Tis the season! I was so excited to find these simple little treats that were a delight to make with my barely 3 year old, 4 and a half year old, and my 6 year old cousin helped out as well! All three kids gathered around a short table and went to town on the sprinkles. I got the idea from browsing the Parents magazine at the library.

YOU WILL NEED

1 box of mini candy canes

2 cups total white and/or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Sprinkles, any variety

A cookie sheet and parchment paper or silicone baking mat

Ziploc bags & scissors

LET’S GET STARTED

First take all the little candy canes out of their wrappers. Great activity for the toddlers! I cut little slits in each wrapper so they would find the slit and pull it apart to get the candy cane out.

Arrange them in pairs, in heart shapes on the baking tray lined with parchment paper (or a baking mat).

ADULTS: dump 2 cups of your choice chocolate chips into a microwavable bowl. (We did 1 cup of white, 1 cup of semi-sweet, so I did 2 separate bowls of chocolate). Microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring with a spoon after each 30 seconds, until it is melted and smooth.

When the chocolate is cooled a bit and not hot to touch, but still liquid, spoon into a ziploc bag and cut off a corner.

Squeeze out the chocolate into the middle of the candy cane hearts. Mine came out a bit squiggly so I smoothed it out with my finger or the tip of the bag. I let the kids squeeze for a few hearts and then I did the rest.

Sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle!

One tip – white chocolate cooled and hardened faster than the semi-sweet when I made these. Next time I would let the kids do the sprinkles sooner because a lot of these didn’t stick to the white chocolate that had already hardened.

My favorite was the white chocolate kind because it tastes just like peppermint bark! Delicious! What a great little holiday treat. I made another batch yesterday to give away as a little Christmas gift. This is definitely a favorite that will be repeated!

Sharing these little recipes with you is one way I hope to #lighttheworld this Christmas season. My second batch of chocolate hearts are to be given to some women in my church group. I love that making homemade treats and cookies can be a way to spread cheer to others, while also bringing me an extra measure of joy! How will you #lighttheworld this Christmas? I’d love to hear about your Christmas and holiday traditions!