mini chocolate bark pops

Found on ChicCookieKitsyou will need:*

candy clay recipe (see below)

bag of white candy melts

bag of semi sweet or milk chocolate chips

light corn syrup

baking tray

wax paper

candy canes

1 1/2 inch circle cookie cutter

rolling pin

Ziploc bag

mallet or hammer

4-inch lollipop sticks

small paint brush (wide and flat works best)

*Find the candy melts, cookie cutter (a circle this size may be part of a set) and the lollipop sticks in the baking aisle of the craft store. I used white candy melts, but you can use any color. You can use a larger circle cutter, too.

step one: make candy clay
For both the chocolate and the white pops, you'll need two batches, one with chocolate chips and one with the candy melts. For the chocolate, melt 2 cups of chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler, in a saucepan set over simmering water or in the microwave according to package directions. When chips are almost melted, remove from heat and stir until fully melted. Stir in 1/3 cup of light corn syrup. Mixture will harden slightly as you stir. Turn the mixture out onto a baking sheet lined with wax paper and spread evenly (mixture will only take about half of the baking tray). Let dry several hours at room temperature. For the white pops, repeat above, but use a bag of candy melts in lieu of the 2 cups of chocolate chips. (Wrapped well in plastic, candy clay will last several weeks.)

step two: crush your candy canes
Place unwrapped candy canes in a Ziploc bag, working with just a few at a time. Use the mallet or hammer to crush.

step three: make your pops
Take a small piece of the candy clay and knead until softened and easily pliable. Roll out about 3/8 inch thick between two pieces of wax paper. Cut out a circle and insert a lollipop stick. I suppose if you did a really good job spreading the candy clay mixture in the baking tray to just the right smoothness and thickness, you could omit the kneading, but I didn't.

step four: top your bark
Work with one pop at a time. Brush light corn syrup on the surface of the pop and sprinkle immediately with crushed candy canes.

melting snowman cookie

Found on Chic Cookie Kits

you will need:
dough
frosting
Americolor soft gel pastes (Bright White, Orange, Electric Green or any color for buttons)
sharp knife
frosting bag with 4 tip
small spatula or knife
white rolled fondant
Black Americolor gourmet writer
light corn syrup
optional: frosting bag with 2 tip, Chocolate Brown soft gel paste (can also use a black or brown gourmet writer)

notes on supplies: You can also substitute concentrated pastes for the soft gel pastes, but I much prefer Americolor, as they are tasteless. Concentrated pastes, the frosting bag and tip, the rolled fondant, and maybe even the gourmet writers are available at major craft stores. Or, check on the Americolor site for links on the many, many places you can buy on the internet.

step one: bake your blob cookie
Roll out your dough and cut out a blob shape with a sharp knife. I drew my shape first on paper and cut around the paper. Don't make the blob too big, about 4 inches. If the edges are rough from cutting, pat with your fingers to smooth. Bake on a parchment paper lined baking tray and let cool.



step two: frost your blob
Color some frosting with the Bright White gel paste and fill the bag with the 4 tip. Outline cookie with frosting and let set a good half hour. Take some frosting in a bowl, color white and add water, little by little, stirring until it's syrupy. Pour the runny frosting onto the middle of the cookie and spread to the edges with a small spatula or butter knife. Let set til firm a good two hours, even longer if possible.



step three: make your snowman parts
Take a few teaspoons worth of fondant, knead (you can add a few drops of White coloring to brighten) and roll between your palms to form a sphere. If the fondant gets too sticky, let it sit for ten to fifteen minutes. Set on a piece of parchment or wax paper to harden for about an hour. Do the same with the carrot and buttons. Knead a small amount of fondant with the Orange color and form a triangle with your fingers. Set on the wax paper so the tip of the carrot points upward. Knead any color into fondant and roll small spheres for your buttons.


step four: make your face
When the snowman head has dried til firm enough to write on, make your face with the black edible gourmet pen. Choose from smiley (happy about melting) to shock (not happy about melting).


step five: assemble your snowman
To adhere the fondant pieces to each other and to the cookie, dab your finger in light corn syrup and rub on the areas that will be adhered. Start with the head and press firmly but gently onto the blob. Next, attach the carrot to the face. Then the buttons. For the sticks, I used brown frosting in a bag fitted with a 2 tip and piped. But you can also just draw them on with a brown or black edible pen.