How to Make Homemade Chocolates (Easy for Kids!)

Making homemade chocolates is much easier than you might think, and it's a perfect cooking activity to enjoy with kids. With just candy molds and melting chocolate, you can create beautifully shaped chocolates for any holiday or special occasion. Kids love choosing the shapes and helping fill the molds and you'll love how simple the process is!

You can find candy molds in craft stores, cake decorating shops, or even large retail chains. They come in endless designs - holiday themes, hearts and stars, animals, bite-size shapes, and more and they're inexpensive enough that i'’s worth keeping a few on hand year-round. Once you get started, you'll find yourself making chocolates for birthdays, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, and party favors too.

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Jump to these Chocolate Tutorials:

• Homemade chocolate basics
• Step by Step Candy Mold Chocolates
• Using leftover chocolate
• How to fill your chocolates
• Chocolate filling recipes
• Dipped chocolates
• Dipped Oreos
• How chocolate is made
• Chocolate suckers
• Chocolate truffles
• Chocolate trivia

Homemade Chocolate Basics

Besides candy molds, the key to making chocolates that hold their shape is candy melts (also called melting wafers). These melt smoothly and firm up properly in molds.

Tip: Avoid using regular chocolate chips - while delicious, they stay too soft and won't release cleanly from molds.

Once your chocolates are made, you can store them in the freezer or fridge. They look beautiful on a Christmas candy platter alongside other holiday treats and they make wonderful homemade gifts for neighbors, friends, and teachers. You can also create these as gifts to give away for Valentine's Day or Easter too.

Candy Mold Chocolates: Step-by-Step

You will need:

• Candy molds
• Wilton candy melts or melting chocolate wafers of your choice, whatever flavors and colors you choose
• Waxed paper and a cookie sheet
• Spoon or small ladle

Directions

1. Melt the chocolate- Place candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth.
2. Fill the molds -  Spoon melted chocolate into each mold, filling to the top. Wipe the edges clean with your finger or a paper towel so the finished chocolates have neat edges.
3. Remove air bubbles - Gently tap the mold on the counter to release air pockets.
4. Chill - Place molds in the freezer for about 10 minutes, or until the underside looks frosty and firm.
5. Unmold -  Turn the mold upside down over waxed paper. The chocolates should pop out easily - flex or tap the mold gently if needed.

What to Do With Leftover Chocolate

Pour remaining melted chocolate onto waxed paper on a cookie sheet, spread it into a thin layer, and let it firm up. Break it into chunks and store in a resealable bag- you can remelt it later or enjoy as chocolate bark! Now you know how to make homemade chocolates using candy molds, you can take it a step further by adding fillings or nuts inside.

Printable Chocolate Trivia Worksheet

How to Fill Your Chocolates-Adding Fillings (Optional but Extra Delicious!)

Once you've mastered basic chocolates, try adding fillings or nuts for a tasty surprise inside.
To fill chocolates:

1. Melt chocolate as before.
2. Spoon a small amount into each mold, filling halfway.
3. Turn the mold upside down over waxed paper and let excess drip out, leaving a thin chocolate shell.
4. Wipe edges clean and freeze 5-10 minutes.
5. Add fillings such as almonds, hazelnuts, peanut butter, caramel, or one of our homemade filling recipes below.
6. Spoon melted chocolate over the top to fill molds completely.
7. Wipe edges again and freeze until firm.
8. Pop chocolates out and enjoy!

If the chocolate hardens while you're working, simply reheat it briefly to melt again. Melt the candy melts in a microwave safe dish for 30 second intervals. Stir and continue to melt. When done drip chocolate into candy molds, with a spoon.

How to Make Homemade Chocolate Fillings

Use these fillings by placing a small spoonful or rolled ball of filling into each molded chocolate shell- just remember to leave space for chocolate on top to seal it.

Peanut Butter Filling for Candy Molds

Ingredients:

• 3/4 Cup peanut butter
• 3/4 Cup powdered sugar
• 1 Tablespoon melted butter

Mix together and use for filling for candy molds or dipped chocolates.

Peppermint Patty Filling

Ingredients:

• 4 Tablespoons butter, soft
• 2 1/2 Cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1/4- 1/2 Cup light corn syrup

Mix in mixer until mixture becomes smooth and can be rolled in a ball. Use for filling in candy molds or dipped chocolates.

Chocolate Covered Cherries

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 Cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/3 Cup heavy cream
• 1 bottle maraschino cherries

Mix sugar, vanilla and cream together until forms a dough. Cut a cherry in half and wrap dough around the cherry. Use for filling in candy molds or dipped chocolates.

Cream Filling

You can buy dry fondant in cake decorating shops. This is how you get chocolates with cream fillings. Use whatever flavoring you like such as peppermint, strawberry, lemon, etc. Little bottles of flavoring for candy is also sold in cake shops.


Melt 8 Tablespoons butter, mix with 3 Tablespoons cream and 1 lb. dry fondant. Flavor with a few drops of flavoring and add a little drop of color. Use filling in candy molds or dipped chocolates.

How to Make Homemade Chocolates -Dipped

Dipping chocolates is another fun and delicious way to use melted candy chocolate. Once you've mastered the melting process, you can dip all kinds of fillings and treats to create your own assortment of chocolate-covered goodies. Kids especially enjoy rolling filling into balls, dipping fruit, or decorating pretzels for the holidays. Dipped chocolates also make wonderful gifts and party treats because you can customize the flavors, toppings, and shapes for any occasion.

Prepare your fillings or dipping items first so everything is ready before the chocolate begins to cool. Melt your candy melts as instructed above. If you're using a soft filling, scoop about a tablespoon at a time and roll it into small balls before dipping. Use a fork or dipping tool to coat each piece in melted chocolate, allowing the excess to drip off. Place dipped items on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet until firm. To speed up the hardening process, simply chill them in the fridge or freezer.

Below are some ideas to help you get started dipping:

• Strawberries or other fresh fruit (bananas, cherries, apple slices)
• Pretzels, pretzel rods, or pretzel twists
• Crackers such as Ritz or graham crackers
• Homemade fillings rolled into balls (peanut butter, coconut, caramel, mint cream)
• Marshmallows or marshmallow pops
• Dried fruit such as apricots or pineapple rings
• Cookies (Oreos, vanilla wafers, shortbread)
• Toasted nuts or clusters of mixed nuts
• Rice Krispie treats cut into bite-size pieces
• Check out these chocolate truffle recipes

Dipped Oreos

Melt your chocolate and prepare a cookie sheet with a sheet of waxed paper.

Sprinkle with additional sprinkles or mini M&M's if desired. Let set until hardened.

More Chocolate Making Activities

Would you like to learn how chocolate is made?

Now learn how to make chocolate suckers.


Make Chocolate Truffles


Chocolate Peanut Clusters

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