Candy Hearts - Valentine Candy

When I was a little girl I always looked forward to getting those tiny boxes filled with candy hearts (aka - candy conversation hearts) for Valentine's Day. I distinctly remember the chalky hard texture that made them so enjoyable

How to Make Candy Hearts:

Making candy hearts turned out to be much easier than I had anticipated. If you have ever worked with or made fondant it is a very similar texture but dries much faster. I was amazed that the flavor and texture was almost identical to the store bought candy hearts. I made my hearts a little bigger than the real thing to save some time and sanity! They are each about the size of a quarter.

They do take some patience as they have to dry for 48 hours!

BoligDrom Magazine out of Norway found them delightful enough to write them up in an article! The entire magazine is, of course, in Norwegian, but I was still thrilled to see the hearts published!

Candy Hearts Recipe

3/4 t. Powdered Gelatin
1/4 c. Clear Soda, of your choice
3 c. Powdered Sugar
Food Coloring
Flavored Extracts

For complete instructions (with photos) click HERE.

In a small mixing bowl dissolve gelatin in soda. After about 5 minutes, set the bowl over a pot of simmering water to melt the gelatin completely - until you can't see any granules.

Use a hand or stand mixer and mix in the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time. Keep adding the powdered sugar until you have stiff fondant-like dough. It will be somewhat sticky.

Turn the dough out onto the counter top and knead until smooth adding more powdered sugar if necessary. Divide dough into as many portions as you would like colors/flavors.

Make a sort of bowl shape out of one of the pieces of dough. Pour in flavored extracts and add food coloring. I made my candy hearts peppermint-vanilla (light pink and dark pink hearts) and vanilla bean (white hearts). Knead in the colors and flavors until well combined. Taste a piece of dough and add more extract if there is not enough. :)

Roll the dough to about 1/4” thickness and cut out shapes using small cookie cutters.

**I like to use square wooden dowels as guides for my rolling pin to make sure the thickness is the same throughout. This will make drying even amongst all of the candy hearts.

Arrange the candies on a parchment lined baking sheet and let dry for 48 hours. I know this is a long time but it takes that long to get them hard. Flip the hearts over occasionally to assure even drying on both sides.

Once the hearts are completely dry you can stamp them with what ever message you would like.  If the hearts are two-tones they are not dry yet.

Using a clean and new paint brush spread a thin layer of food coloring onto a small saucer. Press small, clean and new letter stamps into the food coloring and stamp onto the hearts! Repeat until you have stamped all the messages you want. Let the food coloring dry before eating to avoid red lips and tongue!! :P

Link for detailed Candy Hearts instructions below:

You can find detailed step-by-step instructions on how to make these lovely candy conversation hearts at http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Candy-Conversation-Hearts/ or by clicking HERE.