DIY Conversation Heart Candy Recipe

"Crafting your own conversation heart candy (a.k.a. Sweethearts) is a surefire way to get your Valentine’s Day message heard, plus these hearts are surprisingly easy to make. Dissolve unflavored gelatin in lemon-lime soda to give the candy its trademark muted citrus flavor, then mix in heaps of powdered sugar to form the “dough.” Add whatever festive colors and flavorings you prefer, like mint, orange flower water, or rose water; roll out the dough; and stamp out the hearts. Let the candy harden for a couple of days, then use food-safe markers to write fun, personalized messages on it. All that’s left to do is pass the hearts out to your friends and loved ones. Special equipment: Although not necessary, wearing a pair of disposable latex gloves will save you from staining your hands while blending in the food coloring. You’ll need a 1-inch heart-shaped aspic/jelly cutter to stamp out the hearts. You can find aspic/jelly cutters in gourmet cookware stores or online. You’ll also need food-safe color markers to write the captions on the hearts. You can find them in gourmet cookware stores or online. Game plan: The finished candy takes 2 days to dry completely, so plan accordingly. Also, you can flavor and color the candy... read moreCrafting your own conversation heart candy (a.k.a. Sweethearts) is a surefire way to get your Valentine’s Day message heard, plus these hearts are surprisingly easy to make. Dissolve unflavored gelatin in lemon-lime soda to give the candy its trademark muted citrus flavor, then mix in heaps of powdered sugar to form the “dough.” Add whatever festive colors and flavorings you prefer, like mint, orange flower water, or rose water; roll out the dough; and stamp out the hearts. Let the candy harden for a couple of days, then use food-safe markers to write fun, personalized messages on it. All that’s left to do is pass the hearts out to your friends and loved ones. Special equipment: Although not necessary, wearing a pair of disposable latex gloves will save you from staining your hands while blending in the food coloring. You’ll need a 1-inch heart-shaped aspic/jelly cutter to stamp out the hearts. You can find aspic/jelly cutters in gourmet cookware stores or online. You’ll also need food-safe color markers to write the captions on the hearts. You can find them in gourmet cookware stores or online. Game plan: The finished candy takes 2 days to dry completely, so plan accordingly. Also, you can flavor and color the candy however you like, so only buy and use flavorings and colorings that suit you...."