FAMILY FUN FRIDAY-Valentine Lollipops!

Our daughter came home from school today and asked if we could give her teacher a special gift for Valentines Day. I said sure, assuming we would work on it in a week or two. 

She meant can we make her a special gift RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW as in TODAY.

So we got to work.  

Just like many of you, we have left over candy canes from Christmas. There are lots of different variations of this around the blogosphere. 

The object for us, is for the activity to be able to involve the whole family, especially the kids, (after all, it is Family Fun Friday.) This is how we do it in our house.

(*These are perfect gifts for teachers, students, friends, neighbors, Visiting Teachers. Anyone*)

You Need...

Regular Size Candy Canes

We have lots of yummy flavors this year. Peppermint, bubble gum, and Cinnamon. The colors are perfect for Valentines Day. You can also make mini versions using mini candy canes.

White Chocolate Chips

You can use white candy melts. 

Lollipop Sticks

The long ones work best, but the short ones will get the job done also.

Valentine Sprinkles

Colored Sugar, Jimmies, anything goes. I like to buy the assorted containers for each holiday. They give me lots of choices. 

Let's Get Started...

Preheat your oven to 300*. 

Butter your cookie sheet. I used parchment paper and ran some butter across it. Cooking spray would work also. I prefer the butter.

Lay two candy canes down to form a heart. 

Take the lollipop stick and put it down the middle of the heart. 

Put your candy canes in the oven. WATCH THEM VERY CAREFULLY! It will only take about 3 minutes. As soon as the bottoms start to melt and bubble, take them out. 

Pinch the ends together to "close up" your heart and help it wrap around the lollipop stick. 

Let the lollipops cool completely. I take them off the cookie sheet after about 2 minutes and let them cool on a rack. Faster that way. Once everything is cool, put them back on the cookie sheet.

Meanwhile, get your white chocolate chips and sprinkles out. 

Put your chips in a ziplock bag. Leave an opening in the bag so it doesn't explode in the microwave. Put your bag of chocolate in the bowl. Put the bowl in the microwave. This will keep it upright while it is melting.

Melt for about 30 seconds, take the bag out and knead. Back in for 30 seconds, out to knead. Continue until the chocolate is melted and there aren't any lumps.

Once your chocolate is melted, cut a little hole in a corner of your bag and start to fill in the middle of your hearts. 

The key to making it smooth, After you fill the middle, take a toothpick and smooth things out. 

Now it's time to decorate. take your sprinkles and get to work. 

I am not so sure about the purple, our daughters choice.  

Let them cool completely. I set the cookie sheet on the cold garage floor to speed things up. DON'T put them in the fridge or freezer. You will have a "sweaty" lollipop. Yuck!

The finished product.

We will take the hearts, put a lollipop bag over the top and tie them with a ribbon. 

Our daughter wants to take them to her teacher tomorrow. I asked if we could at least wait until the calendar says "February." 

These are so fast to make. We will make them fresh in two weeks to give away. 

VARIATION...

Our daughter woke up from her nap, right in the middle of our project. She wanted to help but I didn't want her around a hot cookie sheet, or the oven. 

SO, we skipped that step. The melted chocolate will hold the candy canes and the sticks in place. All you have to do is form the hearts and put the sticks in the middle. Melt your chocolate, pipe it in, add your decorations and let it all cool. Perfect for even the youngest helpers. 

Do you have left over candy canes?

What do you think about the purple?

Happy Friday!