sea shell candy

sea shell candy

This sea shell candy is made from candy clay, a yummy alternative to fondant. 

Much as I like what fondant does, I just can’t get into the taste. I’ve been playing around with candy clay instead. Not quite as user friendly as fondant, and while, like fondant, it’s super sweet, it’s definitely better tasting.

I’ll be sure to post more ideas on how to decorate with candy clay, but I started out with some sea things. (My great grandfather was a lighthouse keeper here, so I’ve a penchant for shore things. That and it’s summer.)

So here are some how-tos to make sea shell candy.

Ideas for using sea shell candy

• top store-bought cookies (adhere with a dab of light corn syrup)
• decorate cupcakes or cakes that have been topped with light brown sugar “sand”
• let stiffen overnight and wrap as party favors
• display with fruits on a dessert table

how to make seashell candy

to make starfish candy you will need:

candy clay (recipe at the end of this post)
yellow food coloring (I used Americolor soft gel paste, Egg Yellow)
star cookie cutter (I used 3 inch, but you can use a smaller cutter if desired)
wax paper
rolling pin
lollipop stick or stirrer straw

how to make starfish candy

Take a handful of candy clay and knead a couple drops of yellow coloring very well into clay. Roll into a ball.

Roll clay about 1/4 inch thick between two pieces of wax paper. Cut out a star.

With your fingers, bend the tips of the star in different directions. With the lollipop stick or small straw, make imprints along the spokes.

Place on a wax paper-lined baking tray to dry at room temperature several hours or overnight.

to make sand dollar candy you will need:

candy clay (recipe at the end of this post)
white food coloring (I used Americolor soft gel paste, Bright White)
circle cookie cutter (I used 2 1/2 inch)
wax paper
rolling pin
lollipop stick or stirrer straw

how to make sand dollar candy

Knead a handful of candy clay with a few drops of white coloring. Roll into a ball.

Roll candy clay between two pieces of wax paper thinly. Cut out your circle. Place circle on a tray lined with wax paper. Insert end of stick or small straw to make five holes.

Tips: I wiggled the stick a bit to elongate the opening. If candy clay cracks when making holes, re-mold with your fingers.

I planned out my holes first by making light imprints with the lollipop stick, and I planned the spacing so the holes were in a circle.

to make shell candy you will need:

candy clay (recipe at the end of this post)
brown and pink food coloring (I used Americolor soft gel paste, Chocolate Brown, Egg Yellow and Electric Pink)
circle cookie cutter (I used 2 1/2 inch)
wax paper
rolling pin

how to make shell candy

Knead a handful of candy clay with a drop of brown coloring (I also added a touch of yellow coloring) to make light brown. Knead a handful of candy clay with a drop of pink to make light pink. Roll each into a ball.

Roll each color thinly between two pieces of wax paper. Cut out a circle of each. Place a circle of pink candy clay on top of a circle of brown clay.

Carefully (to avoid cracking), starting with the side of the circle, use your fingers to roll the candy clay into a tube. Pinch one end. Let stiffen on a wax paper lined baking tray.

recipe for candy clay

2 Tbsp. shortening
2 Tbsp. light corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
4 cups confectioner’s sugar

Mix together the first 4 ingredients, then gradually blend in the confectioner’s sugar. The mixture will be crumbly. Knead with your hands until smooth and pliable. You can add a few drops of water, or more corn syrup, if it’s way too dry. Roll into a ball and store at room temperature in a sealed bag.