Confectioner's Christmas Tree....To Eat or...

This Christmas tree could be considered a craft as well as a recipe of sorts. Either way it makes a wonderful project at Christmas time. I have made these with my own children, church groups, and gatherings of senior citizens. The skill level is beginner and the cost is nominal.

Candy Christmas Trees

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

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, 2 minutes on defrost and 2 minutes on full power. Using a pastry brush, "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.

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.

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.