These Healthier Candy Hearts are a naturally sweetened, refined sugar-free alternative to the classic Valentine’s treat. With simple ingredients and customizable colors, they’re perfect for sharing love in a delicious, wholesome way.
Dissolve the Gelatin:
2 Mix the gelatin with the ginger ale in a microwave-safe bowl.
3 Microwave in 10-second intervals until fully dissolved (approximately 30 seconds for room-temperature ginger ale).
Form the Dough:
5 In a mixing bowl, combine the dissolved gelatin, sea salt, and 1 cup powdered sugar.
6 Gradually add the remaining powdered sugar until the dough reaches a playdough-like consistency.
Divide and Color:
8 Divide the dough into separate balls based on the number of colors you’d like.
9 Return one ball to the bowl, add natural colorant, and mix until evenly distributed. Repeat for all colors.
Roll and Cut:
11 Dust a silicone mat or parchment paper with powdered sugar. Roll out the dough to your desired thickness.
12 Use a small heart-shaped cutter to cut out shapes. Gently tap the cutter to release each heart.
Dry the Hearts:
14 Place the hearts on a parchment-lined tray. Air dry for 24 hours, flip them, and dry for another 24 hours.
Customize:
16 Once completely dry, use food-safe markers to write sweet messages on each heart.
