Give your kids the party of a life time and show them how to make their favorite snack. Throw a Candy Making Party and watch them eat all their worries away (all the worries a child could possibly have).
This post is sponsored by Wilton.
One of the best things I have been able to do as a chocolatier is to share my passion for candy making with kids.
Years ago my sister asked if I would allow her daughter's girl scout troop to visit my candy shop to learn how to make chocolates. The day the girls arrived, I had set up my kitchen so they could each hand paint a candy lollipop, dip goodies into chocolate, and make their own special version of chocolate bark.
They loved it, and I did too.
From that day forward, I began hosting candy making parties and just had one for my friend's kids recently and thought it would be fun to show you how to host a similar party in your own kitchen.
I keep the parties simple, showing the kids how they can make candy at home.To get ready for your own candy making party you'll need to get some supplies: candy molds, Candy Melts, food use paint brushes, lollipop sticks, dipping tools, paper plates, parchment paper, and paper towels.
Before the kids arrive melt the Candy Melts and keep them warm. I like to use small mason jars filled with the candy coating which I keep warm in an electric skillet that is filled with hot water. I can keep candy melted like this all day long.
Check out my tutorial on How to Make Hand Painted Chocolate Lollipops for detailed instructions on setting up your own skillet filled with melted candy coating.
Cover the table with pieces of parchment or wax paper. It will get messy, and this makes clean up so easy.
I usually allow each child to paint one lollipop, but you could do more, you just need to make sure you have room in your freezer for all of the molds. I use letter trays, the kind you find in an office supply store, to add extra shelves in my freezer. The candy molds fit on them perfectly.
Allow the kids to get creative, to choose the colors they want to paint their lollipops. One of my favorite things about hosting these parties is seeing how colorful the kids make their lollipops. That's a unicorn being painted with orange, blue and red.
Wilton makes really great Melting Pots (the white and purple pot behind the skillet) which can keep your Candy Melts at the perfect temperature all afternoon too. They will hold several bags of Candy Melts and are great if you are planning to make lots of lollipops or have the kids dip lots of goodies.
Kids really love learning how to dip things like cake pops, cookies, marshmallows and rice krispie treats into chocolate.
Of course, you will probably end up with a floater or two, things that fall off the sticks in the candy coating. Just scoop it out and let the child try again.
The kids each dipped two cake balls into chocolate then added some chopped peanuts.
Give each child a paper plate and some goodies to dip, coat or drizzle, and don't forget the sprinkles, kids love sprinkles and the lip on the paper plates keeps them from going all over the table.
Wilton has some new Candy Melt Dipping Tools that are great to use for a candy making party.There is a metal skewer that is great to use instead of lollipop sticks for marshmallows and rice krispie treats.
The dipping fork and spoon are perfect for dipping cookies, big and small.
The new Dipping Tongs have a rubber tip so even kids will have an easy time holding onto graham crackers and pretzels to dip them in the candy melts without making a mess.
My favorite new tool is the Drizzling Scoop. It's a spoon with a channel that allows the candy melts to pour out in a thin stream.
By this point in the party, the kids are getting anxious to try a treat.
The smile on their faces happened just as they heard that they would be allowed to sample their goodies soon.
The best part of the party is when the kids show off their creations.
They are always so proud of what they've made, but usually are even more excited to eat them.
Wilton Candy Melts Melting ...Shop on Amazon
Wilton Candy Melts, 12-Ounc...Shop on Amazon
Wilton Candy Melt Dipping T...Shop on Amazon
Wilton Candy Melts Candy Di...Shop on Amazon
If you liked this Kid's Recipe, then you need to check out these other fascinating recipes that your little ones will love!
- Irresistible Sweets with Dixie Crystals® - July 13, 2024
- How to make peanut butter? - February 15, 2024
- OREO Penguins - December 20, 2023
Stuck says
How do you remove the stuck-on candy melt residue from the inside of the glass mason jars when you're done? It's stuck on whether it's warm or cold.
Beth Klosterboer says
Run it under really hot tap water to melt the candy melts. My dishwasher will also clean out the jars. If you just can't get it out, then pour a small amount of boiling water into the glass and swirl it around. Or, place the jar in the microwave and heat it on high for 10 seconds burst of power, until melted.
Dotti says
Hi,
I have learned a lot from you watching your tutorial. You are so great with your chocolate decorating. Do you have a tutorial on making chocolate soccer pops with the plastic molds. I am having a hard time with the black line and it loo so messy. I need help
Beth Klosterboer says
That is great! I'm so glad to hear that. I do not have a soccer pops tutorial and have to admit that years ago I painted some soccer pops and really struggled too! They are the most difficult lollipops I've ever made. It is challenging to get the lines straight. My suggestion is to use a fine point paintbrush to get the straight lines draw onto the mold and then fill in with a larger brush. You can also try using a Squeeze-It Mold Painter. It's a squeeze bottle that has a coupler and a pastry tip attached. The bottles come with a plastic pastry tip with a small round hole. You can microwave the bottle with the tip on it which is nice. Then, you can pipe the chocolate into the molds. Some people find this easier than painting and it could work well with the soccer ball. Good luck!
Bonnie says
Great blog!! Once the chocolate is melted, how long do you have to work with it in a bowl while you are dipping? Im planning on doing this for a group of about 16-18 kids, and want to make sure I have enough chocolate and that they at least have time to work with their own bowl of chocolate to dip with. I'll probably melt in glass jars in a crock pot.
Thank you!!
Beth says
If you melt the candy and keep the jars in a crock pot they will stay melted all day long. If you take the jars out of the crock pot the candy will stay melted for a while but will cool and begin to thicken much more quickly. I can't say how quickly as it will depend on how much candy is in the jar, the temperature of your room, and how hot it was to start with, but you should be able to work with it for at least 15 minutes. If it gets too thick you can pop the jar in the microwave for 10-20 seconds. Have fun!!!
Bonnie says
Thank you Beth!! Someone just told me another way is to do a ganache, but Im afraid it will not harden. I love your idea with the skillet too!
Beth says
Ganache will not harden like chocolate but you can make it so that it is thick enough to use to dip cookies, strawberries and pretzels. It tastes great too!
Bonnie says
Thank you! Good to know! I have borrowed an electric skillet so I can do your method and leave nothing to chance 🙂 If you don't mind me asking, how long and at what temperature do the chips fully melt? And do you keep it at a certain temp all day? thank you, you have been SO helpful!! (this is all new to me!)
Beth says
I keep my skillet set on the lowest setting which on my skillet is "warm" all day long. I replenish the hot water if needed. You always want a minimum of an inch of water in the skillet. If you place jars of candy melts into the skillet, expect it to take about an hour to fully melt. Be sure to stir the candy during that hour. That will help it melt quicker. If you are in a hurry, you can melt the candy melts in the microwave then set them in the skillet so they stay melted all day long.
Bonnie says
I should mention that I was going to do chocolate chips, not the melts, Im not sure if that affects the other instructions! 🙂 I was told to use chocolate chips and add a tsp of shortening to each jar!
Beth says
If you use chocolate chips that have cocoa butter listed in the ingredients they should be tempered. See my chocolate making tips page for more details - https://hungryhappenings.com/chocolate-making-tips/.
If you don't temper the chocolate it won't set up correctly. You can't use it to paint candy molds as it won't harden properly so you won't be able to get the chocolate out of the molds. You can use it to dip pretzels, cookies, and more, just know that it's likely the chocolate will bloom (develop white streaks and spots) and will remain rather soft and possibly a bit sticky.
I highly recommend using the Confectionery coating/candy melts if you don't want to bother tempering pure chocolate. Kids love it and you can do so many things with it easily. You can find white chocolate chips that do not have any cocoa butter listed in the ingredients. Nestle White Morsels are essentially confectionery coating. Be sure to check the package for the list of ingredients.
Kim Bothager says
I have not tried candy making with my kids, but I'm going to now! 🙂
Beth says
I hope you and your kids have fun!
Chrissy says
I've never tried making candy with kids, but I have decorated cookies during Christmas with my cousins. 🙂
Jackie Dav says
I've tried making simple candy with my kids, like melted jolly ranchers on a stick! Also my little girls third birthday was a cupcake party. So I'm sure they are going to loooove this!
Anonymous says
I wish you were my sister! I'd bring my Girl Scout troop to you to learn! 🙂 You Rock!!!
Laura B. says
Wow! This looks like so much fun!
Anonymous says
We dipped cake pops in chocolate :). Kids loved helping.
Sandy H says
We tried popcorn balls and burnt our hands.
Fool in a Tree says
I love making cake pops for parties and coworkers!!
Anonymous says
I've just retired to be a G'ma full time... am moving to be near our wee folk & have been looking for activities to do with them. I think this would fun and they would enjoy it.... adding to my list of ideas.
Anonymous says
I have made chocolate candies with the kids. They love making a bunch of different things.
Ashley Addison says
We've actually made almost everything together except candy. I can't wait to try some for our next activity. Thanks for sharing this idea.
Chelsea Roberts says
This is a great idea!!! I think this would make a perfect "back to school" party with my daughter and her friends!
Anonymous says
Yes! We love to bake and make candy! My boys have a really fun time getting creative in the kitchen.
Kristen S says
My kids are young so they have helped by rolling the balls for truffles and cake pops. As they get older we will venture out and make more things. I loved helping my mom when I was little so I plan to make fun memories for my kids too 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!
Anonymous says
I have a 17 year old son and really wished I had baked with him more when he was younger...so, no, sadly we have never made candy together.
Los Browns says
No, I have not made candy with my kids; no kids.
Lovecraft says
I love making little candies for my friends and coworkers, but having a special little melting pot would definitely make it easier, haha.