How to Make a Car With Lifesavers and Toothpicks
Candy cars make a cute change from plastic cake toppers or tired, paper table decorations. Make a spectacular centerpiece for any table with this Lifesavers and toothpicks car. Line up several cars to make a cake topper or add a train engine to make your little engineer squeal with delight. You'll have everyone asking you where you purchased the cake topper. All that's required is a hot oven and a couple of baker's secrets.
Things You'll Need
- Oven
- Large bag of Lifesavers candy
- Two toothpicks
- Two baking trays
- Parchment paper
- Aluminum foil
Instructions
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1
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
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2
Line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Place six Lifesavers onto the sheet (two rows of three). Make sure the six Lifesavers are pushed together so that the edges are touching completely. Repeat once more (for a total of two sets of six Lifesavers), making sure that the two groups of six are separated by at least an inch.
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3
Place one row of three Lifesavers on the baking sheet (separate from the other groups). Place two rows of two Lifesavers on the baking sheet (separate from the other groups).
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4
On a separate, lined, baking sheet, place two Lifesavers in a group.
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5
Bake the Lifesavers for two minutes so that they are slightly sticky.
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6
Remove the tray of Lifesavers that you made in Steps 2-4. Allow to cool completely. Continue baking the other Lifesavers until completely melted (about seven more minutes).
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7
Make the wheels and axles. Place two new Lifesavers on a sturdy plate. Remove the melted Lifesavers from the oven and scoop the melted candy up with a teaspoon. Pour it into the center of the Lifesavers. Repeat for the other "wheel." When the candy has cooled and has started to harden (about 10 minutes), stick one toothpick into the center of each candy. Allow to cool completely.
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8
Using the same, lined baking sheet from Step 5, melt a group of 12 Lifesavers in the 300 degrees Fahrenheit oven.
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9
When the Lifesavers have melted (about 10 minutes), remove from the oven. Use a teaspoon to scoop up the melted candy and fill the holes in all of the Lifesavers you removed from the oven in Step 7. Leave one Lifesaver open to make a window on each group of six candy pieces.
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10
Using the toothpicks that already have one set of wheels on them, follow the same technique outlined in Step 9 to create the other side of the wheel.
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11
Make the car cab from the Lifesavers you filled in Step 9. Place the strip of three Lifesavers flat on a lined baking sheet. Place the two sets of six Lifesavers on either side of this, standing upright with the row of three lifesavers on the bottom. The cab is upside down at this point; make sure your "window" is on the bottom row. At the two ends, place the strip of two lifesavers upright so that you create a box. Wrap this box loosely with a 2-inch strip of aluminum foil, all the way around. Place a wad of scrunched up aluminum foil in the center to stop the sides from falling in during the baking process.
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12
Place the baking sheet in the oven for two minutes. Remove and let cool completely.
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13
Turn the car upside down and mount on the axles.
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1
Tips & Warnings
For a faster technique, use salt water taffy to bond the sections, fill the holes, and hold the wheel and axle together.
Keep a close eye on the Lifesavers as they are baking: if you leave them too long, they will melt completely.
