Sparkling wine is already a festive pour for a party, but here's an idea for making it a little more special: serve homemade fruit liqueur lollipops for guests to stir into their bubbly. It's an elegant, surprising take on the usual champagne cocktail.

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Working with sugar can be a little scary, or so a lot of people think. The Sweet Book of Candy Making is determined to quell those worries by explaining everything you need to know to make candy in the comfort of your own kitchen, just like your Grandma! More

Judging by America's obsession with possessive, moody vampires and young entrepreneurs with a taste for domination, we have a national fascination with the darker side of love. Here's an idea for those not interested in the usual pink, sweet and simple homemade treat: dark and chewy DIY black licorice.

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Are you looking for a Valentine's Day snack that's as easy on the hips as it is to make? Orange and chocolate is a classic combination, but this version has a grown up twist. Can you guess what it is? More

I adore fresh kumquats, but every time I bite into one I brace myself against the mouth-puckering intensity. Candied kumquats, on the other hand, are reliably sweet with an enjoyable nuance of bitter and tart. They're versatile, too: nibble on them as candies alongside tea, spoon them over desserts or into cocktail glasses, or even serve them with savory meats and salads. More

This year we put out the call for great toffee suggestions and submissions from around the country and received ten amazing toffees to sample. After intense tasting in our offices over two days, everyone voted. It was a close race, but two toffees rose to the top. Read on to see all the entrants and our top picks! More

The girls at Liddabit Sweets know a lot about great candies. So when Splendid Table asked them to share their two easiest and quickest holiday candies, you better believe they had two great recipes to share. And these two candies require no heating or candy thermometers — truly fast and simple. Check them out! More

Fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth homemade marshmallows are worlds away from store-bought, and as long as you have an electric mixer, they aren't terribly difficult to whip up. They are also a blank canvas for all kinds of interesting flavors, from delicate Lillet liqueur to zingy peppermint candy cane. If you're in need of a special homemade gift or just a new treat to top your mug of hot chocolate, here are 10 recipes to try. More

This recipe for fudge is a classic one from my childhood. I like it because it requires no special equipment or ingredients — just sugar, cocoa powder, milk, salt, butter and vanilla. Even a candy thermometer is optional if you are gutsy enough to use the soft-ball test. I like this recipe for its practicality and deliciousness, but I love it because it's my father's recipe and every time I make it, it's like I'm spending time with him again. More

Let's talk caramels. The candy kind. The chewy, melt-in-your-mouth, deeply sweet, and insanely addictive kind. These make some of the best gifts ever, whether the event is Christmas, a birthday, or a thank you for a favor. Or no reason at all. You probably already have the ingredients in your pantry, and if you haven't made caramels recently, you probably don't know how easy they can be. Grab a bag of sugar and your candy thermometer, folks! We're making caramels today. More