Abstract: Liquid-centered jelly candy and method for manufacture are claimed. In this invention jelly candy is processed to about 25-30% moisture content and deposited in a starch mold to a level that half fills the mold. A small hard candy pellet is made from sugar, color, flavor, and acidulant. The hard candy pellet is centered on the jelly candy in each of the half full molds. A second deposit of warm jelly candy is filled over the pellets completing the candy pieces. The candy is cured at about 130.degree. F. to about 140.degree. F. for about 24-48 hours. During which time, moisture from the jelly candy migrates to and liquifies each candy pellet forming the liquid-centered jelly candy.The completed candy pieces are cured in the molds at about 130.degree. F. to about 140.degree. F. for about 24-48 hours. During the curing process, the moisture from the jelly migrates into and liquifies the sugar paste forming a liquid-centered jelly candy.

Abstract: Chocolate-flavored morsels essentially free of fat and a method for their preparation are provided. The morsels are manufactured by first preparing a mixture comprised of a major amount by weight of an aqueous syrup comprised of a crystallizable saccharide, said aqueous syrup being supersaturated with respect to said crystallizable saccharide, a minor amount by weight of defatted cocoa powder, a minor amount by weight of said crystallizable saccharide in crystalline form, and a minor amount by weight of an instant starch having a cold-water solubility of greater than 50 weight percent (and preferably a fat content of less than 0.25 weight percent), the amount of water in said aqueous syrup being insufficient to dissolve a major portion of said minor amount of instant starch.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing gel pieces is provided. The gel pieces are prepared from a cooked mixture comprising a thin-boiling starch as a gelling agent and a sweetener system comprising a high fructose corn syrup and a crystalline sweetener comprised of fructose. The cooked mixture is deposited in a plurality of molds and allowed to set to yield gel pieces which can then be packaged in bulk. The use of high fructose corn syrup and a crystalline fructose sweetener yields gel pieces which have excellent resistance to adhesion to hard surface molds and/or one another when packaged in bulk even over a long period of time at elevated storage temperatures.

Abstract: This invention provides a continuous process of preparing a formed gel piece by deaeration and hydration of a flowable mixture, cooling said flowable mixture to a formable viscosity in an extruder, and forming of the resulting formable mixture upon exit from the extruder. This process gives a gel confection product that is equivalent to that produced by the Mogul system but which avoids the extended batch drying times of the Mogul system. This invention also provides a new apparatus and method for extruding gel pieces as well as a new apparatus and method for injection molding gel pieces.

Abstract: A process for preparing a gel confection comprises: (a) heating a first component comprising sugar, water, and a first gelling agent under conditions which activate the first gelling agent; (b) preparing a second component comprising a second gelling agent which is a granular, nonbirefringent cold-water-swelling starch under conditions which prevent activation of the second gelling agent; (c) mixing the first component and the second component under conditions which activate the second gelling agent; (d) obtaining the desired mixture viscosity for forming; and (e) forming the mixture into the desired shape.

Abstract: A dry instant dessert mix composition containing a cold water swelling hydroxypropylated granular starch component, a non-starch saccharide bulking and/or sweetener agent and a high intensity sweetener, which can be readily dispersed and hydrated in cold liquids. The dry mix composition is particularly advantageous in that it can be formulated to provide a reduced calorie dessert mix composition.

Abstract: An improved method is provided for extruding a starch containing gel confection such as jelly bean centers, imitation fruit slices, and the like. The confection is prepared from a mixture of (a) a starch having a cold-water-solubility of greater than 25 percent, hydratable and functioning as a gelling colloid and (b) saccharides. The starch is heated at a temperature below the boiling point of the mixture to fully gelatinize the starch, and the mixture is extruded to provide the gel confection.

Abstract: A cold-water-swelling granular starch material derived from ungelatinized corn starch and characterized by a cold-water solubility of at least 50% is prepared by subjecting granular corn starch, slurried in selected aqueous alcohols, to conditions of high temperature and pressure. The cold-water-swelling granular starch material derived from chemically unmodified (or minimally modified) ungelatinized corn starch has an ability to set to a sliceable gel without cooking or chilling when blended with an aqueous sugar syrup. That granular starch material is particularly useful in food systems of the type which set or gel upon standing such as pie fillings, jellies, demouldable desserts and puddings.

Abstract: In the demolding of confectionery products (especially high-amylose candy recipes) steam pressure, which is applied between the surface of the mold and molded confectionery product, can be effectively employed to expel the product from a fixed or permanent mold. The steam pressure effectively functions as a self-lubricating and self-dissipating agent which cleanly separates the molded confection from the mold. Temporary chemical release or permanent release coating agents are not needed.

Abstract: Starch batters which can be applied to food pieces (e.g., chicken), breaded, frozen and subsequently fried into a high-quality, fried, breaded product are obtained by employing a novel batter starch system. The batter starches are comprised of ungelatinized, cold-water swelling starches and starch granules having a gelation point above 125.degree.F. The starch batters are formulated in aqueous mediums (e.g., below 120.degree.F.) to provide a batter system containing unswollen starch granules uniformly dispersed within an adhesive matrix of highly swollen, non-birefringent, hydrated starch granules.

Abstract: The invention encompasses intermediate, starch-containing products in which the starch thickening capacity is inhibited by an aqueous dispersant system. These intermediate products can be readily converted into a starch thickened end-product by combining the intermediate product with additives which dissipate the inhibitory effect of the aqueous dispersant. The intermediate products may be provided as a concentrate which contains cold-water swelling starch granules suspended in an aqueous media adapted to effectively maintain the starch granules in an unswollen form. The intermediate products may be suitably formulated with all the desired recipe ingredients except the amount of water needed to convert it into a starch thickened end-product.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing dextrose grained confections is provided. The confections are prepared from a high solids syrup comprised of dextrose and fructose, said syrup being supersaturated with respect to dextrose. The method comprises seeding said syrup with dextrose seed crystals and allowing dextrose to crystallize from said syrup onto said dextrose seed crystals to produce a dispersion of dextrose microcrystals dispersed in the liquid phase of said syrup. The resulting dispersion of microcrystals is incorporated into a comestible article in which moisture transfer from the dispersion to the surrounding environment is limited. The comestible article is stable upon storage because the amount of fructose in said syrup is insufficient to prohibit the formation of said microcrystals of dextrose, but is sufficient to maintain the stability of said liquid phase during said storing.

Abstract: Reduced fat (fat contents range from about 5% to about 20%) confectionery morsels and bars and a method for their preparation are provided. The confection is manufactured by mixing a syrup component comprising a major amount by weight of a crystallizable saccharide and minor amounts by weight of water and emulsifier; with a flavoring component comprising a major amount by weight of flavoring and a minor amount by weight of fat; and a seeding component comprising a major amount by weight of starch and fat and minor amounts by weight of finely milled saccharide and emulsifier. The confection has the proper consistency for shaping with extrusion methods due to crystal formation, starch hydration, and moisture content.