Valentine's Day Chocolate Candy Hearts

Valentine's Day Chocolate Candy Hearts

By: Amanda Formaro

The kids will love the results of this easy recipe. All you need are a few items to make your own Valentine's chocolates. Give them away as gifts or enjoy for yourself!
What you'll need:

* Plastic heart-shaped candy mold
* Red, white and cocoa colored candy melts
* Sandwich bags (zipper, not pleated)
* Scissors
* Spoon
* Wax paper
* Plate
* Wooden skewer or clean craft paint brush

How to make it:

1. Put a handful of candy melts into an open zipper sandwich bag.
2. Microwave candy in bag for 30-40 seconds or until melted.
3. Cut one corner of the bag with scissors to squeeze melted candy through.
Caution: Bag may be hot, so use paper towel or a pot holder to handle it.
4. Gently squeeze chocolate out of bag and into the molds.
5. Tap the side of the mold tray to knock out any air bubbles and flatten chocolate.
6. Place in refrigerator until set.
7. Pop out of molds and serve.

Decorating

Polka dots - Use the flat end of a wooden skewer or a clean craft paint brush to dip into melted chocolate. Dot onto molds, then refrigerate. Remove mold from refrigerator when solid, then add contrasting color according to directions above.

Drizzles - Use a spoon to drizzle melted chocolate across the molds by sweeping a spoon back and forth and allowing chocolate to fall in streams. Refrigerate until solid. Add contrasting color according to directions above.

3D Drizzles - Use the spoon method above, however this time drizzle the chocolate over solid candy that you have already made and let set, rather than drizzling into the molds.
Tips:

* Candy molds can be found at discount department and craft supply stores in the craft section near the cake decorating supplies. They look much like a muffin tin, though much smaller and made from clear plastic.
* You can use chocolate chips instead of candy melts and use food coloring to change or tint white chocolate.
* Be careful when dealing with melted chocolate as it can be very hot. Always supervise children closely when making anything in the kitchen.