Filled cluster products comprising an inner material and an outer shell, and methods of manufacturing the same, are disclosed. Outer shells comprising delicate exclusions are susceptible to moisture and force and present a challenge in manufacturing filled cluster products. Typical filled cluster products with delicate extrusions have an outer shell with a high binder to exclusion ratio and significant sugar content. Disclosed herein are methods and formulations for the manufacture of filled cluster products having low binder to exclusion ratio and a low sugar content.

The present disclosure relates to low-sugar, and preferably sugar-free, edible and/or biodegradable materials, and to edible and/or biodegradable vessels for holding foods and liquids for consumption. Specifically, the disclosure relates to sugar-free edible and/or biodegradable cups, straws, and other vessels, capable of holding hot and/or cold liquids for extended periods of time. The present disclosure and its embodiments further relates to a sugar free edible and/or biodegradable vessel made from natural ingredients. The vessel may have an extended shelf life, and is sturdy enough to be used for a variety of applications.

A confectionery product is provided. The product includes a hollow body formed by at least one first material. Present on the outer surface itself of the product is a second material, different from said first material, which reproduces a decorative element. The hollow body comprises a first outer layer, formed by the first material and at least one second layer, formed by the second material, which is set internally, on the first layer. The first layer has an opening that allows a portion of the second layer to emerge on the outer surface, so as to form the decorative element. The first outer layer and the portion of the second layer together define the outer surface. The second layer coats the inner side of the first layer at least partially and at a position away from the opening.

A method for making dessert confections within a crunch/crisp encasement comprising the steps of: preparing a mixture of crunch/crisp material with an edible binder; placing a first portion of the mixture into a first open mold to form a first structure; forming a retention cavity in the first structure; placing a second portion of the mixture of crunch/crisp material with edible binder into a second open mold to form a second structure; allowing the first and second mixture structures in the first and second molds to harden; removing the first and second mixture structures from the respective first and second molds; placing a structurally self-supporting filler dessert material into one or both of the retention cavities of the first and second mixture structures; and connecting the first and second mixture structures, to form an enclosure comprised of the crisp/crunch material with binder and filler dessert material in a hollow therein.

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 confectionery product comprising of a layer of gummy confectionery, made up of one or more sections, which coat a non-edible object or container. This container is purposed to house a children's toy and support the layer of confectionery. Methods of preparing the confectionery-coated object also are provided.

A method for printing a three-dimensional crystalline structure such as a chocolate layer wherein, after printing, the material has a desired crystal structure and a plurality of non-random cavities. An embodiment can include printing a liquid first layer of material with a printer onto a second layer of material having a crystal structure. Subsequently, the printed liquid first layer is processed to solidify the first layer. During the processing of the printed liquid first layer, the second layer functions as a crystal seed layer through physical contact with the printed liquid first layer and the second layer crystallizes with the crystal structure. In some embodiments, confections may be formed from high-quality chocolate, where the confection has a reduced caloric content with acceptable mouthfeel. In other embodiments, a confection may have a previously unrealized mouthfeel and taste.

An apparatus and method for post-extrusion filling and closing of an extrudate includes a feeder arranged in relation to an extruded rope of material flowing from an extrusion die of an extruder, wherein the rope of material has an opening that can receive a filler material. The feeder deposits the filler material into the opening of the rope of material as the rope of material flows by the feeder. A former receives the rope of material after the feeder has deposited the filler material into the opening of the rope. The former shapes the rope of material and close a portion or all of the rope around at least a portion of the deposited filler material to retain the filler material within the rope. A cutter may axially cut the rope to form the opening. A finisher may cut the shaped rope into portions containing the deposited filler material.

A food product includes a shell containing multiple ingredients. The shell includes first and second shell portions attached to each other. The shell is configured to be dissolved or melted into a heated liquid to release the multiple ingredients in order to form a heated beverage. The multiple ingredients include cocoa mix configured to be dissolved into the heated liquid and multiple marshmallows configured to float on a top surface of the heated beverage.

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.