May 20--You've always thought your name was pretty sweet -- but have you ever seen it spelled out in candy? When a 3-D gummy candy printer arrives Monday at Dylan's Candy Bar, you'll be able to create gummies in words and shapes much more creative than the typical gummy bear.
Names shaped in gummy candy have been the most popular option for those who've tried out the Magic Candy Factory printer, according to a spokesperson for Dylan's. But there are more than 100 designs to choose from, and artistic shoppers can also draw their own designs to print. You get to choose the color, the flavor (eight choices, including strawberry and black currant) and the finish (glitter, sour or fizzy "dust") for your treat.
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The cost is a flat $20 per print. The gummy candies are vegan and made from fruit and vegetable extracts instead of gelatin, according to Dylan's.
How does the printer work? The mixture of ingredients that makes up the candy -- think of it as gummy batter -- is loaded into a nozzle; a computer program tells the nozzle which way to move to dispense the batter into the right shape. The process of submitting and printing your design takes about 10 minutes.
The Magic Candy Factory, billed as the world's first 3-D candy printer, was created by Katjes Fassin UK Ltd., which is based in Birmingham, England.
Dylan's Candy Bar, 445 N. Michigan Ave., 312-702-2247.
wdaley@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @BillDaley
