It doesn't get much easier than this.  You melt some chocolate, insert a stick, and then put your favorite candies on top.  But, to a kid, this process is the most.fun.ever.  Lily had an amazing time with this edible craft, and she was also so proud of herself when she shared them with my dad and grandmother.  Especially because she got to eat one each time she did, so she ended up with more than her fair share of candy that weekend.

If I were to offer one word of advice to parents, though, it is to watch the candy toppings closely if you leave the room to melt the chocolate.  Lily went crazy on the M&Ms and ate handfuls in the few minutes that I was in the kitchen.  Then, of course, she got the melted chocolate all over herself while decorating, but that's half the fun.  By the time she was finished with the pops, I don't think she even wanted to eat them because she was so sugared out!  (Fear not.  That feeling passed quickly.)

With so many store-bought and impersonal Valentine's Day gifts out there, this is a fun way to get kids excited about the holiday.  Obviously, family members appreciate these more than others because they are the creations of a little kid, but the imperfections are the cute part.  And a drizzle of chocolate at the end can cover up mostly anything that goes too awry.  The fun is in the craziness and it was a great way to spend an afternoon while I was trying to keep Lily occupied while Jake was working on the demo of our half-bath.  Considering Jake is just now moving on to rebuilding the bathroom, there will likely be many more lollipop and craft days in our near future!

Kid-Friendly Food: Chocolate Lollipops

Dark, milk, and/or white chocolate chips Candy toppings, sprinkles, chopped nuts, dried fruit Lollipop sticks

Melt the chocolate in a microwave in 30 second increments, stirring well between each.  White chocolate is especially fragile, so stir every 20 seconds.  On a parchment-lined sheet, put a thick 1" round dollop of melted chocolate.  Twirl the lollipop stick in the middle of the chocolate so that the end is fully submerged.  Cover with any toppings you like, pressing lightly to make sure that the toppings stick.  They can be really sweet, so I also like to put some sea salt or a salty topping on top, but kids like all sugar all the time!

Let the pops sit for at least 30 minutes, or until completely set.

Inspired by: Ina Garten