This Little Machine is Changing Everything!

[@katiehewes423]

OMG! The first video I saw of Hercules Candy was Steve making chocolate covered cherries in the basement…being filmed by Craig. It took me awhile to understand that it was actually a business and not just some guy in his garage showing his kid how to make the candy. What an amazing journey. Thank you.❤

[@Beasty2023]

I don’t remember what the first video I saw of them is but I remember the basement days and when they moved. It’s nice seeing them grow to what they are now :)

[@sherwpinkhair]

My first was cherries too

[@connieward2042]

My first video was Max in the basement banging into things with his head

[@lottatroublemaker6130]

@@Beasty2023 The filming and use of social media as marketing, no doubt has made a huge difference for Hercules Candy! I bet grandpa who started it all, sits up in heaven cheering them on!!! 🤗❤️

[@kittiekat1236]

Lol

[@connieburian5848]

What I really like about Scott is that he asks the questions we would like to ask. His interest echos what we are thinking. It’s really very cool.

[@SandraOranje]

This will save Steve so much time. It also gives him the chance to make bigger batches of this favorite Candy. I just love Taylor. She just makes me smile. 😁

[@roxiegs348]

From what Ive seen from other candy makers the thing to be coated goes first then the coating goes second. Plus they put a whole lot so that they bounce and roll off each other. It makes the tumbling process more successful. So glad y'all are getting some groovy equipment.

[@momkatmax]

Yes, same here. And if you want a thicker coat, a light spray of juice in this case, then powder, tumble. Like making jawbreakers.

[@merryworld4776]

Hi Hercules Candy! Thank you to the person/people who sent this new tumbler to Hercules. Love seeing Steve get excited over new equipment. It's good !! Great vidya ! ❤🍬💪🍭🍫

[@bludhaven86]

I love the fact that y'all are finally getting some upgraded equipment that allows faster production but just enough to still be able to call it handmade

[@HerculesCandy]

Just more efficient handmade!

[@momkatmax]

I hope the taffy puller gets the kinks worked out too. That must be quite a work out hook pulling and limits who makes the pulled candy.

[@kaitlynlopez8095]

Love having Taylor in more videos! Her laugh brightens my day and makes my son (6months) smile so big

[@t1281]

Her laugh is fantastic

[@byronmurphy1977]

​@@t1281Taylor is adorable

[@TheSynthwaveMisfits]

That little machine moves at the same pace as Steve.. it's perfect.

[@lauramacdonald158]

I’ve watched from the beginning and love how much you’ve grown. I’m excited to watch you use all these new toys. Gets better every year!

[@kimwassenberghull4064]

I love watching Steve figure out how new equipment works. I’m enjoying my morning coffee in my Hercules mug while watching. I’m so happy that the business is successful and still growing! You are an awesome family.

[@HerculesCandy]

Thank you for sending your kind wishes our way 😊

[@thatgirlinokc3975]

The new equipment videos are so cool. I love to see the excitement from trying them out

[@HerculesCandy]

Steve is definitely very excited about the new panner!

[@catalina9844]

I remember the first new melter lol

[@soloelite3995]

I love ya'll passion for candy making. Hercules always brings me happiness on a day I'm not in a good mood.

[@quinco7777]

I could never work at Hercules candy. I could not resist! I would eat EVERYTHING! 😊❤

[@Pt0wN973b0iI]

It is like the joke, about the husband not wanting to eat the wife no more. After a while, your desire goes way down. Weight will go up in the culinary industry if you just keep trying it all too much, to soon!

[@janebutz5375]

Just when I’m trying to avoid sugar, you bring back my FAVORITE Hercules candy! If you haven’t tried these chocolate covered cherries, you must. These beat any I have tried and believe me, I have tried many. The chocolate is so much better than commercial types. I love that Steve is getting a break.

[@judydenham2110]

The saying on Steve's hat is called "The Man Prayer" and is from the Red Green Show - a Canadian comedy show. Red Green recites this at the beginning of his "man meetings". So funny. I've now recited this to my son-in-law and grandsons. Love all the new equipment and watching everyone learn to use them. The tumbler looks like it could be a lot of fun.

[@ivannabc]

I was just going to say the same thing - if you haven't watched Red Green, it's an absolute must. "If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy" 🤣🤣🤣. I enjoyed the video of everyone quoting Monty Python and when I saw that hat, I got so excited thinking I was in for a bunch of Red Green quotes too lol

[@carolann3318]

Red green’s back yard backs onto mine. Hamilton Ontario Canada

[@Rizon1985]

But is it supposed to have a spelling error?

[@MiketehTV]

As a kid I watched a lot of PBS, the Red Green Show was one of the shows that I loved, I even got a see a live show when I was much younger.

[@MamaShorty]

Thank you! I'm watching this a little behind... and was HOPING someone out there knew this too!!

[@sandangels73]

Congrats on your new cherry powdered sugar mini cement mixer thingy.

[@FATDUDE360]

Tip for the tumbler, add your item to coat in this case the charrys first then add your coating. Doing so will get them rolling quicker.

[@sheryld1957]

Sp neat to see all the new equipment you have recently gotten. Go Team Hercules!

[@HerculesCandy]

It's fun for us to play with everything!

[@Shepherdlover]

Thanks Steve for showing me this process, I’ve made them about 3 times now and it always blows my mind how good they are. Every time I get a bit better too. Can’t wait to show off my new skill at Christmas get togethers 😊❤

[@HerculesCandy]

I'm sure your family will be very glad you practiced all year!

[@RehabProjectSRCB]

When they turn pink sit them on a tray to grab from to coat. Then put more sugar and cherries into the tumbler so your next batch is starting. And it stops them from sticking together in the tumbler because you have them separated on your tray.

[@erinsmith5837]

But they would still soak through on the tray

[@Vanadisir]

It's awesome discovering new tools and techniques as you guys implement them. So much fun!

[@HerculesCandy]

Still keeping things exciting after all these years!

[@Vanadisir]

@Hercules Candy the best youtube channel with the beast people!

[@user-se3qm2se2t]

The panning machine is also very useful to coat nuts, hard inclusions etc. with chocolate.

[@cathyconklin5135]

Congratulations on all your new equipment ❤

[@sweetg12651]

Well look at Hercules Candy getting all mechanized and fancy with all this new equipment. I'm going to have to order some chocolate covered cherries now. Can't resist.

[@crusaderguy1817]

Why are you using 2 spaces after your full stops?

[@NeverenCH]

@@crusaderguy1817 Why not

[@TheSynthwaveMisfits]

@@crusaderguy1817 Because they're breaking the edgelords.. one space at a time.

[@sunflower1127]

PROBABLY JUST ANOLDER PERSON 😮😅😂😊

[@samanthaw8417]

@@crusaderguy1817technically you’re supposed to double space after ending a typed sentence, however not many people do this.

[@robertsalido1232]

you can fill the mixer bowl with baked or browned coconut, and coat chocolate covered marshmallows. Or, chocolate covered Ruffles/Pretzel Bites with Sea salt and chopped nutz.

[@carolspencer9396]

It's 1:20 a. m. 6-17-23. I'm in bed watching chocolate covered cherries being made. I SERIOUSLY feel like going downstairs and rifling through my husband's candy stash.

[@Consequator]

for the tumbler, add some subtle ribs in there with like a food safe gasket. The steel is too smooth for the powdered sugar which is why it didn't really get going till enough liquid was added that the sides became rough with wet sugar. It'd only be an issue for small batches though, the batch in the video was just about large enough for the sides to get sticky enough. If you watch a video about large tumblers you'll occasionally see them having a screw like pattern inside so whatever is tumbling inside actually gets tumbled and not just slide around like what happens here. It' should also reduce the sticking that happened at the end.

[@invisible468]

They should have a set of ribs that came with the “panner” unless it was an upgrade. The ribs are used when polishing to make them tumble more. To much tumbling with like the cherries it will destroy the cherries.

[@joywood8465]

LOVE chocolate cherries. This looks like a very fun business.

[@pattimessenger6214]

I love all the new equipment, and the “new to you” 100 year old equipment! It should increase productivity tremendously! Will you be expanding the square footage to accommodate all of the equipment, supplies and more people? You have been such good stewards of Hercules’s legacy! He would be proud!

[@katherinenapolitano6547]

It’s called a candy panner. You can also coat nuts and dried fruit etc with chocolate.

[@sherrytrivitt450]

Yay glad to see you using your panning machine! You can also cover your cherries in chocolate using the panning machine. I have a industrial panning machine. It takes a while to cover the berries in chocolate. Good luck!

[@luckypnut]

Looks like a mini cement mixer. 😊

[@rainysunflower384]

This is so cool! I remember watching a video of Steve making these 100% by hand and I couldn't believe how much work went into these candies!

[@jenniferhigginbotham8858]

I love chocolate covered cherries so much

[@Bexinmo]

Might need to add a tiny fin inside the "cement mixer" that will help flip the cherries. Greg from Lofty Pursuits built one for his tangerine sours, and has some valuable information. And Cooper need to know, disgustingly sour doesn't exist. There is just sour, really sour, very sour, and super sour.

[@Thinking.Of.Some.Handle]

"tumbler" 😊

[@wickedcabinboy]

@@Thinking.Of.Some.Handle - like a tiny concrete mixer.

[@bestfamily4489]

I was thinking the same thing. Even just some weld lines.

[@sonnieandjacob]

Those tangerine sours are my favorite. They are better than altoid ever made them.

[@jcortese3300]

So nice to see all the new equipment -- the tumbler, the batch roller, the taffy puller -- and think back to when you were in the basement 🙂

[@maddyslilmisfitshouseofwon9692]

Neat seeing y'all get all these new old machine's to help 😎

[@olivier2553]

It may help to start with slightly misting the tumbler and roll only sugar so the inside is not as slippery as stainless and the cherries tumbler more easily.

[@henrycooks1883]

The first video I ever watched of yours was Steve making these, I said I can do that, and I did, they are the best, I ate all the leakers.

[@squeakymoma]

I love watching Steve work...he knows his trade and he cleans as he goes! He is never idle, he is always doing something.

[@Sarahcat3930]

The hat! The hat! The men’s prayer from The Red Green Show on PBS. Love that show!

[@belligirl21]

That looks like my chinchilla’s dust bath 😂. It’s the same principle except it’s dust instead of sugar and a chinchilla instead of cherries

[@linzertube]

Anything that makes their job easier, is an excellent idea! ❤

[@sr.marycatharineperry6693]

How cool is that! LIke a cement mixer for cherries! I love chocolate covered cherries!

[@sparksmcgee6641]

Contractor pointing out you could get one of these at Harbor Frieght for the next size up. Orange and it will hold 300lb of concrete when you need to fix the foundation. A small magnet would help bump things and help tumble a small batch. One inside and one outside since stainless isn't very magnetic. There are $80 sets used for draping plastic when cleaning stainless kitchen exhaust hoods. I found you and binged a bit. I'm fasting forward a lot since I. Not doing hour long anymore. Some edited 5 min video of highlights after a video is a year old maybe?

[@sparksmcgee6641]

Thinking of ways to keep those brass/bronze rollers in your "new" old tools. A brewers heat exchanger to sit them on might be easiest. The compression plates in the Alaskan fighing trawler I was on in 93 were a stack of 15-20 plates that would then compress trays of fish and freeze them to -20f to - 40f. Working on one of those 5ft by 10ft refrigerant plates would work😊. I'm sure your counter tech would like to rig something out of old parts to chill old crank unit. I'll try to post this on those videos but I'm here today

[@YayWei320]

YAY more chocolate covered cherries!!!! ❤

[@Emmuzka]

Cherry tumbler! I love these specific exotic tools. I wonder if that would work with covering sticky candy with granular sugar. EDIT: Apparently it does work!

[@HerculesCandy]

Haha I love people have questions and they're answered later in the video. We were on the same page! ☺️

[@ronaldsimmons2867]

Take a spray bottle and put the Cherries juice in it and spray the Cherries every so often and add more Suger after you spray I know I worked for a candy factory for 10 years and this is the way we make choc. Cover cherries the store was in Baltimore Maryland the name is harger,s candies. My name is Ron simmons

[@RobinBoth-vp8yk]

So happy to see that you have this new piece of equipment to help in making the cherries. Your dark chocolate covered cherries are delicious!! By the way, wishing Steve a very Happy Father's Day for tomorrow. May he have a wonderful day!!❤❤🍫

[@t1281]

I can’t wait for the next video just to see which machine they’re using!

[@landis181]

as the chocolate cools down it constricts on the cherry and sugar, and applies pressure just enough to crack itself and leak. and the powdered sugar is so fluffy and absorbent that it pulls the juice out of the charry till saturated, osmosis/diffusion is awesome

[@TXnine7nine]

I was always thinking a bigger version would be useful to mix up the assorted hard candies instead of mixing them by hand and scooper on the table top.

[@mckeithenmccormick9642]

What possessed y'all to get all the new machinery recently? It is awesome to see you doing more to keep growing the business.

[@byronmurphy1977]

A place hundreds of miles west of them was closing, they got the man to drive there and demonstrate how to use the products, it was the video before this one.

[@_Nvrse.Almighty]

Yes! I'm so glad they got the machine! I use to see people use it to cover frozen objects (wink wink) before frying. Great investment!

[@melissaleggett6508]

I love that u guys are finding useful ways to help but I'm not gonna lie, I was kinda sad, to see the change after watching so long. Love ur videos.

[@teafrog777]

I totally enjoy watching you all roll in candy .. !! I’m here in Syracuse,Indiana… lol 2nd #1 son traveling hospital radiology was working in Syracuse, NY at one time. Love you folks!!!

[@deneenspaude4296]

First video i saw of Hercules Candy was in the basemnet filling molds for chocolate bunnies. Been watching their amazing journey ever since

[@Pt0wN973b0iI]

I know, that machine is used to coat jelly beans, by creating layers of a syrup. Also, the candy gets started mixing first. Than the things are added to coat.. Try it out!

[@gutierrezjamie77]

Sifting the suger helps it stick to cherries easier..I've maid them multiple times it works..yall are the candie makin kings!!!

[@HerculesCandy]

thanks so much!

[@elisancon]

You got a mini cement mixer for cherries??? hahahahaha I love it!

[@HerculesCandy]

🤣 I mean that's basically what it is

[@kimhaughton3771]

I've been making candy for family and friends for years. English Toffee, Turtles, chocolate covered Carmel etc... I'm determined THIS is the year I'm going to do your cherries! I keep chickening out but this is the year! Watching you has changed how i do some things. The way you do turtles was a game changer! I love your channel! I first found you when you were still in your basement and you were doing cherries! 😂 Much love from Utah ❤️ PS love the hat! Red Green show was a favorite!

[@samyscookies3640]

Ah, that totally makes sense. Never knew how you get the liquid center. The sugar absorbs the water from the cherries. Cool.

[@dustinslape3828]

I’d love to have the extra coated ones!! Lucky

[@JamesBrunerkeablewine]

I will happily buy the super sour candy extreme version. The first two bags of the regular version were great.

[@emartinezpacheco1424]

I need 1 of those! To make my personal stash of chocolate covered cherries. 😃

[@evansfamily8156]

Steve be very aware that EVERYTHING Ed shared is from WY's super arid conditions. We would still pretty quickly get things to stick to each other here in GA, and is way more likely on ALL of the Eastern US as we are not in dessert conditions.

[@roberthindle5146]

That tumbler is totally smooth. It needs small paddles in it,

[@cindiallain8542]

That is the kind of machine they use to make jelly beans and jaw breakers. I went on a tour of the Jelly Belly factory in California. Very interesting.

[@jackieknits61]

They are called pan candies. That is a candy making pan. How do I know? I lived down the street from Ferrara Pan candy makers. This technique has been used for over a century.

[@michaeldespirito9595]

You're getting a Restaurant depot soon in Syracuse near the airport. You're going to love that place.

[@slightlysoulfulspatula]

The ones that go in the case could be called Jumbo Juicy Cherries. Yum!

[@carolavw]

12:08 after the cherries were covered in sugar Steve should put the cherries in a box or something. Then the cherries would not stick and he can turn on the next batch of cherries.

[@chrissyofhailfire]

mor acid!!!! one of my hopes is that you can get the fizzy stuff in the center like the old school warheads. (still unsure why they stoped)

[@terri6613]

Shout out about those cherries. They are really good, both types. They made it to Oregon in Perfect condition in rather warm weather. The packaging is attractive and well thought out, would make great gifts. You are going to have so much fun with all your new toys, and we get to watch, win win.

[@annabellemartinez8893]

The first video I watched with you was in the basement making chocolate covered Marciano cherries. 😋😋

[@annabellemartinez8893]

By Hand

[@merryworld4776]

So cool. I've been watching since way back then, also. Love this channel.❤

[@Drinkinhaterade]

I love watchin you guys! I watch no egg Craig to

[@Rokh357]

I think the tumbler should have little ridges inside to help with the mixing

[@karenneill9109]

Baffles

[@mjperkolator8854]

Packaging is my favorite part Steve.

[@byronmurphy1977]

There are some packaging videos

[@mjperkolator8854]

@@byronmurphy1977 thanks.

[@angelaford1703]

The phrase on Steve’s hat is the man’s prayer, from the RedGreen show. Such a funny show!

[@muchlightandlove4312]

The video editing 😘 - very good! Loving the new equipment 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼✨⭐️🌟

[@cindygrammer645]

OH WOW‼ A new toy; I want one now! Now you can make more Chocolate Covered Cherries to meet the demand!😋🍒🍫 I love watching your videos; thank you for letting us into your company's inner workings‼😁

[@PatrickPoet]

I vote yes on more citric acid. If sour things go wrong it's always on the side of not enough sour or sour not lasting long enough. Some brands of super sours from asian groceries are pretty good, but other brands shouldn't even be labeled super sour. Sour is never disgusting, it's great, and warheads aren't that sour.

[@CrunchyMom70]

Thought I recognized him making the chocolate covered cherries from another video and it’s the same family nice to see y’all upgraded very nicely

[@roguelorewind6029]

Oh just had an idea... Triple dip something in layers of different chocolate. Like White coated in Milk coated in Dark. And could decorate it with a drizzle of Ruby? Like a chocolate bonanza.

[@SC-mh5ix]

Also can do: 1st: roller to coat w sugar… then 2nd: chocolate coat; put the sugar cherries and hot choc in machine… So use it twice ….

[@andrewmiller3834]

The motto on Steve’s hat is from the Red Green Show and it’s The Possum Lodge members oath.

[@Brooke.E1]

Another way I see people making these type of cherries is instead of rolling them in the powdered sugar, they make a dough with the powdered sugar (kinda like fondant), and then they use that to cover the cherries, and then dip them. Being that its thicker than just the powdered sugar it doesn't make them leak through the chocolate but it will still get juicy on the inside, and you only have to dip them once. Also the chocolate wont stick to regular powdered sugar because its hydrophobic, but once its made into a dough it no longer has that issue and the chocolate will now stick just fine :)

[@marianfisler]

Is there an award show for KZbin? Hercules Candy wins.

[@censoredbyyoutube2639]

Amazing to see you guys modernizing a process w a lot of us watched back in the basement. Keep up the great content

[@MrSongib]

0:30 AFAIK, Basically add the thing that can roll first then add the coating so it doesn't slide. not the other way around.

[@Jerisa]

are you adding invertase enzyme to either the powdered sugar or the cherries to make the centers more liquid?

[@andreaamplified]

You are on a cherry roll! I remember a few months ago when you said it was years since you made the chocolate cherries. My father loved dark chocolate cherries,

[@Just-YOLANDA-T.C]

Love your new equipment but please do something with her laughing 😮😮

[@dave_archer]

Maybe when they turn pink dump them out into a bowl and refill the mixer with the next batch while you choc coat the first lot. I think leaving them tumbling is not helping the process.

[@rebelliousrebel420]

the hat is a Red Green quote lol, man club

[@Joe-gd2wu]

can't u freeze the cherries after coating them. Chocolate would heal before cherry juice melts.

[@connieburian5848]

I’m not a real fan of the sour hard candies. But I’ve had the sour candies that were covered in sugar so you had the sweet. Then you get to the sour candy after the sweetness of the sugar. Have you ever thought of that. I like the sweetness before being almost startled by the sour. This machine might allow you to do that. I know it adds another step but I would try the orange sour candy with a little sweetness as a counter. Just a thought.

[@AR-1996]

i want to see that taffy puller put to work

[@samanthaw8417]

Sitting here thinking, would it help minimize leaking if you put them in a flash cooler? If the chocolate cooled down faster would it help minimize the weak spots?

[@Schiffon]

Try jalapeño covered chocolate cherries 🍒?!?! (Hot sugar cherries covered with chocolate?)If these sell really well 😊

[@IDontSuckAtLifeakaJanis3975]

🥰😋 🌶️ 🍫!!! Yum! But now I'm thinking of incorporating sea salt caramel... Maybe sandwiched between layers of of chili chocolates

[@gottagift]

Thank you Hercules Candy for this Chocolate covered video. Good commentary on packaging. I remember seeing a sweet lady trying to teach the boys how to go about it. She would take ribbons from rolls and fluff them in a way to make them curly and then use the curly ribbons to tie up the cellophane. Very nice to see Mr. Steve using the digital thermometer. seems like five years ago when i first suggested the digital thermometers. Do you all have an ice cream shop nearby? Just betting the Hercules Candy empire would do well by expanding into Hercules Ice Cream. It would be seasonal of course but there is something very rewarding at making home made ice cream. Down South here in Louisiana we love something called snow balls. Snow balls is basically a block of ice that is shaved in a meat slicer thing, pour into a cup and then mixed with a flavored syrup.