For kids, the holidays don't get much sweeter than scrumptious homemade candies. And this confection is incredibly good.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups white candy melts or
• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate

• 1/2 teaspoon pure vegetable shortening
• Nonpareil sprinkles (check in the baking aisle at your grocery store)

Instructions

1. Melt the white candy melts or semisweet chocolate in a heatproof bowl atop a pot of simmering water set over medium-high heat, adding the vegetable shortening to the chocolate but not the candy melts. Stir constantly with a heatproof rubber spatula until the mixture is smooth (about 2 minutes).

2. Using a teaspoon, ladle small pools of the melted candy onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. If you're using white candy melts, immediately top the candies with nonpareil sprinkles and set the tray aside for the candies to set up.

3. Allow the semisweet chocolate to set about 20 minutes before adding the nonpareil sprinkles and then chill the candies until firm, about 1 hour. Makes about 6 dozen 1-inch nonpareils.