Let’s not sugarcoat the fact that making candies is a challenge. With Christmas just around the corner, acing a batch of candies will serve you two purposes: Add sweetness to your gift hampers and boost your dinner table with savory goodies. But, of all the patisserie arts, making sugar-based sweets is especially tricky. Fret not! We have scouted a city-based pastry champion to ease your candy-making adventures.

Pastry Chef Dean Rodrigues in his element. Photo courtesy: Dean Rodrigues