Give the Ultimate Perfect Message by Making Homemade Candy Conversation Hearts for Valentine’s Day

As a child, Valentine's Day always meant getting boxes of conversation hearts.  I never really liked them, but it was always fun trying to find the perfect message to give to your friends or that one "special" person.  What better way to get the ultimate perfect message, make your own homemade conversation hearts!  It's a great novelty idea for upcoming weddings or graduation parties, be creative!

Have you noticed the difference in messages on the sweet little candies from years ago to now?  Text me? Dude? What happened to Cutie Pie, or the one we use to giggle at, Wanna?  No worries, you can say what you want by making your own candy conversation hearts with this recipe (adapted from bravetart.com) from instructables.com.  They say it's like working with fondant frosting and tastes just like the real thing, but hurry, you'll need drying time and you want to be ready for Thursday!

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

Step 1: The Recipe

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.

 Step 2: Flavoring and Coloring

Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface dusted with powdered sugar 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.

Wold630 made her candy hearts peppermint-vanilla (light pink and dark pink hearts) and vanilla bean (white hearts). But says It would be fun to try other flavorings like banana, orange, cherry, sour apple, etc.  Knead in the colors and flavors until well combined. Taste a piece of dough and add more extract if there is not enough. :)

Step 3:  Roll and Cut Dough

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

Wold 630 suggests using square wooden dowels as guides for the rolling pin to make sure the thickness is the same throughout. That 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. Flip the hearts over occasionally to assure even drying on both sides.

 Step 4:  Stamp Your Personalized Message

Once the hearts are completely dry you can stamp them with what ever message you would like.

The hearts will be two-toned in color if they are not completely dry. Do not stamp the hearts until they are dry!

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.