Melt It

• Bags of orange candy coating, also called melting wafers, are sold in arts and crafts stores, and in candy and baking specialty shops; also through Internet suppliers. Some orange wafers are infused with orange flavor, but most have a mild vanilla taste similar to white chocolate. If you want to add flavor, purchase extracts or oils, keeping in mind that oils produce a more intense flavor than extracts. You can melt orange candy coating in a microwave, but melting it in a double boiler produces a smoother product that stays warm and soft for long projects, such as dipping individual cookies or cake pops.

Mold It

• Don't let the word "coating" deceive you. Orange melting wafers can be used alone to create delicious, beautiful candies for parties or gift-giving. Plastic or silicone candy molds, which are available at stores where candy wafers are sold, come in an enormous variety of shapes and sizes. Melt the wafers until smooth, then fill each cavity in your candy mold. Tap the sides gently to even out the mixture and remove bubbles. Place the mold in your freezer for approximately 15 minutes, keeping in mind that time will vary depending on the size and depth of your mold. When the candy has set, remove the mold and gently tap out your candies.

Dip It

• Cookies, dried fruits and nuts dipped in orange candy coating look colorfully enticing on your buffet table and make fabulous gifts or party favors. Chocolate cookies dipped in orange coating are perfect Halloween treats. Pass out dipped pecans, walnuts and dried apricots to friends or co-workers and you'll be a big hit. Use tongs or a shrimp fork to dip items fully or halfway into the melted orange coating. Carefully place them on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and allow them to dry completely. Store securely in airtight containers until you are ready to serve.

Drizzle It

• Use orange candy coating to add drizzles, dots, zigzags and swirls to your candies, cakes, brownies and cookies. You can purchase decorating tools like drizzling spoons, squeeze bottles and decorating bags and tips. You can also drizzle with a fork, or cut a tiny hole in a plastic bag and use it to drizzle and dot designs. Make sure your candies and baked goods are completely cooled before you drizzle the warm coating over them. Allow the designs to cool and set before placing your goodies in storage.

Paint It

• Dip a brand-new paintbrush into warm orange candy coating and paint designs on your candies and baked treats. For example, paint orange highlights on white or yellow molded candies, or paint orange designs on frosted cookies. A fun, easy way to create beautiful cookies is to use stencils. Painting works best on cookies topped with royal icing. If the orange coating is too thick to brush on smoothly, just add a few drops of vegetable oil. Wait until the icing has completely set and dried, then lay a stencil across it. Paint the melted orange candy coating into the stencil opening, carefully lift it and behold your work of art.