Where to get or how to make hollow sugar balls?
I'm trying to create a set of liqueur and cream filled chocolates by hand. My current idea is, having created the chocolate for the outsides, to build up layers of it on a "sugar scaffold". I can then inject the filling into the centre and melt closed the hole.
My problem is finding or making a suitable hollow sugar ball to act as the scaffold. I want them to be 1 to 2 centimetres in diameter, robust enough to have the hot chocolate built onto them, and flavourless. I can't find anywhere in the UK to buy such a thing, and I'm not sure how to go about making them.
Can anyone advise me on buying, making or finding an alternative for this project?
Best Answer
An even simpler method is to freeze your filling until set but still pliable enough to work with. Shape your spheres (or squares, or tetrahedra, whatever), then chill again until they are as solid as possible. Insert a toothpick, dip in chocolate, shake off excess. Stick the other end of the toothpick in a potato or something. Repeat coverage as necessary. (Alternative to using toothpicks is a chocolate fork).
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Answer 2
For filled chocolates, in general your best bet by far is to get a set of polycarbonate molds. I originally got mine from a local gentleman ( http://www.chocolateman.com/ ) but they're available any number of places. Pour a first tempering of chocolate into the molds and let it set, fill your molds, and then cover them with another layer of tempered chocolate. This general approach should work even with liquid fillings, though you'll have to be reasonably careful (and I heartily encourage following daniel's suggestion of freezing your fillings). One caution - you may inadvertently take some of the magic out of the chocolates you buy! I know when I started shopping for polycarbonate molds I started recognizing a lot of the shapes on the pieces from local chocolatiers... :-)
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