Items for making Xylitol Hard Candy
Available from Amazon
I keep receiving requests for links to what I use so I am making a list of Amazon available items. These are from my amazon associate account so I do get whatever kickback amazon offers on the items and appreciate people using the links. However, please do not feel obliged to use them and go with whatever is cheaper or more convenient for you.
That said I really do buy all my xylitol supplies from Amazon, mostly because I am cheap and Amazon is nearly always the least expensive AND I am of course a Prime member so with that in mind the following links are for the equipment and supplies I recommend.
This Mickey Mouse mug warmer is what I am currently using to make my xylitol hard candies and it works perfectly with ALL of the instructions I've posted in the xylitol hard candy directions.
The biggest problem people have contacted me about is not being able to find a mug warmer of sufficient power. This one is ideal, I purchased it from Amazon and tested it with the siguie protocols for 25 gram scale candies {you can also double the scale easily and with a little tweaking 3 to 4 times is possible}. This mug warmer is also sufficiently powerful to produce the colloidal silver xylitol candies and it does so beautifully!
This classy mug warmer is stated to be 30W and when measured I found it is a solid 27W to 28W. There are also other Disney characters to choose from but I have the Mickey version.
Incidentally I also use this mug warmer to make siguie brand colloidal silver.
I have used numerous brands of xylitol over the years but currently I am using Zint.
I always check the melting point, crystal clarity and taste of all xylitol I get before using and to date I have not had any issues whatsoever from any brands so my choice of Zint is simply based on price.
Also it appears that 5lb quantities give the best bang for the buck and I typically get 15 to 20 lbs at a time.
Xlear Xylosweet is another good brand and I used it for many years. The crystal grain size is a little more even than Zint's but since the xylitol is melted anyways I shifted to Zint.
Since Amazon prices fluctuate I recommend checking out both and picking the current cheapest brand. Also keep in mind that shipping can vary as well as being prime or not prime on occasion.
Made in the USA from Birch NON GMO Xylitol.
The vast majority of xylitol comes from China and is made from corn. I personally have no problems with this as long as the taste is correct, I can verify the product is sufficiently pure for my needs AND it is inexpensive. That said I know some people prefer products made in the USA and from something other than corn.
USA Birch Xylitol is as the name implies made in the USA and is derived from Birch. I have not purchased this item myself but I was given a pound to use and it works exactly the same as Xlear and Zint.
Morning Pep is also made in the USA and derived from Birch. I have neither used nor purchased this item BUT it looks good and seems to be a slightly cheaper alternative.
Incidentally both of these state they are Kosher which may be important to some people.
Lorann Hard Candy Flavoring Oils
These are the super strength flavour oils that I use in pretty much all of my candies both xylitol and sucrose based.
Lorann oils are really quite exceptional and when asked I recommend the link to the left. Not only is it a great deal, you get to choose 12 flavors in any combination {be sure and send them your flavour list within 24hrs!} and most importantly you get one 1 dram dropper.
Yes, I know what you are thinking what is so important about a 1 dram dropper especially only one?
The answer is it's a tiny little dropper that fits the tiny little one dram vials and makes dispensing sooooo much easier. This stuff is SUPER STRENGTH and you need only a few drops each time, without a good dropper you will either have a really hard time measuring it out or just waste a lot. The link to the left is just the best bang for your buck that has both flavors AND a dropper. I'll post some links next for just flavoring oils and for just droppers BUT alone the droppers are overpriced and I've received too much feedback from people wishing they had known they needed the droppers.
*Many health food stores have one dram droppers available and good chef and or restaurant supply stores may carry these oils but amazon has always been cheaper.
LorAnn Hard Candy Flavoring Oils 10 Pack YOU PICK THE FLAVORS by LorAnn Oils
This is what I typically order when I need or want more flavoring oils. Just be sure and send them your list of flavor choices within 24hrs. I just order the 10 pack then use Amazons system to message the seller.
Please note that this link does NOT include a dropper! Droppers are really really useful ... I strongly recommend you have or know where to get a 1 dram dropper before ordering. These are NOT the same droppers you find in 1 or 2 ounce vials.
These are just the droppers that fit the 1 dram vials. You really really Do NOT need 12 unless you want one dropper for every flavour. You can get packs of 2 or 4 but they are just a dollar or two less which is kind of silly.
If you are just getting into this or are just wanting to try these oils out with the siguie protocols I highly recommend the link above that gives you 12 flavours and 1 dropper. It's a better bang for your buck and you can likely find 1 dram vials with droppers in health food and herbal stores though usually highly overpriced. If you find you do enjoy making xylitol candies and end up with dozens of flavors like moi then this 12 pack is a great deal and when you do use up an oil you still have a nice 1 dram bottle with dropper.
I strongly recommend casting the xylitol "sticks" first. Not only are they cheaper the shape and the physics of the process all help produce a better product. That said "yes" the xylisticks can be a little sharp and too tough for small or delicate hands to snap safely.
For those who prefer casting their xylitol candies in molds, the link to the left is what I have and use. The plastic is cheap and feels flimsy BUT it has worked for the last 2 or 3 years with no problems at all.
If you are choosing a mold look for something that produces shallow flat candies. This is because xylitol tends to shrink and create divets and voids. In small flat candies this appears as just a concave side but in thick candies you will see bubbles and pipes.
FYI: You can get around this shrinking problem by letting the melt cool to just above it's melting point, seeding and stirring and THEN pouring. However, this is tricky to do and takes some practice plus really works better on larger scales so is not recommended until you get a handle on the process first.
No Contact IR Thermometers
These things are AWESOME and so very very useful for so many different things. I have two one high end expensive one and an inexpensive one similar to the one in the link on the left.
I got mine from China but it works fine for cooking or checking xylitol candy melt. It looks very similar to the one on the left BUT does not have the EMS adjustable function. I have not used this particular model but it's the closest to what I have. The EMS function should let you more accurately measure reflective surfaces. Since these no contact thermometers work by measuring infrared light reflective surfaces can cause issues, generally showing a lower than actual temp. The EMS adjustment "should" allow you to correct for this. That said, you really do not need that function for xylitol candies.
These things are really great in the kitchen when heating up pans and will instantly let you know when a pan is at the correct temperature.
For most purposes even these inexpensive IR Thermometers are more than most people will need. The inexpensive ones are generally a few degrees less accurate and typically have a smaller range of temps BUT unless you have a very specific need the cheap ones are great and I almost never use my "good" one.
That said in addition to xylitol candy making and cooking I also recommend using these things for checking your homes insulation. Checking wall, ceiling and floor temperatures will give you a really good idea of where heat/cold is being lost. Also checking the temps around windows can give you an idea if your windows is leaking before you see moisture coming in. Oh and don't even get me started on ghost hunting ;-)
Thank You for using my Amazon Associate Link!
