How to Make Christmas Bark Lollipops with Candy

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs. white or dark confectionery coating (sometimes called bark candy, this is chocolate that doesn't have to be tempered to use)

Wide selection of candies and nuts, such as:

• M&Ms
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• chocolate chips
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• chopped toffee
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• crushed peppermint candies
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• dried cranberries
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• dried blueberries
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• chopped walnuts
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• chopped pecans
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• chopped peanuts
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• mini butterscotch chocolate chips
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• chopped up peanut butter cups
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• gummy bears
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• pistachios

Plastic lollipop sticks

Spoons for mixing and bowls for stirring

Procedure:

1. Line several cookie sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
2. 
   
3. In a double boiler set over medium heat, melt the confectionery coating.
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5. If you are wanting mixed candy, place your desired amount of melted chocolate in a bowl. Add in your choice of candy, nuts or dried fruits and mix well. Place spoonful amounts onto the lined cookie sheets leaving spaces for the lollipop sticks.
6. 
   
7. Before the chocolate dries, push in the sticks. Alternately, lay the sticks down first, then place a spoonful of the melted chocolate mixture on top. Let the chocolate dry and become hard before removing.
8. 
   
9. For plain chocolate lollipops with decorations, lay out the lollipop sticks leaving room for the chocolate to spread. Let the chocolate cool to where it has thickened slightly (not runny but not cool enough to set up). Spread spoonfuls of the melted chocolate onto the sticks in desired sizes and thicknesses for the candy lollipops. Drop you candy on top of the lollipops in a random shape or in a decorative design. Allow the chocolate to cool until it is hard before removing.
10. 
    
11. Wrap in small bags or in squares of plastic wrap and make a tie at the ends.
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13. These make perfect gifts to give for the holidays, and is a recipe easy enough for the children to participate in or even complete by themselves with supervision.