One secret to creating unique and unusual candies is to take advantage of lollipop molds. These molds give you a great deal of flexibility. There are molds for almost all special occasions. There are three basic types of lollipop molds, each having its own unique purpose. The most common of the three types is the basic flat mold. Flat sheets with indentations of particular shapes and designs into which hot liquid candy is poured to conform to that shape, then harden. These molds can be used to create candy Christmas trees, Valentine hearts, pumpkins, leaves, and any number of shaped candies for all occasions.

Lollipop molds are very convenient and easy to use. They are inexpensive and readily available online or at nearby supply stores. These flat molds are usually made of plastic or rubber.

To use the molds, hot liquid candy is poured into the flat mold and the candy hardens to the shape of the mold. Each flat mold has several indentations, or shapes on the sheet. When the candy has hardened, the candy is removed by turning the sheet over and applying pressure to the back of the mold. The candy "pops" out as individual pieces of candy. They are flat on one side and have the design of the mold on the other side. In some cases one mold sheet will yield several different shapes or designs, but in most cases there is only one, repeated design, to a sheet.

The next type mold yields candy that has design completely around the candy. This is called the 3-D mold. This mold can be used to make the traditional lollipop. To accomplish the 3-D effect, the mold is usually made in two parts... one for the front of the candy, and one for the back. Even though the 3-D mold has two parts, it is almost as simple to use as the flat mold... in fact it is like using, and putting together, two flat molds. First you pour liquid candy into the first side of the mold... being careful not to fill it to the top. After this side has hardened, pour additional liquid candy into the second half of the mold... again almost to the top. Then when the candies of the second step is only partially hardened, the candies of first batch are popped out and individually placed onto the partially cooled second batch... which is still in the mold. As the second batch continues to cool and harden, the two halves will be fused together as one candy.

There is one variation to this two-piece 3-D mold. It is the same except the two pieces are hinged together like a book, and both sides are filled at the same time. When the candy has cooled and hardened a bit... the "book" is closed so the two halves can fuse and complete the process together as one piece.

Then there is the final basic type mold... The "hollow" mold. This mold is not used to make lollipops, but to make some of most delightful candies ever. We have all experienced the joy of selecting a piece of chocolate not knowing what wonderful surprise we would find at the center. With this mold you can fill the center of the candy with all kinds of good stuff: peanut butter, fruit, jelly, and all kinds of flavored goodies... you can even concoct your own special filling. Even though these molds can be used for hard candies, generally they are used to create a chocolate shell that can be filled with goodies, then topped with more chocolate.

Typically the hollow mold is a sheet of transparent plastic with rows of cavities half an inch and deeper. Chocolate is melted, and with a small paint brush the sides of the mold is "painted" with a layer of chocolate. The chocolate is chilled by placing the mold into the refrigerator. The mold is painted again, chilled again and the process repeated until the desired thickness is obtained. Then the filling is placed inside and a final layer of chocolate poured on top. Once that top layer is applied the mold is placed into the freezer only long enough for the candy to set enough to be easily popped out of the mold.

Rocky Sanders, also known as Rocky Sweet, has been making candy at home ever since they gave him the nickname, "Hard Rock Candyman" in his 9th grade science class. Since then, he has gained a huge amount of knowledge about candy making, and has been sharing the delights of that knowledge with the world. So he'd like to share his expertise and knowledge with you, free of charge.

For great information on candy lollipop molds, visit http://www.makingcandyathome.org/.

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