3. Mini Candy Cane Hearts
The hearts can be made with white chocolate, milk chocolate or dark chocolate. These hearts are easy for kids to make and once the chocolate sets the hearts are especially good to eat with hot chocolate.
Mini Candy Cane Hearts
(makes 14 mini hearts)
32 mini candy canes
1 1/4 cups chocolate chips (or other chocolate)
Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the candy canes on the tray to create mini hearts.
In a sealable sandwich bag place the other 4 candy canes. Using a mallet or rolling pin, crush the candy canes into small pieces.
Sprinkle some of the crushed candy canes into the hearts.
Melt the chocolate in the microwave or in a bowl resting over boiling water.
The best way to fill the hearts with the melted chocolate is to use a plastic bag. Clip one corner off from a sandwich bag and then place the bag in an empty glass. The glass holds the bag steady and makes it easier to fill with the melted chocolate.
Pipe the melted chocolate into the heart. If desired you can spread the chocolate with the back of a tiny spoon.
Lightly tap the baking sheet on the table to help settle the chocolate into the candy canes. After tapping the baking sheet, check the hearts to make sure the candy canes have not moved out of place and they are still in the shape of hearts.
I added additional chocolate to the middle of my hearts to create a slight mound. My theory is that there is never too much chocolate! If you want to see more of the candy cane design in the middle of the hearts, then use less chocolate.
If there is any leftover chocolate then pipe small mounds of melted chocolate onto the parchment paper.
Sprinkle crushed candy canes over the top of the hearts (and any extra mounds of chocolate)
Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for about five minutes to set.
Once set, the hearts are easy to remove from the parchment paper.
Enjoy!