MAKING CANDY BUTTONS TO DECORATE YOUR SUGAR CONFECTIONS!

   This recipe and diy comes from www.whatwillwedotoday.com .  Making them your self is better than buying them from the store and what a better way of making sugar treats than with your children. Good luck!

 

Recipe: Candy Buttons (Candy Dots)

Remember the strips of colored candy dots on paper? You would strip the candy off with your teeth, and end up with just a little bit of paper in your mouth? If you had siblings, you just might nibble the paper into a small weapon? (I wouldn’t do that, of course, but SOMEONE might).
Well, that started me thinking. Wouldn’t it be cool to make candy buttons? Perfect for movie night.
I was lucky I had this idea when I had willing helpers (my beautiful and talented nieces Miranda and Monica). If you are lucky, you will find some willing helpers as well.

You don’t need a lot of ingredients. This picture features several food coloring and extract choices, but really I would think four colors would be fine. You will notice I have parchment paper on this picture. Do NOT use parchment, the dots will fall right off. I ultimately used computer paper from a fresh ream of paper.

Print Recipe

Recipe: Candy Buttons

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp Meringue powder (or 2 egg whites)
• 6 tbsp Water
• 1/4 tsp Almond extract (use vanilla, lemon, peppermint, coconut for different flavors)
• 1 pound confectioners' sugar (1 pound = 7 cups)
• decorator bags or sandwich bags (1 for each color)
• food coloring I used gel, but any kind will do. Four colors is about right)
• paper cut into 2 3/4" by 10" strips.

Instructions

• If you are using egg whites, separate the eggs.

• Perfect. Now you have some egg yolks for....how about lemon curd?

• Whip together the confectioners' sugar and the egg whites (or meringue powder and water) on low speed for one minute.
• If you have a stand mixer, this is the time to use it. Your arm will get tired with a hand mixer (although, if you switch hands, you might be able to count it as an exercise).

• Add the flavoring and about 1/2 of the water. You may wish to add more water later to get this to the right consistency, but start out with a little less then you think you need.

• Whip mixture for 10 minutes on high speed. If the icing is too thick, think it out with drops of water until it is the consistency of sour cream. A drop should hold it's shape and slowly smooth out to create a smooth button.
• While the mixer is whipping the icing, cut strips of paper into 2 3/4" by 10" strips.
• You may want to use a template for candy dots if you wish.

• If you are using gel paste, you don't need to use much. I used bamboo skewers to get just a dab of the food coloring.

• Isn't this pretty? Maybe that's why I used bamboo skewers, it just looks so pretty while I am mixing it.

• This just makes me feel good.

• Divide the icing into small bowls. One bowl for each color.

• Pour each color into a decorator bag or sandwich bag and seal.

• Tip: Put the bag into a glass with the edges folded over the rim to easily fill with icing.

• Cut a VERY small corner off of each bag.

• Squeeze a drop of icing at a time onto the paper.

• You might want to place the strip of paper on top of a template, so you can see where to place each drop evenly.

• This may seem tedious, but it is actually very satisfying. Very much like popping bubble wrap. Only sweeter.

• Doesn't this look wonderful? And the candy looks good too!! (Come on. I'm Dear Sweet Aunt Jill. I HAVE to be cheesy).

• Place the strips on baking sheets in a cool dry place, uncovered, to dry overnight.

• Once the candy has dried, you can place the strips in a zipper bag or airtight container.

• You can store the leftover "icing" in the refrigerator in plastic bags.
• This recipe makes a LOT, and it would sure be a shame to waste any of this....Right?

It is much easier to make these if you have a template underneath the paper. Here is the template I used.
Candy Button Template
Enjoy