Truffles and other confections including cotton candy as a filling or as the outer shell of a filled confection are disclosed, as are methods of making such confections. In methods of making such confections, fresh cotton candy is shaped as needed, and then the shaped cotton candy is caused or allowed to form a thin crust of sugar that protects the inner mass of cotton candy from infiltration by chocolate or other coatings. The thin crust may be formed by a simple process, such as aging the formed cotton candy at appropriate conditions of temperature and humidity, or it may be formed by actively moistening the formed cotton candy. The resulting formed mass of cotton candy can be coated and finished. In some cases, shaped cotton candy may be formed around a filling and caused or allowed to form an outer crust, such that the cotton candy forms the outer layer of a truffle.

A method for identifying and removing tissue from a food product that includes generating a three-dimensional model of a food product using a scanner and mapping the three-dimensional model onto the food product. The method also includes scanning the food product such that cross-sectional scanning images are generated based on the model, and, for each cross-sectional scanning image, determining a maximum thickness of the model and identifying a corresponding estimated tissue point, by using an identification method based on suitable characteristics of the food product model. The method includes fitting a curve to the estimated tissue points and generating a cut path based on the fitted curve, wherein the cut path defines an area of unwanted tissue that includes the estimated tissue points. The method further includes cutting the food product along the cut path, thereby, removing the area of unwanted tissue.

A method for identifying and removing tissue from a food product that includes generating a three-dimensional model of a food product using a scanner and mapping the three-dimensional model onto the food product. The method also includes scanning the food product such that cross-sectional scanning images are generated based on the model, and, for each cross-sectional scanning image, determining a maximum thickness of the model and identifying a corresponding estimated tissue point, by using an identification method based on suitable characteristics of the food product model. The method includes fitting a curve to the estimated tissue points and generating a cut path based on the fitted curve, wherein the cut path defines an area of unwanted tissue that includes the estimated tissue points. The method further includes cutting the food product along the cut path, thereby, removing the area of unwanted tissue.

A method for identifying and removing tissue from a food product that includes generating a three-dimensional model of a food product using a scanner and mapping the three-dimensional model onto the food product. The method also includes scanning the food product such that cross-sectional scanning images are generated based on the model, and, for each cross-sectional scanning image, determining a maximum thickness of the model and identifying a corresponding estimated tissue point, by using an identification method based on suitable characteristics of the food product model. The method includes fitting a curve to the estimated tissue points and generating a cut path based on the fitted curve, wherein the cut path defines an area of unwanted tissue that includes the estimated tissue points. The method further includes cutting the food product along the cut path, thereby, removing the area of unwanted tissue.

A method for identifying and removing tissue from a food product that includes generating a three-dimensional model of a food product using a scanner and mapping the three-dimensional model onto the food product. The method also includes scanning the food product such that cross-sectional scanning images are generated based on the model, and, for each cross-sectional scanning image, determining a maximum thickness of the model and identifying a corresponding estimated tissue point, by using an identification method based on suitable characteristics of the food product model. The method includes fitting a curve to the estimated tissue points and generating a cut path based on the fitted curve, wherein the cut path defines an area of unwanted tissue that includes the estimated tissue points. The method further includes cutting the food product along the cut path, thereby, removing the area of unwanted tissue.

A composition for the preparation of cotton candy, said composition being a homogeneous mixture comprising with respect to the total weight of the composition, the following ingredients: from 71.6 wt. % to 99.8 wt. % of particles of at least one food grade sugar; from 0.1 wt. % to 10 wt. % of at least one food grade fat substance, from 0 wt. % to 15 wt. % of particles of cocoa; and from 0 wt. % to 3.4 wt. % of at least one food grade additive. A method for preparing the composition. Use and method for preparing cotton candy. Cotton candy so obtained.

A composition for the preparation of cotton candy, said composition being a homogeneous mixture comprising with respect to the total weight of the composition, the following ingredients: from 71.6 wt. % to 99.8 wt. % of particles of at least one food grade sugar; from 0.1 wt. % to 10 wt. % of at least one food grade fat substance, from 0 wt. % to 15 wt. % of particles of cocoa; and from 0 wt. % to 3.4 wt. % of at least one food grade additive. A method for preparing the composition. Use and method for preparing cotton candy. Cotton candy so obtained.

The present invention provides a system and method for producing gummy puffs. The system and method involves utilizing specific raw materials with specific chemical properties, manipulating vapor pressures, a low temperature dehydration process, and continuous freezing and annealing to form the gummy puffs. The gummy puffs produced by the system are dehydrated and have lower moisture content and have enhanced taste and flavors.

The invention relates to an oil-and-water emulsion comprising an aqueous phase and an oil phase, said emulsion containing: —15-40 wt. % water; —30-60 wt. % oil; —1.5-18 wt. % of cyclodextrin selected from alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin and combinations thereof; —12-50 wt. % of saccharides selected from monosaccharides, disaccharides, non-cyclic oligosaccharides, sugar alcohols and combinations thereof. The emulsions according to the present invention are highly stable under ambient conditions, can easily be used as a base for the manufacture of a variety of icings, fillings and toppings. These base emulsions can suitably be aerated (creamed) to produce a creamed icing or filling, or a whipped topping that has excellent ambient temperature stability.

The invention relates to an oil-and-water emulsion comprising an aqueous phase and an oil phase, said emulsion containing: —15-40 wt. % water; —30-60 wt. % oil; —1.5-18 wt. % of cyclodextrin selected from alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin and combinations thereof; —12-50 wt. % of saccharides selected from monosaccharides, disaccharides, non-cyclic oligosaccharides, sugar alcohols and combinations thereof. The emulsions according to the present invention are highly stable under ambient conditions, can easily be used as a base for the manufacture of a variety of icings, fillings and toppings. These base emulsions can suitably be aerated (creamed) to produce a creamed icing or filling, or a whipped topping that has excellent ambient temperature stability.