Candy Pop Tutorial

Recently, I helped to throw together my son's Cub Scout Pack's Blue and Gold Banquet.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with this annual tradition, the Blue and Gold is a dinner that typically takes place in February to celebrate Scouting.  This year, the theme was "Happy Birthday Scouting," as the Boy Scouts of America are currently celebrating 100 years of Scouting in America.

Going along with the theme, what birthday party would be complete without some sort of favor?  Now, of course, we could have chosen to go with chintzy plastic bags of spin tops and skittles, but we I wanted something with a little more class.  Which brings us to.... the Candy Pop!

I had never before made candy pops, white chocolate shapes attached to a lollipop stick and covered in cellophane.  But, I figured, how hard could they be?  Melt a little chocolate, pour it in a mold, pop it out, and PRESTO!  Instant party favor.  Multiplied by a hundred-and-some.  Yep, a hundred-and-some.  My oh my.

If you're crazy enough to want to play Martha and do the same thing, head on over to your local craft supply shop and pick up the following:

•  Candy Molds- Choose your shape.  I used a fleur de lis.  If you're doing a whole lot of pops, buy multiple molds.
• Candy Melts-- these are little white chocolate discs that you melt, kind of self-explanatory huh?  You'll need approximately one bag per two to three molds.  So, say you want to make twelve pops and each mold does three at a time, you'll buy two bags of candy.  Always throw an extra one or two in the cart just in case.  You can return them later.
• Lollipop sticks
• Decorator squirt bottle, kinda like an empty ketchup bottle, this is typically sold next to the candy supplies.  You can go without it, which I did, but it is more messy and difficult.
• Clear cellophane favor bags.
• Ribbon
• Wax paper (optional)

Take your supplies home, send the kiddos to bed, and take a deep breath.  You're gonna DO this!

1. Pour one bag of candy melts in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave on low in 20 second intervals until the candy is melted, stirring as you go.  Do not let candy come in contact with any water at all, or get overheated.
2. Spoon melted candy in the decorator bottle and squirt into the molds.  Or, just pour it in the molds, but be careful not to spill.
3. Insert lollipop stick in the little space reserved for it in the tray (you'll recognize it).  Twirl the stick to coat it with chocolate.  This keeps the candy from falling off during rapid consumption.  
4. Put your molds on a level space in the freezer for ten to fifteen minutes.  Don't leave them much longer because the candy has a strange habit of turning white if it gets too cold.  If needed, you can stack the molds with a sheet of wax paper in between.
5. Gently remove pops from the molds.  They should just "pop" right out.
6. Cover the top of the pop with a cellophane bag and tie it closed with the ribbon.
7. Repeat until you have the number of pops you need for your party, or until you lose count and give up.

So, there you have it.  Candy Pops.  Not too hard, huh?  If you choose to make these, let me know how it goes.  And, good luck.  (kidding!)