CENTER-FILLED CONFECTIONERY PRODUCT AND METHOD
The present disclosure provides a center-filled confectionery product and a method for making the same. The center-filled confectionery product includes a fill portion which may be a liquid and an outer portion composed of a confectionery material. The fill portion is within the outer confectionery portion. The confectionery product further includes a flange composed of the confectionery material that surrounds the periphery of the confectionery product. The center-filled confectionery product may be coated.
1 . A confectionery product comprising:
an outer portion;
a fill portion in the outer portion; and
a flange surrounding a periphery of the confectionery product.
2 . The confectionery product of claim 1 wherein the flange is integral with the outer portion.
3 . The confectionery product of claim 1 wherein the flange surrounds the entire periphery of the confectionery product.
4 . The confectionery product of claim 1 wherein the confectionery material is selected from the group consisting of hard candy, soft candy, fondants, toffee, taffy, gel candy, chewing gum, chocolate, nougat, and combinations thereof.
5 . The confectionery product of claim 1 wherein the fill portion is selected from group consisting of a liquid, a semi-liquid, a syrup, a gel, a paste, a semi-solid, a flowable solid, and combinations thereof.
6 . The confectionery product of claim 1 wherein the outer portion is a chewing gum and the fill portion is a liquid.
7 . The confectionery product of claim 1 wherein the fill portion further comprises a fill material, the flange containing substantially no fill material.
8 . The confectionery product of claim 1 wherein the fill portion is not visible when the confectionery product is viewed by a consumer.
9 . The confectionery product of claim 1 wherein the flange further comprises a sealed edge.
10 . The confectionery product of claim 1 wherein the flange has a uniform length about the entire periphery of the confectionery product.
11 . The confectionery product of claim 1 wherein the fill portion is from about 1% to about 16% by weight of the confectionery product.
12 . A confectionery product comprising:
an outer portion;
a fill portion;
a flange surrounding a periphery of the confectionery product; and
a coating.
13 . The confectionery product of claim 12 wherein the coating is from about 1% to about 20% by weight of the confectionery product.
14 . The confectionery product of claim 12 wherein the coating is selected from the group consisting of maltitol, sorbitol, erythritol, mannitol, isomalt, lactitol, xylitol and combinations thereof.
15 . The confectionery product of claim 12 wherein the coating further comprises a sensation producing ingredient selected from the group consisting of a cooling agent, a food grade acid, a flavorant, and combinations thereof.
16 . A method for producing a center-filled confectionery product comprising:
separating a web of adjoined center-filled confectionery pieces into a plurality of center-filled confectionery products; and
forming a flange around an entire periphery of each center-filled confectionery product.
17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising extruding an extrudate comprising a plurality of adjoined center-filled confectionery ropes and sealing opposing ends of the extrudate to form the web of adjoined center-filled confectionery pieces.
18 . The method of claim 16 wherein the separating further comprises breaking the web along strands adjoining the center-filled confectionery ropes.
19 . The method of claim 16 further comprising coating the web with a coating material.
20 . The method of claim 16 further comprising coating the plurality of center-filled confectionery products with a coating material.