Some people like receiving flowers. Some people like receiving chocolate. Well, how about both at the same time? Believe it or not, you can make gorgeous roses out of Tootsie Rolls. They’re perfect to give as gifts, and they even make great alternative centerpieces.
Best of all, Tootsie Rolls are kosher-certified. What’s not to love?
What you’ll need:
Tootsie Roll Midgees | 6-inch treat sticks
1. You’ll need about 10 Tootsie Roll Midgees to make one rose. (You can always use fewer for a smaller rose.) Tootsie Roll Midgees are the small 1-inch version. Place the unwrapped Tootsie Rolls on a plate and microwave them for five seconds to soften them.
2. Roll the softened Tootsie Rolls into balls. I like to use food-safe gloves when handling them to keep them sanitary.
3. Squeezing the Tootsie Roll balls between your fingers, flatten them into thin oval shapes. The shape doesn’t have to be perfect — in fact, the more irregular the better. They should be just slightly smaller than a business card.
4. Get some treat sticks at the crafts store. (They’re in the baking aisle.) With the flattened Tootsie Roll oriented horizontally, wrap it around the top of a treat stick. Pinch the bottom tightly to make sure the Tootsie Roll doesn’t fall off.
5. Continue wrapping the Tootsie Roll petals around the center, overlapping them as you go. Press down on the lower portion of the petals to help them stay secured to the rest of the rose. The rose looks really full after eight to 10 petals.
6. To add some realism to the roses, pinch the tips of the petals and curl some of the edges. The natural look makes the chocolate roses even more beautiful. Display them in a short glass or vase, and try not to eat them all at the same time.
Jonathan Fong is the author of “Walls That Wow,” “Flowers That Wow” and “Parties That Wow,” and host of “Style With a Smile” on YouTube. You can see more of his do-it-yourself projects at jonathanfongstyle.com.
