Jolly Ranchers are one of the best candies out there. They’re tart and sweet, and they come in all sorts of flavors. You can eat them whole, chop them up into bite-sized pieces, or crush them into dust.
There’s one question that remains: Can you melt Jolly Ranchers? And if so… how?
Well, it turns out that yes! There are plenty of ways to melt Jolly Ranchers, from microwave to oven baking to just keeping an open bag on top of your car dashboard for a few minutes (don’t do this, it’s a joke).
There are so many cute window box cookie and candy ideas out there for any holiday or themed party you can think of. You want to recreate one, but can’t figure out how to make the colorful windows.
The answer is melting Jolly Ranchers. You can easily melt Jolly Ranchers to make some fun treats for your next party.
How Do You Melt Jolly Ranchers?
You can make some epic candied apples with Jolly Ranchers, but what’s the best way to melt the tart, fruity candies?
Oven
If you want to melt a lot of candies, the oven may be the quickest option.
Unwrap the Jolly Ranchers you wish to melt and place them into the oven-safe pot.
Step 3
When the oven reaches 350 degrees F, put your bowl of candies inside. Set a timer for 10 minutes. You’re going to want to watch the candy carefully. You want them to fully melt, but not boil. Air bubbles will make your creations more fragile.
Step 4
When fully melted remove them from the oven and use them quickly. You’ll only have a few minutes before they harden again.
Microwave
You don’t have to use the standard oven at all. It’s just as easy to melt those fruity candies in the microwave. Around 5 Jolly Ranchers will give you around a tablespoon of melted candy for your task.
What you’ll need
Jolly ranchers
Microwave-safe bowl
Gloves (heat protection)
Step 1
Unwrap the number of Jolly Ranchers you’ll be melting. Place them in your microwave-safe bowl
Step 2
Microwave your candies for around 1 minute at 80% power. If you haven’t achieved a full melt at this point, then add more time at 15-second intervals until fully liquid.
Step 3
Use your heat-protective gloves to remove the bowl from the microwave. It’s going to be hot!
Stovetop
While this is a good method for melting those Jolly Ranchers, you’ll really have to watch carefully. The temperatures on the stovetop are much harder to control.
What you’ll need
Jolly Ranchers
Saucepan
Silicone tool for stirring
Step 1
Unwrap the candies and place them in your chosen saucepan.
Place the saucepan on the stovetop over low heat. Low heat will help melt the candy with less risk of burning.
Step 3
As the candy heats up and melts. Stir frequently to prevent burning.
Step 4
Only leave it on the heat until it’s melted completely. You don’t want it to boil. Once liquified, use it quickly as it will reharden within a few minutes.
Things to Keep in Mind When Melting Jolly Ranchers
Make sure that if you’re using molds that they are designed for high heat. Some molds that aren’t designed for heat will melt if you pour your melted Jolly Ranchers in them.
If you’re making candied apples, only dip the apples for a moment and then let them drip for 30 seconds. You don’t want to cook the apple!
It takes 12 Jolly Ranchers to coat the average apple.
You can add the melted candies to drinks. Alcohol, and even tea.
Use a metal spoon or toothpick to press out any air bubbles. Air bubbles increase your risk of cracking.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to melt Jolly Ranchers, it’s time to get creative! You can use this information as a starting point for your own experiments with different flavors and colors of candy.
And don’t forget: always be safe when handling hot materials like oven mitts or microwavable cups!
