Make Your Own Sweet Candy Christmas Tree Decoration!

Modern interiors often demand simplicity and a lack of clutter, but at Christmas these mantras get forgotten and many of us decorate every surface in sight. One of my favourite decorations has to be my Sweet Candy Christmas Tree. Incredibly easy to make, it’s the perfect craft for children and makes a wonderful table centre or side table piece. Plus it has the added benefit of being edible once the festivities are over!

What You’ll Need

Cardboard to make the tree and star

Tape

Double sided tape or pads

Sweets

Gold Paint

Step 1

First you need to make the base of the Christmas Tree. This is done by drawing around something circular, I used a medium dinner plate. I wanted two layers to my tree so drew out two circles, but one larger circle would work if you only require one layer. Cut out the circle(s).

Step 2

Cut a slit in one side of the circle, this should reach from the edge into the centre. Grip both sides of the slit and form the circle into a cone shape. Secure the shape with tape.

Step 3

Cut out some double sided tape and attach to one edge of a sweet. Peel off the other side of the tape and stick to the bottom of your cone. Continue sticking sweets in a line at the base of the cone. When you reach the first sweet begin another line just above the first. Make sure you cover up any tape and leave as few gaps as possible.

Step 4

If you are creating two or more layers remember that the bottom layer will not need as many sweets as the top. Unwrap one sweet and use the wrapper to cover the point at the top of the tree.

Step 5

Next draw and cut out two simple stars from cardboard. Cut a slit from the top of one of the stars into the centre. Then cut a slit from the bottom of the other star into the centre. Slide the two stars together to make a 3D shape and paint gold. Once dry stick to the top of your tree. If you have more than one layer to your tree place them on top of each other now.

Ta Da! You have made a beautiful and edible Christmas Tree!

TIP. If you can’t find green sweets don’t worry, these trees look great in multi colours. Or you can decorate primarily in green with the occasional coloured sweet as a bauble!

Rachel’s Organics Divine Rice Pudding Review

Rice pudding is one of those things you either love or hate. Personally I love it, but Anne hates it (something to do with the taste of hot milk). But is it possible for us fans to find a shop bought version of this traditional pud that tastes homemade?

If you’d asked me this awhile ago I probably would have been sceptical. I mean no offence to the many and varying varieties of rice pudding that can be bought in a can, but it’s a long way away from a lovingly prepared homemade dessert. Thankfully I may have found a solution thanks to the good people at Rachel’s Organics.

They recently sent me both varieties of their Devine Rice Puddings. These come in Traditional and Toffee flavours. You pop them in a the microwave and away you go.

For a true traditionalist there is of course no crust on these little puds such as an oven baked pudding might sport. But taste wise they are very authentic. I found both varieties to be thick, creamy and rather mouthwatering. I was particularly partial to the Toffee version, but for a true rice pudding you can’t beat the Traditional flavour.

For a nostalgic family sized pudding, I’d like to see a larger version in both flavours. At the moment only Traditional can be bought in a larger pot.

Would I recommend this product?

Definitely, they are really rather yummy 🙂 I’d even suggest that non rice pudding fans give them a try, they might just change your mind. The Traditional variety also contains less than 5% fat making it a non guilty pleasure!

Can they be improved in anyway?

As I said I’d like to see a larger, family sized version in both flavours. But taste wise they are pretty spot on.

Details:

Divine Rice Traditional Twinpack

This Product is stocked in:

  • All Waitrose
  • Most Sainsbury’s supermarkets
  • Most Asda
  • Some Tesco supermarkets
  • Independent health and whole food shops

2 x 150g

Single pot 150g & 500g also available.

Divine Rice Toffee Twinpack

This Product is stocked in:

  • Most Waitrose
  • Ocado
  • Some Tesco supermarkets

2 x 150g