<![CDATA[Vegan Candy Recipes]]> http://www.veganbaking.net/ http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/797-peppermint-patties <![CDATA[Peppermint Patties]]> http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/797-peppermint-patties Oh my. I LOVE peppermint+dark chocolate. But it's hard to find a great vegan version. Good things these are super easy to whip up... almost TOO easy.
]]> Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:53:50 -0500 797 2013-02-05 http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/761-crystallized-ginger <![CDATA[Crystallized Ginger]]> http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/761-crystallized-ginger
Crystallized ginger is somewhat of a magical candy from nature usually made from just ginger, sugar and a little heat to bring the two together. It seems there are almost as many crystallized ginger recipes as there are ginger pieces. After doing extensive testing I learned that the key to successful crystallized ginger boils down to three main things: 
 
Sugar Content
You must have at least a 50% mix of sugar to water mixture ratio in order for the 
ginger to crystallize properly. I opted for a ratio of 1:3 ratio of sugar to water because I felt this promotes maximum crystallization with just the right amount of sweetness. The sugar content allows the ginger to crystallize and also acts as a preservative. The crystallization also lends a tender, soft and slightly chewy mouthfeel that is especially important.
 
Time
The ginger should have sufficient time in the hot sugar mixture so it can soften and the sugar syrup can infuse it. 
 
Drying
I’m not one to dredge crystallized ginger in granulated sugar. In my opinion, properly made crystallized ginger has enough naturally crystallized sugars throughout its interior to need additional sugar added to the exterior. In order to promote this sugar crystallization the ginger must be exposed to heat so the excess water evaporates.
]]> Sat, 29 Oct 2011 02:40:43 -0400 761 2011-10-29 http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/673-white-chocolate <![CDATA[White Chocolate]]> http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/673-white-chocolate Commercial vegan white chocolate is relatively difficult to find but is an extremely versatile ingredient to have in your kitchen. Luckily, white chocolate's main ingredient, cocoa butter, is easy to find at affordable prices on the internet if you can't find it at your local health food store. A touch of soy milk powder and vanilla extract enhances depth of flavor in this chocolate.

Earlier attempts at making this chocolate have resulted in excessively grainy bars due to the absence of industrial chocolate making equipment. A few extra steps will ensure this bar is as smooth as possible. Grinding your soy milk powder in a rotary coffee grinder will make the powder granules as small as possible and cause them to not be as noticeable on the palate. Tempering the chocolate to ensure proper fat crystal formation is the other crucial step to ensuring a smooth, high quality bar. Once you've mastered these steps you can add flavorings like cardamom, matcha, cinnamon and ginger powder for a truly outstanding vegan white chocolate
]]> Sun, 31 Oct 2010 23:53:44 -0400 673 2010-10-31 5 http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/474-marzipan <![CDATA[Marzipan]]> http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/474-marzipan Marzipan is almond meal that's been added to caramelized sugar which makes it similar to frosting in consistency. It's origins come from present day Iran or Spain according to theory but it's true origins, as well as where the term 'marzipan' originated from are shrouded in mystery. It's extremely versatile, making a fantastic filling for cookies and pastries, a center for chocolates or rolled into stollen. It can be colored, flavored and formed into candies or used in cake decorating. You can even use other nuts besides almonds like macadamia nuts, cashews or brazil nuts. Marzipan can also be mixed with fruit and served in squares. In the vegan recipe below I didn't remove the skins of the almonds so it came out a light brown. ]]> Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:38:39 -0500 474 2010-01-22 http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/462-candied-orange-peel <![CDATA[Candied Orange Peel]]> http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/462-candied-orange-peel I used to get so grossed out at the mere thought of accidentally eating orange peel while eating an orange. Then I had candied orange peels and appreciated their candy form and created this recipe. Candied orange peels are a very versatile delicacy. Use them in Panettone, Stollen, Hot Cross Buns, pair them with almonds and cover them with chocolate or mince them and use them for topping on ice cream. Feel free to use other citrus peels in place, or in addition to orange such as lemon or lime. Just be sure to use organic peels because non-organic ones often have high concentrations of pesticide residues.
]]> Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:00:00 -0500 462 2009-12-11 4 http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/431-candied-spiced-pumpkin-seeds <![CDATA[Candied Spiced Pumpkin Seeds]]> http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/431-candied-spiced-pumpkin-seeds Don't know what to do with all those pumpkin seeds from pumpkin carving? Take those little pepitas and dress them up in little spiced sugar costumes with this Candied Spiced Pumpkin Seeds recipe. They'll love it and you will too because this vegan recipe features barley malt syrup, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom to help push the savory pumpkin seed flavors forward.
]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0400 431 2009-10-22 http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/359-cherry-candied-almonds <![CDATA[Cherry Candied Almonds]]> http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/359-cherry-candied-almonds This Cherry Candied Almond recipe is an excuse for me to combine two of my most favorite flavor combinations: cherries and almonds. I used brown sugar and olive oil for a more complex sweetness profile and just the right amount of almond extract to bind the cherry and almond flavor in holy matrimony. Try these as a relatively guilt-free vegan snack, add them to salads or sprinkle them on your ice cream.
]]> Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:28:27 -0400 359 2009-07-10 5 http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/250-vegan-pecan-caramel-chews <![CDATA[Pecan Caramel Chews]]> http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/250-vegan-pecan-caramel-chews These chewy Pecan Caramel Chews are reminiscent of those little caramels you used to get from trick or treating when you were little- except they're packed with pecans and dipped in chocolate. Be sure to use a candy thermometer with this vegan caramel recipe for best results. If you like your caramel extra soft or extra hard, adjust the caramelization temperature 10F lower or 10F higher respectively. ]]> Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:30:10 -0400 250 2009-04-04 5 http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/210-balsamic-candied-pecans <![CDATA[Balsamic Candied Pecans]]> http://www.veganbaking.net/confections/candy/210-balsamic-candied-pecans These Balsamic Candied Pecans are great for salads, ice cream or just random munching. It's one of those examples of how balsamic vinegar can mysteriously elevate certain foods to food crack status. This vegan recipe also features olive oil and brown sugar that help create complex flavors during the caramelization process.
]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2009 03:58:29 -0500 210 2009-01-29 5