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This creative Christmas tree is a delectable chocolate delight. However, don’t eat it! It may be made with creamy melted chocolate, and even topped with delicious sugar cookies, but it’s actually just for viewing. Any way you look at it, (or drool over it!) it makes a wonderful project at Christmas time. These are perfect crafts to assemble with children, church groups,nursing home residents, and gatherings of senior citizens. The skill level is for the beginner and the cost is nominal.
Chocolate Christmas Trees
Materials Needed:
1 bag dark chocolate Wilton candy melts
1 8-10 inch styrofoam cone
1 pound assorted soft center chocolates (cheap: think DOLLAR STORE!)
wooden toothpicks
2 identical 2-inch star shaped sugar cookies
One quarter cup white icing (make with confectioners sugar and water until thick)
Small tube of red decorative icing
Confectioner’s sugar
Cardboard baker’s round or sturdy piece of cardboard for base
Melt the candy melts in a microwave oven, heating 2 minutes on defrost and 2 minutes on full power. Stir to remove all lumps. Using a pastry brush or new 1-inch paintbrush, “paint” the cone with melted chocolate. Allow to dry. Paint another layer. Continue until the surface of the cone is no longer visible.
Spread a dollop of white icing onto baker’s round and top with cone. Allow to dry. This fastens the cone to the base, and makes the remainder of the project even simpler.
Beginning at the bottom of the cone, “decorate” the tree with uniform rows of chocolates, fastening them to the cone by inserting a toothpick through the center of each. Continue adding rows upward until the entire cone is covered with chocolates. Don’t be concerned about any small spaces between the chocolates. The uniformity and chocolate on the cone will create an even look.
Spread a dollop of icing between the two cookies, and insert a toothpick between them. Allow the icing to harden. Spread a thin layer of icing on the face of both cookies and sprinkle with colored sugar crystals.
Insert toothpick with star into the top of the cone. Decorate the tree by piping a tiny dot of red decorative icing onto each chocolate, covering the toothpick and hole. A light dusting of “snow” may be added by dusting the entire tree with confectioner’s sugar.
Pour a small amount into a sifter, and tap the sifter lightly while holding it over the tree.
Decorate the tree’s base by gluing tiny wrapped packages all around.
Wrapping these Christmas trees in brightly colored cellophane, and tying with Christmas ribbon makes for a festive gift for teachers, neighbors, and friends. A fun variation would be to actually wrap little “treasures” in the packages adhered to the base of the tree. Add a note written from “Santa” stating that packages must not be opened until December 25!
This project also makes a fun and easy craft for a children’s Christmas party. Be sure to have extras of the candy melts and chocolates on hand, as little appetites will be tempted to sample their wares. And they’ll all be certain to enjoy taking one of these chocolate Christmas trees home.
These Christmas trees are also a big hit at Christmas fairs and church bazaars. And since they really cost very little to construct, they are great as a fundraiser, too. The average cost is under $4, as the candy melts actually "paint" two or more cones, and the cones generally come two or three to a package. Craft supplies and discount stores yiled the best bargains for these items.
Don't forget, however, to save one or two for home. Their sweetness and richness will be tempting, but the ornamental touch they'll add to a room will outweigh the risk of sampling!
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