original-sized coating wafers continue to uphold the high standard of Sweet Shoppe quality you know & trust. The original-sized wafers are fully usable through the "Best By" date indicated on your package.
  • Smaller wafers = faster melting! That’s right, these new smaller size wafers will save you time in the kitchen as they quickly melt down to the perfect Sweet Shoppe consistency! Please be sure to adjust your melting time accordingly to avoid burning the coating. 
  • During warmer months, our small wafer size may increase in chances of the product melting during transit. We always recommend adding our cold packaging add-on to protect your order as it makes the journey to your door. 


So that's it! New size, same sweet vibes


We value your loyalty to our brand & we’re excited for you to embark on this delightful new journey with us! Stay tuned for more exciting updates & inspiration as we roll out this exciting change! 


Have questions? Contact our customer service team at info@stovercompany.com! 

 

 

Savor the Spectrum: Introducing Sweet Shoppe Colored Compounds

You asked for them, we listened. Our beloved Sweet Shoppe Coating Wafers are now available in SEVEN vibrant colors, each designed to take your treats to new heights!

Color Your World with Deliciously Vibrant Chocolate
Available for purchase starting August 16th, this new collection features a wide range of hues to help you unlock a world of color.  

                                                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rose Pink: Playful & charming, this pale pink shade is perfect for celebrating life's sweetest moments.

Sunset Orange: Capture the radiance of a sunset with this lively orange, guaranteed to make your treats pop.

Cardinal Red: A bright red hue perfect for holiday creations & paying homage to your favorite sports team.

Sunshine Yellow: Make everyday brighter when you add sunshine yellow to your sweet treats. 

Spring Green: Sparking feelings of freshness & vitality, this calm shade is ideal for desserts that call for a soft touch of nature.

Forest Green: Add a touch of elegance & sophistication to your confections with this rich & regal shade of Forest Green. 

Sky Blue: Dive into the depths of creativity with this calming Sky Blue, reminiscent of the sky above. 


At Stover & Company, we understand the importance of maintaining the consistent quality that our customers have come to love. That's why our Sweet Shoppe Colored Coating Wafers are based on the original Sweet Shoppe Ultra White formula. By using this trusted formula, we ensure that not only will your treats dazzle with color, they will also have the same creamy texture & irresistible taste that you've come to expect from our Sweet Shoppe brand.

 

Create Colorful Creations with Compound Coating Wafers
With our Sweet Shoppe Colored Coating Wafers, the possibilities are truly endless. Whether you're a professional baker, a home baker, or simply someone who loves to treat their loved ones to something special, our colored compound wafers will allow you to transform your radiant ideas into reality.

Create captivating cake pops that mirror the colors of the rainbow. Craft candies that are as beautiful as they are delicious. Dip fruits into an array of hues, turning ordinary snacks into extraordinary delights. Purchase our Color Lovers Bundle for the perfect sampling of this collection! 

For just, $22.00, our Color Lovers Bundle includes: 
1 lb Cardinal Red
1 lb Sunset Orange
1 lb Sunshine Yellow
1 lb Spring Green
1 lb Sky Blue 

 

Looking for custom colors?

Our Sweet Shoppe Coating Wafers paired with Artisan Accent’s Chocolate Chameleon x Sweet Shoppe oil based candy colors will help you achieve a custom shade of your choice! Start with Ultra White for a pure base, or add Artisan Accent’s Chocolate Chameleon oil based colors to one of our colored compounds to create a custom hue. You will use less food coloring when you start with a colored compound coating!

 


We would love to see what you create on our Facebooks Page, Facebook Group: Confection Connection, Instagram or TikTok so be sure to tag us! 

 

Merckens Compound Coatings vs. Sweet Shoppe Compound Coatings: A Delectable Comparison

When it comes to the world of confectionery, compound coatings play a crucial role in creating mouthwatering treats. Today, we’re dipping into a comparison between two American-made compound coatings: Merckens (made by Cargill) vs. our very own Sweet Shoppe.

While both brands have earned recognition by industry leading treat makers, today we will focus on comparing their most loved qualities & how they stack up against each other. 

So, let's embark on this delectable journey!

 

Texture & Consistency: The texture & consistency of compound coatings will significantly impact the final product you create. Merckens & Sweet Shoppe both excel in this area, ensuring smooth & silky coatings. They both possess a creamy texture, making them easy to melt & work with, allowing for smooth & even coverage. 

 

Flavor Variety: One of the delightful aspects of compound coatings is the range of flavors they offer. Merckens & Sweet Shoppe both understand the importance of diversity in taste & both brands provide a great selection. Merckens offers a classic assortment, including cocoa lite, cocoa dark, white  & super white. Comparably, Sweet Shoppe Compound Coatings come in Ultra White, White, Milk & Dark. Though the flavors may be similar, our Sweet Shoppe line has a less sweet taste than Merckens. Treat makers love this subtle difference in Sweet Shoppe as it allows their treats & baked goods to shine through the layer of compound coating. 


Melting: Melting compound coatings can be a crucial step in confectionery making. Both Merckens & Sweet Shoppe aim to simplify this process, allowing for a smooth & simple melting experience. Merckens compound coatings melt evenly, ensuring a consistent finish, while Sweet Shoppe Compound Coatings provide a similar melting experience, with a perceived slight advantage in terms of ease & convenience. The best part? No tempering required with either brand! 


Versatility: The versatility of compound coatings is a vital aspect for confectioners & culinary enthusiasts alike. Merckens & Sweet Shoppe both offer coatings that adapt well to various applications. Whether you're dipping fruit, coating cookies, or creating intricate designs, both brands will deliver exceptional results. For over 100 years, Merckens has established itself as a reliable choice for a wide range of applications. We’re so proud to have our very own Sweet Shoppe line competing with an industry leading product such as Merckens. 


Quality & Ingredients: The quality of the ingredients used in compound coatings contributes to the overall taste & satisfaction of the final product. Merckens & Sweet Shoppe both prioritize using high-quality ingredients in their coatings. Merckens has built a reputation for consistency & reliability, while Sweet Shoppe takes pride in sourcing premium quality ingredients, which lends our compound coatings a subtle edge in terms of taste & overall quality.

Price: Comparing the pricing of Merckens & Sweet Shoppe compound coatings reveals a notable advantage for Sweet Shoppe without compromising quality. Sweet Shoppe's pricing is lower compared to Merckens, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious confectioners. Despite the lower price point, Sweet Shoppe maintains an exceptional level of quality, ensuring that you can create delectable treats without breaking the bank. The affordability of Sweet Shoppe compound coatings makes them an excellent choice for both professional bakers & home enthusiasts seeking high-quality products at a more accessible price.

Both brands offer exceptional products that cater to the needs of confectioners & home bakers. Merckens compound coatings boast a reliable & consistent performance, while Sweet Shoppe compound coatings exhibit a slight advantage in terms of finesse, flavor variety & visual appeal. Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on personal preferences & specific application requirements. 

Whichever brand you opt for, rest assured that your confectionery creations will be elevated to new heights of deliciousness. Happy baking!