Jolly Rancher is a popular sweet brand in different forms, such as candy sticks, lollipops, and sour bites. These sweets are very nice as they are, but you can decide to experiment with them.
You can do more things with these sweets when they’re melted, and we’ll show you how to melt Jolly Ranchers in easy steps. Read on!
How to Melt Jolly Ranchers – 2 Easy Ways
1. Melting With A Microwave
The microwave is one of the most accessible methods for melting candy and is available in every home. Let’s look at how you can melt candy with your microwave:
Step 1 – Get a Microwave-Safe Dish
The first thing you should do is get a bowl or plate to put the Jolly Ranchers. Note that the bowl will be placed under heat and must be safe inside the microwave. Also, ensure the bowl has a handle because it will be hot after microwaving.
You can use a container made of Pyrex glass because it has more heat resistance.
Step 2 – Place the Bowl in the Microwave
After getting a suitable container, place it inside the microwave. Ensure you don’t put too many Jolly Ranchers at once, or it can spill out after melting.
Set your microwave to about 80% of its power and allow the Ranchers to heat for one minute. The time might vary depending on the type of microwave you’re using. If one minute is not enough, place the bowl back in the microwave and let it heat for a few more seconds.
If you still have more Jolly Ranchers to microwave, heat them at the same temperature as before.
Step 3 – Take Out Your Melted Candy
After melting the candy, you want to be careful with this part. The container and candy will be hot, and you can burn yourself if you’re not careful. We don’t advise taking out the bowl with your bare hands – instead, use a towel or mitt.
After taking out the melted candy, keep in mind that it will start solidifying shortly. You need to do what you want quickly before the candy hardens again. Besides, you can easily remelt it if it hardens.
2. Using An Oven
Besides a microwave, you can also melt your Jolly Ranchers with an oven. You need to be more careful when using the oven because it generates more heat. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1 – Prepare The Oven
When we say to prepare the oven, we refer to preheating. Compared to the microwave, the oven takes a long time to heat up properly. Leaving the oven on at about 177C will allow your candy to melt faster and save time.
Step 2 – Prepare the Candy
While you’re still preheating the oven, start preparing your candy. Get an oven-friendly container to hold your candy. Ensure the container is suitable for high temperatures to prevent accidents.
Also, avoid over-stacking the container to prevent the candy from spilling into the oven directly. By the time they’ve melted, the liquid will be less than the initial unmelted candy. You can melt them in batches if you need a lot of candy for your recipe.
Step 3 – Place the Jolly Ranchers in the Oven
Once your oven is preheated and your bowl is ready, place the candy inside the oven for about 10-12 minutes. Don’t stir the melting candy, or you’ll create bubbles. These bubbles can affect the integrity of your recipe.
Also, don’t leave the candy in the oven for too long. Start checking the candy when it approaches 10 minutes, and take it out immediately after it’s fully melted. If you leave the candy in the oven too long, it will start bubbling. Also, ensure you wear gloves or mitts before taking out the bowl.
Ensure you’re ready to use the melted Ranchers immediately after you take it out. The liquid starts solidifying after a few minutes of cooling.
Different Ways You Can Use Melted Jolly Ranchers
This guide will be incomplete if we don’t show you how to use your melted Jolly Ranchers.
Make Different Shapes
You can use the melted candy to make shapes of your choice. All you need is a mold in the shape you want. Ensure the mold is approved for use and can withstand the heat from the melted Jolly Ranchers.
After pouring your liquid into the candy mold, allow it to cool for a few minutes, and it will solidify. We don’t recommend chocolate molds.
Make Apple Candy
You can use your melted Jolly Ranchers to make apple candy. All you need is some apples (red or green), a skewer, and melted candy.
First, prepare your apples by piercing them with a stick. When the melted candy is ready, transfer it to a deep bowl that can take the whole apple. Using the stick or skewer, dip your apples into the bowl until they’re completely submerged and allow the excess candy to drip off.
Leave the candy-covered apples to dry for some minutes, and your apple candy is ready.
If you don’t have a deep bowl to place your candy, you can pour it directly over the apple.
Make a Lollipop
You can make lollipops with your melted candy; all you need are a paper towel, candy sticks, and lollipop molds. Pour your melted candy into the molds, put the candy sticks inside, and then leave them to cool. You can even cool them in the fridge for a nice effect.
Conclusion
Rancher candies are a famous brand of candy with different exciting flavors. They’re treats on their own, and you can also use them to make treats of your design.
We’ve looked at how to melt Jolly Ranchers using a microwave and an oven. These steps are easy to follow and can be accomplished from the comfort of your kitchen. We’ve also provided some easy recipes you can try, with more to learn.