Candy Making for Kids

Candy Making for Kids

Courtney Dial Whitmore

Photographs by Zac Williams

CANDY MAKING FOR KIDS DIGITAL EDITION 1.0

Text © 2012 Courtney Dial Whitmore Photographs © 2012 Zac Williams All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission from the publisher, except brief portions quoted for purpose of review.

Gibbs Smith P.O. Box 667

Layton, Utah 84041

Orders: 1.800.835.4993

www.gibbs-smith.com

ISBN: 978-1-4236-3023-4

To my brother, David, for teaching me the love of all things sweet!

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Hollie Keith, Dan Moench and the entire Gibbs Smith team for all your hard work. Thank you to my mom, Phronsie, for your continued dedication to the love of entertaining and for the countless hours you spent helping me perfect these recipes. You are a dream stylist! Thank you to Chris and Henry for your support and love. A final thanks to the thousands of loyal and dedicated PIZZAZZERIE.com readers who continue to support me and my love of entertaining!

Candy Making for Kids

Table of Contents

Introduction

Helpful Hints for Candy Making

Tips on Tools

Tips on Ingredients

Tips on Packaging

Holiday Candies

Candy Cane Sled

Rudolph the Reindeer Pops

Silly Snowmen

Coconut Snowballs

Peppermint Ornament Wreaths

Spooky Halloween Ghosts

Candy Corn

Valentine’s Conversation Hearts

Easter Baskets

Easter Bunny Pops

Candy Favorites

Peppermint Patties

Peanut Butter Bites

Gummies

Kids’ Toffee

Candy Bar Truffles

S’more Truffles

Colorful Lollipops

Almond Rocky Road Bites

Sweet Creations

Crazy Caterpillars

Bird Nests

Bird Eggs

Seashell Pearls

Candy Pizza

Party Favorites

Candy Paints

Candy Play-Dough

Candy Necklaces

Rainbow Sprinkle Fudge

Marshmallow Pops

Banana Split Bites

Sugared Rose Petals

Resources

Sprinkles, Edible Decorations, Candy Making Supplies

Packaging Resources

Party & Holiday Entertaining Tips

Metric Conversion Chart

One of my fondest childhood memories was bike riding with my brother to a small candy store around the corner from our home in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Picking out my favorite lollipop or piece of fudge to bring home and savor nibble by nibble was such a sweet treat as a child. I have always had an affinity for all things sweet (so much so that I affectionately deemed my maternal grandmother “Sweet”). So I’m excited to share these 30 candy recipes designed with kids in mind.

None of these recipes require the use of a candy thermometer and all of them are friendly for kids of all ages. Allow your children to enjoy the creating process as well as the sweet finish!

Helpful Hints for Candy Making

Tips on Tools

• A heavy, aluminum saucepan is essential for even heating.
  

• A jelly roll pan is the perfect pan for spreading out candies while cooling.
  

• Stainless steel cutters work well for making lollipops, cutting out chocolate,
  etc.
  

• A long-handled wooden spoon is a must-have for stirring candy.
  

• Parchment paper is a must-have, especially for making lollipops as they peel right off the parchment paper.
  

• Wax paper is another great must-have as it can be used to layer candies to avoid sticking.
  

Tips on Ingredients

• Always use pasteurized egg whites for safe eating.
  

• Buy the best chocolate you can for the best taste. When melting chocolate in a microwave, heat it in 15-second intervals between stirring.
  

Tips on Packaging

Homemade gifts are the
best
gifts, and that includes how they’re presented too! Packing up sweet treats in cute ways is a must.

• Kids can get involved by wrapping boxes filled with candies in simple white or kraft paper. Add a painted handprint or children’s artwork directly on the package!
  

• Think outside the “box” and try packaging candies in cellophane bags, mason jars, coffee mugs, tin cans,
  etc.
  

• Bows are my favorite! Whether they’re natural raffia or bold grosgrain, bows add that finishing touch to any gift.
  

Holiday Candies

Candy Cane Sled

Makes 1 sled

Trim down a full graham cracker cookie in half for a small sled (2-1/2 x 2-1/2

inches) or cut down only a small amount for a medium sled (2-1/2 x 4 inches). Melt white chocolate bark coating in microwavable bowl until smooth. Dip graham cracker cookie (sled) into melted white chocolate until coated on both sides. Place white sled on top of 2 candy canes. Sprinkle sled with sweetened coconut. Decorate sleds with a variety of holiday candies (gumdrops, peppermints, red hots, etc.).

Rudolph the Reindeer Pops

Makes 2 pops

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Melt 4 ounces of chocolate bark in a

heatproof bowl in the microwave at 15-second intervals, stirring well between intervals until smooth. Pour chocolate into the circle cutters that were place on the parchment paper. Fill about 1/2-inch of chocolate into each circle cutter. Allow chocolate to cool for 2 to 3 minutes and then remove cutters. The chocolate will spread just a little. Push the lollipop stick (or paper straw) into the chocolate and twist to coat with the chocolate. Place 2 pretzels at the top of the reindeer’s head for antlers. Add a nose and eyes. Let lollipops harden for about 30 minutes before removing from the cookie sheet.

Silly Snowmen

Makes 4 to 5 snowmen

Preheat oven to 225 degrees F. Beat egg whites until stiff and peaks form. Add sugar,

vanilla extract and cream of tartar. Continue to beat for about 4 minutes until very stiff. Fill plastic Ziploc bag with meringue mixture. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Use a pen to draw 3 different sizes of circles (1-1/2, 2 and 2-1/2

inches) for the snowman’s body. Cut a corner in the plastic bag and pipe the meringue mixture onto the drawn circles, lifting up as you pipe. Spray your finger with non-stick cooking spray and carefully flatten the tips of the circles so they can be stacked later. Bake for 40 minutes. Turn off oven and let circles sit for an extra 15 minutes (do not open oven). Remove from oven and let cool.

Sweet Tip:
Use frosting or melted white

chocolate as glue to stick together the head, middle and body of the snowman. Create fun scarves, hats, eyes, etc., out of candies. For example, use fruit roll-ups to make scarves.

Coconut Snowballs

Makes 24 snowballs

Mix powdered sugar, condensed milk, extracts and salt together until well combined.

Stir in 1 cup of coconut and mix well. If dough is too stiff, add a little more condensed milk. Shape into 1-inch snowballs and roll in remaining 2 cups of coconut.

Store snowballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Peppermint Ornament Wreaths

Makes 20 wreaths