Handmade candies are enjoying a boom in popularity, and this wonderful how-to will help home chefs of all levels create the most delectable treats around. Using basic techniques, tools, and ingredients, professional chocolatier Nina Wanat guides readers on a friendly, informative tour through the accessible intricacies of candymaking. Generously photographed, with invaluable instructions and time-tested tips and tricks, Sweet Confections contains 40 delicious recipes tested in the author's own kitchen. From Salted Chocolate Caramel Lollipops to Peach Turkish Delight, these candies are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and satiate your creative cravings.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Cookie dough fudge? This book has it. A sweet-and-salty smorgasbord? This book has it. It also has big, glossy images and plenty of step-by-steps to guide you to sweet success. Author Nina Wanat has packed this book with easy-to-make recipes and intriguing flavor combinations." - Sprinkle Bakes
"Sweet Confections: Beautiful Candy to Make at Home demystifies the apparently-not-so-tricky world of candymaking. Author Nina Wanat, chocolatier and owner of BonBonBar Confections, combines her knowledge with the stunning photography of Diane Cu and Todd Porter, aka White on Rice, to guide us through making candy at home...Wanat promises candymaking is 'easy and within your reach,' and leads us confidently through all the basic ingredients, tools, and how-tos, including how to temper chocolate, cook sugar, roll truffles, and more. Every concern is covered, even for novices (To stir, or not to stir?), and the step-by-step photographs serve as a vital guide." - Craft Gossip
“Nina provides a wonderful overview of all the basic candy making ingredients as well as the tools and techniques needed to create these scrumptious treats. Step-by-step directions and mouthwatering photography make it a fun challenge deciding on which recipe to try out first.” - Delish Magazine
About the Author
Nina Wanat is the founder and chief chocolatier of Bay Area based BonBonBar Confections LLC, a thriving confectionary specializing in handmade, artisan candies with an emphasis on natural ingredients. Nina attended the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone for its Baking & Pastry Program, and she maintains a blog, Sweet Napa (http://www.sweetnapa.com/), that chronicles her life and adventures in candymaking.
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More About the Author
Nine Wanat was born in Brooklyn and raised in New Jersey. She initially came to California for the film industry, but she stayed for the food. After dropping out of law school, she studied baking and pastry at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone and apprenticed with artisan chocolatiers. In 2007, she founded BonBonBar Confections, which specializes in handmade candy bars, caramels, and marshmallows. She lives in San Francisco.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Star Child
Format:Paperback
I won this book in a contest and was very excited to see it waiting for me today. I immediately opened my package and devoured (pun intended?) it. I took a confectionery class in college and reading her tips and instructions brought so many things back. It is easy to understand and instructions are clear and precise. The recipes are amazing. Some things I have done before like marshmallows and caramel. Plus the Fudge recipes are the traditional Old Fashioned Fudge which is harder to find. Most people opt for the easier recipes that use white chocolate chips or marshmallows. While Old Fashioned Fudge is more temperamental, when it is done right it achieves a smoothness and flavor profile that is above its more common cousin. Consequently seeing those recipes added, in my opinion, to the validity and taste of the author, Nina Wanat. I honestly think anyone, with a little patience, could pick this book up and be successful. One of the nice things about this book is it is organized with easier recipe categories first. It starts with your hard crack lollipops and progresses into the more difficult fudge or truffle. The illustrations are both beautiful and informative. It really is a must have for the novice and seasoned candy maker.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was sad to hear that Bonbonbar, Nina Wanat's candy business, was closing its doors, because she made the best caramels I have ever tasted. But, if I can't order the caramels anymore, I at least could get her caramel recipe here in Sweet Confections!
Candies (and chocolate) have their own requirements and rules, and I'd been meaning to get a specialized cookbook for a while. Not only does this book have a good range of recipes, but there is a great section at the front about candymaking in general, with well-illustrated instructions for caramelizing sugar and tempering chocolate.
Having enjoyed Nina's confections before, I had confidence for the caramel and chocolate recipes, but there is quite a lot territory in the book that Bonbonbar did not cover. I was intrigued by the recipe for applesauce jellies, and decided to whip up a batch. I expected something with basic apple flavor, probably similar to Applets&Cotlets, that my young niece and nephews would enjoy... but what I got was tender jellies with lovely caramel-apple aroma. Highly addictive. I can't wait to try some of the other recipes!
Candies (and chocolate) have their own requirements and rules, and I'd been meaning to get a specialized cookbook for a while. Not only does this book have a good range of recipes, but there is a great section at the front about candymaking in general, with well-illustrated instructions for caramelizing sugar and tempering chocolate.
Having enjoyed Nina's confections before, I had confidence for the caramel and chocolate recipes, but there is quite a lot territory in the book that Bonbonbar did not cover. I was intrigued by the recipe for applesauce jellies, and decided to whip up a batch. I expected something with basic apple flavor, probably similar to Applets&Cotlets, that my young niece and nephews would enjoy... but what I got was tender jellies with lovely caramel-apple aroma. Highly addictive. I can't wait to try some of the other recipes!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Sweet Confections: Beautiful Candy to Make at Home gives us the opportunity to make our favorite candies (plus new concoctions) right at home! Candy making can be a little trickier than making cookies, but many of the recipes have just a few ingredients and are fairly simple, as long as you own a candy thermometer! Sweet Confections is filled not only with real candy recipes, but tons of eye candy as well!
The author refers to candy as being "the most gem-like of foods" with its jewel-toned colors and the absolutely gorgeous photography by the very talented couple from the White on Rice Couple blog does so well at featuring each glorious piece. In case you are new to creating your own candies, there are step-by-step photos that teach how to temper chocolate, dipping and rolling candies, and how to correctly cook sugar.
There are sections for Crunchy, Chewy or Silky candy. New takes on classics, like the Pumpkin Caramels (so perfect for Fall), the Sour Cream Candied Nuts, or Strawberry Lemonade Marshmallows are excellent additions. Crystallized pansies and rose petals, white and lavender meringues (which would be fun to color to match with different holidays) or the vibrantly colored Jelly Candies are stunning to look at. And, if you are a chocolate lover, then you may enjoy the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge or the Rocky Road Chocolate Bark. Whatever your personal favorites are, Sweet Confections is a beautiful book with excellent recipes for all types of the best candy making.
The author refers to candy as being "the most gem-like of foods" with its jewel-toned colors and the absolutely gorgeous photography by the very talented couple from the White on Rice Couple blog does so well at featuring each glorious piece. In case you are new to creating your own candies, there are step-by-step photos that teach how to temper chocolate, dipping and rolling candies, and how to correctly cook sugar.
There are sections for Crunchy, Chewy or Silky candy. New takes on classics, like the Pumpkin Caramels (so perfect for Fall), the Sour Cream Candied Nuts, or Strawberry Lemonade Marshmallows are excellent additions. Crystallized pansies and rose petals, white and lavender meringues (which would be fun to color to match with different holidays) or the vibrantly colored Jelly Candies are stunning to look at. And, if you are a chocolate lover, then you may enjoy the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge or the Rocky Road Chocolate Bark. Whatever your personal favorites are, Sweet Confections is a beautiful book with excellent recipes for all types of the best candy making.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
EXCELLENT BOOK!
OMG! I have become fascinated with candy making, and this book gives step by step easy to follow direction. You can't beat the price. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Canaanite
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
I have been looking for a candy book. This one is a good basic book. I would recommend this book.
Published 3 months ago by Shannon Areias
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must buy it!!!
A book you will definitely treasure and may even pass it on to your loved ones as an heirloom! :)
It has abundant recipes with lots of varieties!!! You will enjoy trying it. Read more
It has abundant recipes with lots of varieties!!! You will enjoy trying it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Soo
4.0 out of 5 stars
Really nice beginner book!
I make caramels and fudge regularly, but not much else. This book is easy to follow, with enough basic and intermediate recipes to build skills without overwhelming a newbie like... Read more
Published 4 months ago by SE Mom
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great resource for candy recipes!
I love to make candy! Been doing it for years and this book is Fabulous! It has some great recipes that I am looking forward to trying out!
Published 5 months ago by Kat Yelo
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
I bought this book for my daughter. She was always calling to get a candy recipe from me . Now she has her own book so she can look it up. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jeanne Youngblood
4.0 out of 5 stars
Informative and fun!
I have been looking for a decent candy-at-home book for years. This book delves slightly deeper into the reason why a recipe describes the methods it does (i.e. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Cheesey
5.0 out of 5 stars
fabulous book for candies and confections
Making candies has always intimidated me a bit. I love to bake and cook, but for some reason candy has seemed scary. Not after reading this book! I love it! Read more
Published 12 months ago by BlueBell
5.0 out of 5 stars
love it
love this book. whether or not you are making scrumptious treats or looking at the pretty pictures it is a great addition to any cookbook collection. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Carrie
4.0 out of 5 stars
cAnDy
I give this four stars only because the lack of confectionery recipes wish this book was much bigger. Read more
Published 14 months ago by alaskanbear
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