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Edible buttons - any ideas on how to make them taste good?

post #1 of 12
11/2/11 at 2:18pm
Thread Starter 
Hi, I've been asked if I could make some edible buttons as favours for a lady I am doing a wedding cake for. There is a button element in the cake and for her bouquet so she would like to give out button favours. I'm just at a loss how to make them edible/taste good. If I use a mold and a gumpaste mix so they keep their shape and harden to go in a bag they won't taste good at all! I saw someone did flavoured ones but guessing they have a proper factory or process for them. Any help would be greatly appreciated I have 400 to make and I also need to quote a price too.

thank you icon_biggrin.gif
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post #2 of 12
11/2/11 at 2:29pm
Not sure if there are any candy molds available that are buttons, but you could easily make your own. Then mold them from chocolate. You can color white chocolate if you need colored buttons.
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post #3 of 12
11/2/11 at 2:49pm
Make them with chocolate. [IMPORTANT: When I talk about chocolate, I am talking about confectionary coating/candy melts; NOT REAL chocolate with cocoa butter that must be tempered!] If you purchase 50 pounds of chocolate (candy melts) you would have 2 ounces of chocolate buttons for each of the 400 people.

Merckens candy melts (in their Rainbow line of products) come in different colors. The wholesale size box is 50 pounds.

Go to this link and scroll down until you get to Compound Coatings. The "chocolate" you need to buy MUST be a COMPOUND COATING and have a Merckens product number starting with CF-________.

http://www.adm.com/en-US/products/food/cocoa/Documents/North-America-Merckens-Product-Catalog.pdf

Here's an example of a button candy mold:

http://www.amazon.com/CK-Products-Button-Assortment-Chocolate/dp/B003QP34TK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320270438&sr=8-1

Chocolate buttons would actually be very quick to make and will store easily in a cool room that doesn't get above 75 degrees.

As far as a price quote: Custom chocolate work LOOKS VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE! Do not tell your client that it is very, very easy and quick. I would research the cost of your ingredients and supplies, factor in the time, and charge an arm and a leg for the custom chocolate buttons. Even more if you are providing similar wedding colors with the chocolate buttons.

Are you responsible for locating, purchasing, and packing the 400 chocolate button favors into darling little containers? Every additional step makes the price go up and up and up!

Do NOT hesitate to quote a mind-boggling price quote!!! If they can afford 400 guests they can spend thousands on party favors. Even $5 a favor (fairly cheap for packaged, custom chocolate buttons in the wedding colors) would be $2,000.
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post #4 of 12
11/2/11 at 3:20pm
Sugar Cookies - easy, peasy! http://www.grouprecipes.com/21360/crafty-button-sugar-cookies.html Just color the dough - no need to ice. So pretty and easy.
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post #5 of 12
11/2/11 at 5:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bakingpw

Sugar Cookies - easy, peasy! http://www.grouprecipes.com/21360/crafty-button-sugar-cookies.html Just color the dough - no need to ice. So pretty and easy.



Those are adorable!
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post #6 of 12
11/2/11 at 5:17pm
Do you mean "buttons" that do up a coat, or buttons, like a campaign button? Bit of a size difference and design difference there!
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post #7 of 12
11/3/11 at 7:51am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apti

Make them with chocolate. [IMPORTANT: When I talk about chocolate, I am talking about confectionary coating/candy melts; NOT REAL chocolate with cocoa butter that must be tempered!] If you purchase 50 pounds of chocolate (candy melts) you would have 2 ounces of chocolate buttons for each of the 400 people.

Merckens candy melts (in their Rainbow line of products) come in different colors. The wholesale size box is 50 pounds.

Go to this link and scroll down until you get to Compound Coatings. The "chocolate" you need to buy MUST be a COMPOUND COATING and have a Merckens product number starting with CF-________.

http://www.adm.com/en-US/products/food/cocoa/Documents/North-America-Merckens-Product-Catalog.pdf

Here's an example of a button candy mold:

http://www.amazon.com/CK-Products-Button-Assortment-Chocolate/dp/B003QP34TK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320270438&sr=8-1

Chocolate buttons would actually be very quick to make and will store easily in a cool room that doesn't get above 75 degrees.

As far as a price quote: Custom chocolate work LOOKS VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE! Do not tell your client that it is very, very easy and quick. I would research the cost of your ingredients and supplies, factor in the time, and charge an arm and a leg for the custom chocolate buttons. Even more if you are providing similar wedding colors with the chocolate buttons.

Are you responsible for locating, purchasing, and packing the 400 chocolate button favors into darling little containers? Every additional step makes the price go up and up and up!

Do NOT hesitate to quote a mind-boggling price quote!!! If they can afford 400 guests they can spend thousands on party favors. Even $5 a favor (fairly cheap for packaged, custom chocolate buttons in the wedding colors) would be $2,000.



Wow thank you so much for all this amazing info. I am going to offer up them like this or the cookies - which are gorgeous. I think it is all going to depend also on if she wants different styled/shaped buttons. I think will be responsible for doing all the packaging too! She wants 400 buttons in total so i'm guessing she is going to split them between the guests to a few a pack? I am going to give her a shout and see if that is what she is thinking 400 in total separated into bags so maybe not so bad? £5 a bag? icon_smile.gif
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post #8 of 12
11/3/11 at 7:52am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriekailee

Do you mean "buttons" that do up a coat, or buttons, like a campaign button? Bit of a size difference and design difference there!



Hi yes little buttons like for a coat.. this could take a lot of time 400 of em!
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post #9 of 12
11/3/11 at 9:42am
You are very welcome! I did a search for UK suppliers and found these sites:

http://www.cakescookiesandcraftsshop.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000067.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww.cakescookiesandcraftsshop.co.uk%2facatalog%2fChocolate-Moulds.html&WD=button&PN=Buttons-Chocolate-Mould.html%23a1_21HM_2d90_2d13709#a1_21HM_2d90_2d13709

That is the same CK Products mold I referenced above. This site also offers wedding favor packages so you could save on shipping to get it all from one site. They have a 6 cm button cookie cutter as well, but I don't know how that would turn out once the large cookie baked. (Just type in "button" in search and scroll down to the --Button Cookie Cutter Stainless Steel--. The company above only offers Wilton candy melts which will REQUIRE the use of Paramount Crystals to thin the chocolate.

and some more button molds:

http://www.thecakedecoratingcompany.co.uk/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=button&x=0&y=0

Call around to your local cake specialty stores. Tell them you need a LOT of confectionary coating chocolate. Make sure you tell them you DO NOT want chocolate that has to be tempered. See if there are any suppliers for larger/bulk quantities of Merckens compound coatings or Guittard A'Peels. If you buy white compound coatings and want to make them different colors, you MUST purchase either Wilton (or CK brand) candy colors that are made SPECIFICALLY for chocolate:

http://search.wilton.com/?q=candy+colors

or

Americolor Flo Coat Food Colouring Aid 2oz

http://www.thecakedecoratingcompany.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=209_210_299&products_id=2091&osCsid=gf8gso687k1oece7k1rb28peu3

Look forward to seeing how this turns out. Either chocolate buttons or those adorable cookie buttons would be beautiful as favors.
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post #10 of 12
11/3/11 at 9:52am
modeling chocolate
Georgine
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post #11 of 12
11/3/11 at 9:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bakingpw

Sugar Cookies - easy, peasy! http://www.grouprecipes.com/21360/crafty-button-sugar-cookies.html Just color the dough - no need to ice. So pretty and easy.


Love those! 400 of those would be doable!
Sometimes family makes the best friends, and sometimes friends make the best family.
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Sometimes family makes the best friends, and sometimes friends make the best family.
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post #12 of 12
11/8/11 at 2:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apti

You are very welcome! I did a search for UK suppliers and found these sites:

http://www.cakescookiesandcraftsshop.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000067.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww.cakescookiesandcraftsshop.co.uk%2facatalog%2fChocolate-Moulds.html&WD=button&PN=Buttons-Chocolate-Mould.html%23a1_21HM_2d90_2d13709#a1_21HM_2d90_2d13709

That is the same CK Products mold I referenced above. This site also offers wedding favor packages so you could save on shipping to get it all from one site. They have a 6 cm button cookie cutter as well, but I don't know how that would turn out once the large cookie baked. (Just type in "button" in search and scroll down to the --Button Cookie Cutter Stainless Steel--. The company above only offers Wilton candy melts which will REQUIRE the use of Paramount Crystals to thin the chocolate.

and some more button molds:

http://www.thecakedecoratingcompany.co.uk/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=button&x=0&y=0

Call around to your local cake specialty stores. Tell them you need a LOT of confectionary coating chocolate. Make sure you tell them you DO NOT want chocolate that has to be tempered. See if there are any suppliers for larger/bulk quantities of Merckens compound coatings or Guittard A'Peels. If you buy white compound coatings and want to make them different colors, you MUST purchase either Wilton (or CK brand) candy colors that are made SPECIFICALLY for chocolate:

http://search.wilton.com/?q=candy+colors

or

Americolor Flo Coat Food Colouring Aid 2oz

http://www.thecakedecoratingcompany.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=209_210_299&products_id=2091&osCsid=gf8gso687k1oece7k1rb28peu3

Look forward to seeing how this turns out. Either chocolate buttons or those adorable cookie buttons would be beautiful as favors.




Well all this information is brilliant. The bride now has said today though that she doesn't want chocolate or cookies arrgghh such a shame. she thinks candy is better and they need to be cream and navy. Most of the buttons I can use regular molds which will be great the ones i've been given links to on here but she also wants some that match the ones in her bouquet so i will have to create my own mold (not a prob). My main worry is making them in the colours and tasty now as she doesn't want chocolate. She is going to package them herself I guess I'd worry they will mark in navy colour - you know like choc does? Any further suggestions be really appreciated. Will the candy melts work do you think? Now wondering on the price for 400 in total. i do get myself into stuff lol. Thank you all so much icon_smile.gif
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