It's simple -- crush a handful of candies (or leave them whole), heat in the oven, add a stick and voila! -- your own hard-candy creations.

 

• Cookies sheet; foil
• Assorted hard candies
• Meat mallet or small hammer
• Metal cookie cutter (optional)
• Lollipop sticks (available at crafts stores)
• Assorted small decorative candies

 

 

 

 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line cookie sheet with foil.
3. Place the hard candy into a strong plastic bag.
4. Use the meat mallet to crush the candies into small chunks.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Stack candies of various colors 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick on the cookie sheet to make a lollipop.
6. Invite your kids to scatter the candy chunks on the suckers, creating their own design.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Make only 3 to 4 lollipops at a time. Place them at least 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet.
8. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until candies are completely melted.
9. After you remove them from the oven, quickly attach a stick to the base of each melted lollipop shape. Carefully twist the stick to cover the lollipop end with the melted candy.
   
   
   
   
   
10. Let the lollipop cool completely, and then peel the foil from the lollipop.
11. If desired, decorate with other small candies for a special touch.