Why Won't My Chocolate Melt?

by Jill
(Long Island, NY)

Why won't my chocolate melt properly?

I am trying to make Halloween lollipops and the colored wafers melted perfectly but the milk chocolate ones are not melting at all!

All I have is a big ball of mess! How can I get the chocolate to melt properly? I am warming all of the wafers in a double boiler so I don't know what the problem is.

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Hi Jill,

I understand your frustration. I've had the same thing happen to me. Usually, chocolate seizes (or becomes a ball of mess) if you even get the tiniest hint of water or steam in it.

That is probably what has happened in your situation. Even though I try to be very careful, sometimes my chocolate melts seize, too.

Be sure your water is not boiling in the double boiler. You only want it to simmer.

You can sometimes "rescue" seized chocolate by adding some vegetable oil or vegetable shortening to it (about a tsp.) and trying again.

Something else that is quite helpful when melting chocolate for Halloween lollipops or other molded chocolates is to add some Paramount Crystals to the chocolate. You can get them for a couple of dollars at Candyland Crafts. It makes the chocolate thinner and creamier.

Hope that helps. When your Halloween lollipops are done, please take a photo and show them off on our Halloween page. :) We'd love to see them.

~Angie