Chocolate Buttons

Vintage Button Chocolate molds are back in the shop!  And in case you were wondering how to use that fancy, new mold of yours, here is a complete tutorial for making your own sweet little button candies, plus a free print-out you can use to package them up when you’re all done!

(PS: Click here for a printer-friendly instruction sheet without all of the huge photographs!)

Here’s what you will need:

Button Mold
Chocolate or Candy Melts*
Candy flavoring (optional)
Zip-lock or sandwich bags
Microwave safe bowls
Spoons
Scissors
Microwave and freezer

*For this tutorial, I used colorful candy melts because they are super-easy to use and very yummy.  Can you use real chocolate?  You bet!  But keep in mind that real chocolate needs to be tempered so it will set properly and be shiny, hard and smooth.  (Tempering isn’t too difficult, but it takes some practice, so we’ll save that tutorial for another day!)  Candy melts are a great alternative, and some are much tastier than others – so shop around.  I carry Clasen Brand melts in my shop because I think they have a great flavor and texture, lovely range of colors, and a price that’s affordable.  Candy melts have a sweet, vanilla flavor, and you can easily add a drop of candy flavoring to jazz things up a little.  The chocolate and dark chocolate melts are, well, chocolaty-tasting, of course!  And you can absolutely add flavoring to them, too.

OK, let’s get to it, shall we?

Place your candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl.  You can melt as little or as many wafers at a time as you like.  Since the button molds are very tiny, start with a small handful.  Microwave for 20-30 second intervals, stirring between each.  Don’t be surprised if nothing happens the first few intervals, it will take some time and you do not want to scorch your chocolate, so go slow.

…not there yet

…almost

Yay!  Nice and drizzly.  The total microwave time for a small amount like this was about 2 minutes, but all microwaves vary – so you’ll have to figure out what works best for you.  To fill the mold: spoon the melted chocolate into a small plastic sandwich or ziplock bag, cut the tip off, and use it to “pipe” the chocolate into the mold.

Don’t worry, the chocolate should not be hot, just warm.  You could use a real pastry bag and tip, too, but if you are using several colors, the sandwich bags make clean-up so much easier!

Squeeze gently and try not to over-fill.  This is easier said than done, but you’ll get the hang of it.

“But they look all lumpy and gloppy?” you may be thinking.  A few firm taps on the counter top should fix that right up.  Don’t be shy, tap-away!  It will make the backs nice and flat, and get rid of any pesky air bubbles.

Ahh.  Much better.  I did the other half of the mold with red candy wafers, using the same melting process as before.  This time, when the chocolate was all melted, I added a drop of blackberry flavoring oil.

I used a leftover lolly pop stick to add just ONE drop of flavoring, and that was absolutely all it needed!  This candy flavoring is no joke, people – it’s concentrated for real.  Please go easy, you don’t want to over-do it.  And ONLY use oil flavorings made for candy.  Never add any water or waterbased colors or flavors to melted chocolate!  You will get a lumpy, chalky, mess that will make you very sad.

Once all of the cavities are filled and tapped, it’s time to put your mold in the freezer for a few minutes to set-up your candy.  Since these are so small, it should only take a minute or two.  You can tell they are ready when no part of the mold is warm, and the buttons pop out relatively easily when inverted.

Large, simple-shaped molds slide out easy-peasy, but sometimes these little buttons don’t like to come out at first.  Don’t be afraid to wiggle, tap, and bend (slightly) your mold to free the buttons.  These molds are pretty durable, they can take it.  However, if you have left your mold in the freezer for a very long time (which I don’t recommend anyway) do NOT try to bent it!  It could snap or crack.

There you have it!  Gorgeous, life-like, delicious buttons.  Your friends will be amazed.  If you are ready to make another batch, rinse out your mold (if needed) and make sure it’s completely dry before you use it again.  Never put your mold in the dishwasher, and avoid soaking it in soapy water for extended amounts of time.

There are probably millions of adorable ways to package these tiny treats, but I think they look very nice in small glassine bags, and I created these cute labels you can add to the top.  I was inspired by real, retro button cards, and I created four different designs for you to mix and match.  You can easily print them onto any paper, cut them out, fold them over, and staple to the top of the bag.  The back is blank so you can add a personal message.  Click on the image below for the free high-resolution PDF print out!

Please print and use these tags as often as you like!  I sized them to fit the one ounce glassine bags or also the tiny flat cello bags.  I printed mine on plain computer paper, so they were easy to fold over and staple to the bags.  I hope you have as much fun making these candy buttons as I did!  I even saved a few for cupcake topping later on.  There are so many uses for them, I’m sure all of you will have some clever ideas!  Please snap a few photos of your creations and email them to me. I’d love to see what you make, and add your photos to the shop gallery!

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About the author

Amanda Krueger is the owner and head-chef of Bake It Pretty. She spends her days in the mountains of Western North Carolina with her husband, son, one crazy kitten, and a grumpy hedgehog. You can read more at her personal blog Every Little Thing.

1. 

   Kathleen says:

   February 1, 2010 at 8:53 am

   I love these! I haven’t worked with the molds yet and am going to give it a try.

   reply
2. 

   Jenn says:

   February 1, 2010 at 9:25 am

   Love the idea….and I love to bake and cook..melt even easier how adorable!!! Thanks for sharing this! jenn

   reply
3. 

   Susan says:

   February 1, 2010 at 10:50 am

   Wow! I mean over the top wow. This is the absolute cutest thing and so creative. I’m not sure what I’ll use them for, but I’m (sew) going to try this. Okay okay stupid joke, but I had to try it. Thak you for sharing your talent and creativity with us.

   reply
4. 

   Lorraine Roberts says:

   February 1, 2010 at 11:09 am

   LOVE THIS!! I just placed an oder~ love love love your site!!!!!!

   reply
5. 

   Gemlady says:

   February 1, 2010 at 12:05 pm

   These candy buttons are the cutest. Since I like making things look pretty more than anything else, these buttons will be another cute addition to my collection of unique decorating items.

   reply
6. 

   Shannon says:

   February 1, 2010 at 12:18 pm

   The mold is only 2.25?? Surely that’s a typo!! They are too cute, I must try!

   reply
7. 

   Celeste mcentee says:

   February 1, 2010 at 1:03 pm

   These buttons are adorable- makes me want to clear everything on my schedule today and spend the whole day in the kitchen. I am just as excited about the printable tags! I love coming up with a cute way to package and display any cute craft!

   reply
8. 

   Lisa Caputo says:

   February 1, 2010 at 1:22 pm

   What a great idea!!!

   reply
9. 

   Lisa Gugger says:

   February 1, 2010 at 4:03 pm

   Baking sweets or making them look pretty? To me those two things go hand in hand. I bake almost everyday and take the goods to work, and they are so appreciative! These button candies are about the most adorable thing I’ve seen in a while and can’t wait to get started on them. To me with these, you have sweets that have no choice but to be pretty! Keep up the good work.

   reply
10. 

    Bethany says:

    February 1, 2010 at 6:07 pm

    I think those are so cute, I think I can handle making those, it is just the sugar cookies that I have a hard time with. But I will keep trying….

    reply
11. 

    C Burke says:

    February 1, 2010 at 9:45 pm

    These are so cute! I’ve found that chocolate pops out of molds more easily if each cavity is polished (rubbed) well with a soft cotton cloth like a dish towel both before filling the first time and between fillings. I chill mine after filling them and usually don’t have trouble with the chocolate releasing. Try giving your chilled molds a good hard whack on a covered surface.

    reply
12. 

    Carolyn S says:

    February 3, 2010 at 12:16 pm

    Wonderful tutorial! Thanks for sharing.

    reply
13. 

    Nina D says:

    February 6, 2010 at 5:38 pm

    Very nice job, can’t wait to make them!!

    reply
14. 

    Lindsey says:

    February 21, 2010 at 7:35 pm

    These are adorable! So inspiring too. I’ll definitely make sure to try these. Thanks very much!

    reply
15. 

    buttoncandy says:

    February 26, 2010 at 4:34 am

    hi there, i loved making my button molds, SO much fun and very quick! Have a look at the first button candies i made. the green colour was a little off ( i only had powder colouring to use) but look here: http://www.buttoncandy.org/?p=1144

    reply
16. 

    Rena says:

    March 1, 2010 at 12:40 pm

    Our baker for our wedding (which was a week ago) did the white chocolate buttons for us and they were fantastic! I don’t have professional wedding photos back yet but here are a few pictures from us/our guests.

    http://samandrena.shutterfly.com/553

    http://samandrena.shutterfly.com/546

    My deceased godmother, who I am named after, used to keep a cut glass jar of old buttons by her chair for when she did her mending. As a child, I loved to dump the buttons out and look through them so this was a nice way to remember her on our wedding day.

    reply
17. 

    Hilda says:

    March 11, 2010 at 3:29 pm

    I made a batch of these today and cannot get over how adorable they are! But I had a little bit of trouble getting them out of the mold, especially the smallest buttons. I rapped the mold many times and that helped, but about half of them refused to come out. Is it possible to spray the mold lightly with cooking spray before filling it? Any suggestions?
    Thanks!

    reply
18. 

    Amanda says:

    March 11, 2010 at 3:37 pm

    Hilda- So glad you are enjoying the mold!
    They should release better the more you use the mold, it ill get sort of “seasoned.” You can try to lightly grease the mold, if you use a spray like Pam be sure to rub it around with a dry cloth otherwise there will be little flecks in your buttons where the spray drops are, (I know becasue it happened to me!) Also be sure your chocolates are totally cool and set before you release them, they will pop out much better. Use the freezer setting method.

    reply
19. 

    Hilda says:

    March 11, 2010 at 3:53 pm

    Ah! Thank you so much. I think I just need a little bit more practice too. I am absolutely loving these and plan to get a few more molds soon!
    xo H

    reply
20. 

    Robyn says:

    March 19, 2010 at 4:15 pm

    Thank you so much for this tutorial! I modified the template (and saved time with pre-made button candy) and made them to tuck in workshop schwag bags for my business. The printing company Moo.com featured them today (photo included), crediting you with the inspiration!

    http://www.moo.com/blog/2010/03/19/sweet-idea-for-a-promotion/

    I can’t say THANK YOU enough!

    reply
21. 

    Renee says:

    May 26, 2010 at 5:28 pm

    I’m using a button theme for my wedding and came across your molds! I can’t wait to use them for my favors!! Do you have any idea how many times you can fill a mold with a bag of melts?

    reply
22. 

    Teri says:

    May 26, 2010 at 11:20 pm

    Thank you for this tutorial. I linked to it here: http://piccolinadesigns.blogspot.com/2010/05/printable-for-you.html

    reply
23. 

    Scott Enriques says:

    May 30, 2010 at 3:14 am

    Sorry for the huge review, but I am really loving the new green supply bags. These bags have some many nice and cute drawings. And of course, thanks for the reviews here that made us changed from using regular eco bags to green foldable bags.

    reply
24. 

    Debbie says:

    June 5, 2010 at 10:40 am

    These buttons are adorable and look so easy. I am just starting to get into baking and decorating. Thanks for the tutorials. Very easy to follow.

    reply
25. 

    Custom Machining says:

    July 5, 2010 at 8:44 am

    Cool PDF. Your article made me soo hungry and i need sweets right NOW !

    reply
26. 

    paula sparks says:

    October 14, 2010 at 8:36 pm

    Help-when I click on button mold, there is nothing there. where can i get the molds? I want them for a quilting event!

    reply
27. 

    B says:

    October 16, 2010 at 11:03 pm

    Oh my! This blog is such a treasure. I’ve already book marked

    Can’t wait to try this !!

    B

    reply
28. 

    Magicien Loire says:

    November 1, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    It’s a simple idea, I consider it.

    reply
29. 

    Cecil Hebb says:

    November 27, 2010 at 11:44 pm

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    reply
30. 

    kimC says:

    December 8, 2010 at 9:52 am

    I am just starting out with cake pops, and Bakerella has your site linked with botton ideas and the onesies, would you share the type of cookie recipe that you use? my daughter is expecting her first so I am planing ahead she is just 2months, but the time just flies!!
    Thanks for you time!!
    Awesome creations!!
    Kim

    reply
    • 

      Amanda says:

      December 9, 2010 at 3:00 am

      Hello! We love Bakerella, best of luck with your cake pops!
      Here’s a link to my personal fave cookie recipe. It’s the only sugar cookie one I ever use:
      http://www.recipelink.com/mf/31/42108

      And be sure to check out this stress-free dough rolling technique:
      http://www.bakeitpretty.com/blog/2009/12/cookie-doh/

      reply
31. 

    Lucy says:

    February 8, 2011 at 8:19 am

    I thought this was a great iidea. I was looking for soap mold when I came across these cute little candy buttons, I will definitely be making these and ordering the molds to go with it. After I am done with the candy, I will also take soap and make cute little soap buttons. Thanks so much for showing me this mold!

    reply
32. 

    Pearl deSouza says:

    March 17, 2011 at 8:31 pm

    This is so so wonderful! I am a fashion enthusiast with a “How-To” addiction on the side… so i just love these! Thankyou for sharing, and especially for sharing your printouts! I cant wait to make these. <3

    reply
33. 

    the Odd Bride says:

    April 17, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    These are absolutely adorable! And they look so yummy!

    reply
34. 

    Shirley Marrs says:

    June 6, 2011 at 5:24 pm

    The button molds are no longer available on the site. Does anyone know of another source? I really want to make these.

    reply
    • 

      Marina says:

      July 18, 2011 at 2:09 pm

      Im having the same problem. WHat is up with that, she should bring them back.

      reply
35. 

    Marina says:

    July 21, 2011 at 6:52 pm

    hey amanda,
    do you think you will ever get these back in stock ?
    could you let me know? i want them so bad!!!! My friends at school woulf love these and the teachers for holidays and my friends at valentines day and sooo much more!!!

    reply
36. 

    dmob says:

    November 9, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    That is really interesting, You’re an excessively skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking extra of your great post. Also, I’ve shared your website in my social networks

    reply
37. 

    Marilyn Barnes says:

    November 26, 2011 at 6:16 pm

    Help! I want to order these antique button molds but can’t find them on your site. Are they still available???

    reply
38. 

    Susaataris says:

    January 27, 2012 at 8:55 am

    Hey – these are awesome! so cute!
    Once I have made a small bag – how long do the candies last for?

    reply