Dark Chocolate Nonpareils

Hot-glue several layers of large, dark chocolate nonpareils (such as Sno-Caps) to a plastic-foam cone that has been spray-painted brown. Fill in the gaps by hot-gluing on smaller chocolate candies.

Attach the tree with a dowel to a fluted planter that has been painted with deep red acrylic paint and sealed, then fitted with plastic foam. Finish with a brown satin bow.

See complete instructions below.

 

• 6- to 7-inch-diameter off-white fluted ceramic planter
• Krylon Fusion Raspberry Red spray paint
• Light red acrylic paint
• 1-inch crafts paintbrush
• Matte-finish clear acrylic sealant spray
• Plastic-foam rectangle
• 16-inch plastic-foam cone
• Dark brown spray paint
• 4-inch length of 3/4-inch-diameter wooden dowel
• 4 pounds of quarter-size chocolate disk candy with nonpareil sprinkles
• 1/2 pound of small chocolate disk candy with nonpareil sprinkles
• Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
• 1 yard of 2-inch-wide chocolate brown wire-edge ribbon

1. Spray ceramic planter with Raspberry Red paint; let dry. Apply a second coat; let dry. To create a striped effect, use the paintbrush to apply two coats of light red acrylic paint to the grooves in the planter, letting the paint dry between coats. Apply a coat of matte-finish clear acrylic sealant; let dry.
2. Cut one or more pieces from the plastic-foam rectangle to fit securely and fill the planter. Position the plastic foam so a flat surface is level with the top of the planter.
3. Spray plastic-foam cone with dark brown paint, applying as many coats as needed for complete coverage; let dry.
4. To secure the cone to the planter, insert half of the dowel into the center bottom of the cone. Center the cone over the planter; push the dowel into the foam in the planter until the foam surfaces touch.
5. Starting with the larger chocolate candies, apply a medium-size drop of hot glue to the back of a candy. Beginning at the top of the cone, lightly press the candy in place for 10 seconds. Continue adding the larger candies in this manner to cover the cone with a single layer; do not overlap candies yet.
6. When the first layer is complete, hot-glue on a second layer of larger candies, filling in gaps where the cone is visible. This layer should use approximately half the amount of candies used in the first layer. Add additional candies as needed to shape the cone evenly.
7. Decorate the tree by hot-gluing smaller candies randomly around the cone with the flat chocolate sides out for contrast.
8. Wrap the ribbon around the top of the planter and tie a bow at the front.