Conversation Hearts
At one point, when I was VERY young, conversation hearts were the best thing in the world…next to candy necklaces. Come to think of it, both conversation hearts and candy necklaces are very similar in taste and texture.
Conversation hearts got their start way back in the mid-1800s with a pharmacist named Oliver Chase. He invented the machine that rolled the candy type dough and cut it into pieces. At the time these candy pieces were actually throat lozenges.
After a while though, Oliver abandoned his pharmacy and opened a candy company that later supplied the world with those NECCO wafers. Eventually, the NECCO wafers dough was made into tiny candy hearts for Valentine’s Day and has been making an appearance each year ever since.
Since my taste buds have matured over the years, NECCO wafers and conversation hearts stay solely on the store shelf…except for roofing gingerbread houses and when my kiddos beg me for the chalky candy. But this year, I wondered if I could make conversation hearts at home and control the flavors. And that is exactly what I spent last night doing with my oldest son.
Conversation Hearts
Equipment
- electric mixer
- heart cookie cutter
Ingredients
- 1 tsp unflavored gelatin
- ⅓ cup cold water
- 6-7 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp extract flavoring My favorites are strawberry, banana, orange, and almond
- food coloring
- edible writing markers
Instructions
- Add the water and gelatin into a microwave-safe bowl, slightly stir and let sit on the counter for about 5 minutes. Once the gelatin/water mixture has sat, place it in the microwave in 15-second increments, stirring in between each increment, until the gelatin is no longer visible and the water is no longer cloudy.
- Pour the water into the electric mixer and add a cup of powdered sugar, mix until combined. Repeat this step with a cup of powdered sugar until the dough forms into a soft ball, usually about 5 cups. Then add in the desired extract and food coloring. Mix again, you may need to add a little bit more powdered sugar. The consistency that is desired is a soft clay texture.
- Once the dough is formed, sprinkle the counter with powdered sugar and place the dough on top. Roll out with a rolling pin until the dough is approximately 3-4mm thick. Cut with the heart cookie cutter and place it on a piece of parchment paper to dry for at least 8 hours.
- After the hearts have dried, write fun sayings with the edible marker. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Nutrition
Now that we are a homeschooling family, I wanted to make sure Valentine’s Day was just as fun as if the amigos were in public school. Making these conversation hearts with the boys and then having them deliver them to friends around the neighborhood was the perfect way for them to still feel the love of Valentine’s Day.
What are some of your traditions for Valentine’s Day? Hope y’all are having an amazing week!
