How To: Make Your Own Candy Molds
Making your own candy molds isn't nearly as difficult as it sounds, and it'll give your desserts a personal touch unlike anyone else's. Here's the special equipment you'll need:
This little adipose is going to make a cute marshmallow someday.
EZ Mold Castin' Craft Food-Safe Silicone
There are other food-safe silicone brands out there, but many of them are more of a liquid, compared to the EZ Mold's putty texture. These supposedly tend to give more detail, but they're also a lot messier - you'll need a vessel mix in and to pour into. I prefer EZ Mold, because I've never felt the detail was lacking, and if you can play with silly putty, you can cast with this silicone. Let's get to it!
I use Polymer clay because it's non-toxic, but honestly, this is a super extra precaution, because the clay itself is not going to be touching the food, so if you prefer to use something different, go for it. Sculpt whatever shape you want out of the clay. I'm a big believer in the "just go for it" method of learning a new skill, so it took me a while to get the hang of sculpting, but start with something simple and you should be fine. It helps to sculpt directly on your silicone baking mat, so that you won't have to move and potentially smush your clay when you're done.
Once you're happy with your piece, you'll need to bake it at 275F for 15 minutes to set.
Now comes the fun mold-making part!
You'll need equal parts of the white and purple silicone. If you're a perfectionist, you can use your kitchen scale to measure, but I usually just eyeball it. Squish the two colors together and knead until there are no more white streaks in the purple.
Working quickly, roll out a ball and flatten it into a disk. Carefully press your piece into the silicone. Leave it for 5-10 minutes to set. You can check by pushing your nail in at the side to see if it leaves a mark. Once the silicone has cured, pop out your clay piece and ta-da! You've just made your own candy mold, my friend. I usually make several at a time so that when it comes candy-making time, I can make a bunch in one go.
Once you've got your molds made, you can clean them with regular dish soap and be sure to dry them completely before using.