Chocolate is my love language and the best way to express that love is with wonderful homemade treats. Explore with me the best tools to help you with the labor of love: homemade chocolate!
![Black slate plate with chocolate dipper, molds, squeeze bottle and two kinds of chocolate couverture on white wooden ground.](https://combinegoodflavors.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/chocolate-making-tools-D75_4057-scaled.jpg)
Chocolate is a passionate food. With this delicious treat you can convey deep feelings, and making chocolate treats yourself is a skill with many delightful and lovely rewards. I fell in love with chocolate through a series of candy-making courses, but you can learn the basics all at home! Set yourself up for success by getting familiar with these affordable and easy-to-use chocolate tools!
This guide is broken down into three chocolatey categories: Basics, Advanced, and Nice to Have Tools. That way, you can easily find the right tools for your kitchen and level of interest, so let’s make something delicious together with these amazing chocolate tools!
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🧰 Essential Tools
Double Boiler: Also known as a bain marie, the double boiler is a must-have for stovetop chocolate confections. You can purchase this tool from any kitchen supply shop or make one using tools you already have. Simply place a pot or metal bowl on top of a medium pot to make a double boiler from scratch.
Try this fantastic, easy-pour double-boiler pot. It is designed to fit your existing pots and smoothly pour melted chocolate.
Digital Thermometer: A candy thermometer is essential for everything from tempering chocolate to working with sugar. Select one with a clip, so it can rest in your pot without you having to hold it in place.
Select an easy-to-read candy thermometer. It can temp everything from chocolate to deep fry oil, and it easily clips to the pan!
Chocolate Molds: These tools can make being a chocolatier so much more fun! You can stick with basic molds, like round and rectangular shapes for bars and truffles, or you can get creative with fun shapes, like flowers and stars. Super advanced shapes and techniques, like chocolate domes, start with silicone molds!
Chocolate molds come in all shapes and sizes, so if you’re not sure where to start, try this set. It comes with multiple chocolatey shapes to choose from so you can make lovely treats with style!
Palette Knife: A palette knife is not just for painting! This offset tool helps you to smooth chocolate into thin, smooth layers for coated treats and more.
Start with this five-piece set so you never need another chocolate tool again!
Spatula: A silicone spatula is a must-have for stirring, scraping, transferring, and more.
Try this starter set of spatulas. It includes five heat-resistant sizes for easy chocolate working!
Piping Bag: When you put chocolate in a piping bag you can make all kinds of magic happen! Drizzling, decorative writing, accents, and other shapes are all possible with a piping bag.
Choose a reusable set of bags and tips or make a piping bag out of a storage bag in a pinch.
This set of piping bags includes twelve heavy-duty bags, so it will last through several delicious chocolate projects!
🛠️ Advanced Tools
Tempering Device: A countertop chocolate tempering device is a slightly bigger investment, but if you love making chocolate as much as I do it may be worth the expense! The tempering device keeps chocolate at the perfect temperature for smooth, shiny chocolate coatings and more.
Chocolate tempering devices can be expensive. If you want an affordable alternative, try this economical countertop tempering machine!
Candy Dipping Tools: These handy dippers make evenly coating your treats in delectable chocolate easier than ever. A set of candy dipping tools typically includes a few fork-style tools and a swirled dipper, so you can easily dunk your sweets in melted cocoa.
A great set, like this one, includes scoops and skewer-style tools so you never make a mess dipping any type of treat!
Chocolate Carving Tools: If you want to make beautiful statement pieces out of chocolate, you will need carving tools. These handheld tools allow you to make shape, sculpt, chisel, and smooth chocolate into any shape or design you can imagine.
A set of tools, like this one, allows you to form the chocolate as if you were a sculptor!
🔬 Nice to Have
Serving Trays: A tray is a wonderful place to arrange your chocolate before chilling.
Try these gilded trays to make a statement when you serve your finished candies! They’re affordable, hand-washable, and totally lovely!
Silicone Mat: A silicone mat can be used in many ways when making chocolate. It can be used as a prep surface or an easy-to-clean area under your trays.
Try this affordable two-pack of mats to get yourself started!
These trays, covered with silicone mats, also help if you want to store the chocolate candies in the fridge for cooling.
Must Try Chocolate Candy Recipes
Now that you’re all equipped, you must be dying to try some tasty chocolate recipes! Try out your new tools with these deliciously easy homemade chocolate recipes!
🙋🏻 FAQ
Well, chocolate, of course! I also like to keep glucose on hand to prevent ganache from crystallizing. You will also want to have plenty of edible glitter, sprinkles, food coloring, and other decorative add-ins you want to include in your candy.
You can see the links above to find some chocolate tools on Amazon. If you prefer to shop in-store, most of these tools, especially the basics, can easily be found in the kitchen section of any big box store, department store, or kitchen supply store.
Dark chocolate is the easiest chocolate to temper, yet every type of chocolate has a lot of delicious flavor, texture, and color to offer. The tools on this list can be used with any type of chocolate.
Chocolate Candy Recipes for You to Try
- No Bake Cornflake Clusters with Dark Chocolate
- Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe with White and Dark Chocolate
- White Chocolate Coconut Truffles
- Boozy Marzipan Candy
If you make this recipe, let me know how you liked it by ★★★★★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. This would be awesome! You can also sign up for our Newsletter or follow me on Pinterest or Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @combinegoodflavors and hashtag #combinegoodflavors, so I don't miss it.
⛑️ Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
For further information, check Safe Food Handling - FDA.
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