Candy melts and white chocolate are two similar types of materials used in cakes or to mold them into edible decorations. These are also added to the dessert which enhances the flavor and texture of the item.
In this article, we will discuss whether you can use chocolate chips instead of candy melts.
Can you use chocolate chips instead of candy melts?
You can use chocolate chips instead of candy melts, but you need to add some shortening, otherwise, it will get lumpy. It is also recommended to add oil when melting the chocolate chips because they don’t have any oil added to them. However, the candy melts come with oil.
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Chocolate chips and candy melts are a type of sweetening material that is used in desserts and cakes. In addition to that, candy melts and chocolate chips are also used to dip in treats, mold candy, and drizzle decorations.
In some cases, these are commonly used in ganache. Candy melts and chocolate chips are two different things. The chocolate chips use cocoa butter, whereas the candy melts use palm kernel oil and other vegetable oils instead of cocoa butter.
The biggest factor that makes the difference between chocolate chips and candy melt is the taste. The chocolate chips do not taste good when you use them instead of candy melts.
The chocolate chips are good at decorating your items rather than melting them and adding them to your dishes.
Although you can still add them by chopping the chocolate chips and using them in the dishes and that will not cause any difference to the texture or ingredient of the dish, it will bring changes to the taste.
Another difference that is noticed when using chocolate chips instead of candy melts is the texture and flavor. Candy melts have an artificial flavor whereas regular chocolate will have a creamy and smooth flavor.
Below is a brief discussion on whether you can use a different type of chocolate chips instead of candy melts in dishes:
White chocolate chips:
You can use white chocolate chips instead of candy melts. But the problem with using white chocolate chips instead of candy melts is you will not get the same result.
Generally, the white chocolate chips require tempering but the candy melts don’t. That is why you will need to put them in different temperatures for the same results as candy melts.
Dark chocolate chips:
Dark chocolate chips are commonly used to decorate and dip into dishes. They are supposed to stay intact in the oven.
Since they do not contain enough cocoa butter to temper, it will take more heat to melt the dark chocolate chips to use instead of candy melts.
Can you use chocolate chips instead of candy melts for cake pops?
Using chocolate chips instead of candy melts is a very convenient idea. You can simply use chocolate chips instead of candy melts as cake pops. Chocolate cake pops or is considered one of the most delicious desserts.
Chocolate chips or candy melts are the basic ingredients that are used to make chocolate cake pop. These materials are used to coat the cake pops. You can use both the candy melts or the chocolate chips to make the coating of the chocolate cake pop.
But it is recommended to thin out the melted chocolate chips with a bit of oil before dipping the chocolate cake pop into it. Because the chocolate chips are not as thin as the candy melts.
Since the candy melts are made using oil, that is why they are thin in texture and work great as a part of the chocolate cake pop.
When using chocolate chips, you need to thin out the texture because they contain cocoa butter which eventually hardens the texture of it.
Do chocolate chips and candy melts work the same way? What happens when you use chocolate chips instead of candy melts?
The chocolate chips and the candy melts will not work the same way. Although you can use chocolate chips instead of candy melts in the dishes, they will not work in the same way in terms of taste, texture, and flavor.
The ingredients that go into the chocolate chips and the candy melts are not the same. That is why they make a difference when added to the dishes.
The chocolate chips are made using cocoa butter and the candy melts are made using vegetable oil or palm kernel oil.
When you use chocolate chips instead of candy melts, you can see a difference in the texture, taste, and flavor of the food. Since the chocolate chips are made using cocoa butter, they become hardened when melted and used in the dishes.
That is why the chocolate chips need to be thinned out before applying to the food. On the other hand, the candy melts are made using a way that makes them thinner.
Candy melts vs chocolate chips – What are the differences?
Since the candy melts and chocolate chips are made using different types of compounds, when you use them in the dishes, they will be a bit different. The candy melts and the chocolate chips have different types of textures.
In some cases, you may notice a difference in the taste of both these materials. Also, the chocolate chips are thick and due to their basic ingredients, that is why they cannot go well with every type of dish.
You might need to thin out the chocolate chips to mix them and use them instead of candy melts. Although it is possible to use chocolate chips as a substitute for candy melts, the noticeable differences are described below.
The texture of them:
The texture of chocolate chips and candy melts or not the same. The chocolate chips consist of cocoa butter and the candy melts are made using vegetable or palm kernel oil.
That is why when these ingredients are added to dishes, you may see differences in the texture of that dish.
They cannot hold their shape:
Due to the difference in texture, the chocolate chips and the candy melts have a difference in holding their shape.
When you use chocolate chips in a dish, they will not smoothly melt and set up firmly.
They taste different:
There is a huge difference between the tastes of chocolate chips and candy melts. That is why when you add them to a dish you will notice the change in taste if you use chocolate chips instead of candy melts.
How do you use chocolate chips instead of candy melts?
Chocolate chips can be used as a substitute for candy melts. If you’re willing to use chocolate chips instead of candy melts, you need to add one or two tablespoons of shortening to the chocolate chips.
The shortening is added to the chocolate chips to maintain the consistency of the item. When using chocolate chips in a dish instead of candy melts, you should rather use white chocolate instead of dark chocolate.
As a result, it will bring more changes to the dish. Below is a brief description of how do you use chocolate chips instead of candy melts:
Melt them down:
In case you want to use chocolate chips instead of candy melts, you need to follow some procedures. Firstly, you need to melt them down.
The chocolate chips are more resistant to melting. On the other hand, over-melting may cause them to bloom.
Add some oil:
When melting the chocolate chips, you can try adding one to two tablespoons of vegetable oil for every 12 oz of chocolate chips. Doing this will help them to meltdown properly.
Balance the consistency:
It is important to maintain the consistency of chocolate chips. Since the chocolate chips are made using cocoa butter, they will not act the same way as the candy melts.
That is why you will need to add some elements and balance the consistency to bring them to an optimum melting level.
What can you use instead of candy melts?
Generally, many people use chocolate chips instead of candy melts when making dishes that require candy melts. Although the chocolate chips and candy melts are not made using the same type of compound.
The chocolate chip consists of cocoa butter and the candy mills are made using vegetable or palm oil. That is why they have a difference in thickness which affects the texture of the dish.
That is why there are some other substitutes for candy melts that can be used. Below is a list of the substitutes for candy melts.
- Compound chocolate. Almond bark.
- Frosting.
- Marshmallow.
- Soybean and sugar.
Final thoughts
You can use chocolate chips instead of candy melt, but their results will not be the same. They do not follow the same type of compound, so they bring changes to the taste, texture, and flavor of the dish. It is important to balance the quality when using chocolate chips instead of candy melts.