Sweet Hearts for Sweeties: Simple Valentine’s Treats

Roses are red, but candy is dandy! Help your children woo their friends, teachers and babysitters with this great Valentine’s Day idea.

Red and White Lollipop Bouquets

Ingredients:

• Valentine’s cookie cutters (hearts, flowers, cupid, etc.)
• Lollipop sticks
• Assorted other candies
• Hard red candy
• White chocolate chips

A. Red Lollipops

Place hard candies (Life Savers work great) in a freezer bag and crush into small pieces, using a wooden meat tenderizer.

Line a baking sheet with tin foil and place cookie cutters on the foil, a few inches apart.

Fill each cookie cutter with a layer of candy about ½“ thick.

Bake at 350 degrees until the candy has melted entirely (about 5-10mins).

Remove and let cool slightly.

Next, carefully remove the hot cookie cutters, leaving the candy on the foil.

Attach a lollipop stick to each candy by gently twisting it into the base.

Add decorations by gently pressing in candies (such as red cinnamon hearts, silver

balls, gum drops, etc.).

Let cool entirely and then remove from foil.

Repeat as necessary.

B. White Lollipops

Line a baking sheet with tin foil and grease lightly.

Place cookie cutters on the foil.

Over a low heat, melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler.

Fill each cookie cutter with a thin layer of melted chocolate, about ½“ thick.

Chill chocolate in fridge.

While the chocolate is still slightly soft, remove the cookie cutters and carefully press a lollipop stick into the base. Make sure the stick is surrounded by chocolate.

Add decorations by gently pressing in candies (such as red cinnamon hearts, silver balls, gum drops, etc.).

Put lollipops in fridge to finish hardening.

Now prepare your lollipops for gift-giving by individually wrapping them in colour cellophane. Next, tie ribbon around the base of each lollipop, to gather and secure the cellophane. Children can also add Valentine’s Day stickers to further decorate the wrapping.

Give out single lollipops as gifts, or tie together bouquets of candy and chocolate lollipops using ribbon or raffia.

Notes: These recipes are suitable to do with children over four years of age. Please make sure that an adult handles all the heating and cooking components.

Actual lollipop molds are available – check your local craft store.