In this episode of "Gourmet Makes" by Bon Appétit, a pastry chef takes on the challenge of making gourmet Skittles candies. Skittles, a popular candy known for its fruity flavors and colorful appearance, is typically mass-produced and lacks the sophistication and complexity that a gourmet treat would have.
The video begins with the pastry chef, Claire Saffitz, explaining her mission to recreate Skittles from scratch.
She acknowledges that the process will be challenging because Skittles are made with a combination of artificial flavors, colors, and ingredients that are not commonly used in gourmet cooking.
Claire starts her journey by dissecting a bag of Skittles to understand the different components and flavors of the candy. She discovers that Skittles have a hard shell, a soft and chewy interior, and a burst of fruity flavor.
To replicate these elements, she decides to make a white chocolate shell with a chewy fruit puree center.
The first challenge Claire faces is creating the vibrant colors of Skittles without resorting to artificial food dyes. She decides to use natural coloring agents such as beet juice and turmeric. These ingredients not only provide color but also add a hint of flavor to the candies. Claire experiments with different ratios until she achieves the desired shades of red, yellow, green, and purple.
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