Sweethearts and Valentine’s Day go hand in hand. These classic conversation heart candies with messages like “Love you” and “You’re sweet” have been enjoyed during the month of February for over 100 years. Spice up your Valentine’s Day by customizing the messages on these sweet treats by making them at home with your family this year.

Personalizing your own Sweethearts using this fun and easy recipe inspired by The Decorated Cookie is surprisingly easy. This Valentine’s Day, have fun at home and try something new with the ones you love.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup water
• 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
• 6 cups confectioners’ sugar
• Salt, as needed
• Flavoring or extracts
• Food coloring
• Food coloring markers

Directions:

1. Pour the water into a microwave-safe bowl and sprinkle with the gelatin. Allow it to sit for five minutes.
2. Microwave the bowl with gelatin for 15 seconds at a time until it completely dissolves.
3. Pour the mixture into a separate bowl and mix in confectioners’ sugar 1 cup at a time until it forms a dough. If the dough is a bit too sweet for your taste, add a pinch of salt.
4. Add flavoring or extract if you desire, either to the entire recipe or to smaller batches for a variety of tastes.
5. Split up the dough. Add two drops of food coloring to each section of the dough and knead it.
6. Dust a surface with confectioners’ sugar, then roll the dough into a thickness of 3/8 inch.
7. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out hearts and place them on top of a baking tray lined with wax paper or parchment.
8. Allow the hearts to dry for one to two days before using food coloring markers to write messages.

Tips:

• Store the hearts at room temperature in a tightly sealed container
• Make it a group activity and swap candies with each other

Updated January 2021