Spread your love with a slug! If your looking for a fun Valentine treat/ Halloween to surprise your kids with or take to a classroom party, give this one a try. These little critters are heart warmingly cute and tasty to boot! Instead of receiving a slimy, slurpy, kiss, your loved ones can get a slimy, slurpy, gift.

NOTE: If your not big on Valentines day keep this one in mind for Halloween, because you can make them in a variety of colors.

WARNING: This recipe requires handling molten HOT candy, so it is an ADULT project. It's intended to be made FOR kids but not WITH kids, just to play it SAFE.

Step 1: Making the Slimy Trails

The clear mucus slug trails are made from an old family sucker recipe.

You will need:
1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
1 package of "Invisible" Kool-aid
OPTIONAL: colored sprinkles (i used tiny hearts)

Before you begin to cook the candy prepare a few baking sheets for the candy by spraying them lightly with a non-stick spray.

Then In a saucepan combine sugar, syrup, and water and bring to a boil on medium heat. While stirring it frequently let it boil until it reaches hard crack stage. (300* on a candy thermometer) I don't have a candy thermometer, but I have done it enough I can usually eyeball it then start testing it. To test it fill a small cup with cold water and drizzle a spoonful of the candy into the water. Scoop it out of the water and examine it's form. It has reached hard crack stage if it makes a very brittle tangled mess of strings. When it has reached this stage pull it off of the heat and quickly stir in your kool-aid packet.

Working quickly, (it hardens fast!) scoop a large spoonful onto the pan and drag it out about 4" this creates your slug trail make about 3 or 4 at a time then go back and add your sprinkles before they begin to cool too much. Then continue this process until you have used all your candy or filled your sheets.

YOU HAVE OFFICIAL BEEN SLIMED!

Step 2: Making the Mallow

The slug is made from marshmallow. I adapted a martha stewart "homemade peeps" recipe that I found here: http://www.marthastewart.com/268348/homemade-easter-treats. I ommited the sugary coating obviously and added Kool-aid for color and flavor.

You will need:

1 packet of Knox gelatin
1/3 cup cold water, for gelatin
1/3 cup water, for candy (her recipe called for 1/4 cup but I felt it was too dry)
1 cup sugar
1 packet of Kool-aid (any color/flavor you prefer)

In a glass bowl sprinkle gelatin over 1/3 cup cold water. Allow gelatin to soften.

In a small saucepan, combine 1/3 cup water and sugar, and stir over medium-high heat until sugar is dissolved. Boil sugar until temperature reaches the soft-ball stage (238 degrees). You can test it as you did before but this time when removed from the cold water it will form a squishy ball. Remove candy from heat and quickly stir in your Kool-aid. Then pour the candy into the softened gelatin. Using an electric mixer, beat on high (as if you were making whipped cream) until soft peaks form and the marshmallow mixture holds shape, 8 to 10 minutes.

Transfer marshmallow mixture to a large ziplock bag and cut about 1/4" off of one corner. (It has to be used immediately)

NOW YOUR READY TO CREATE!

Step 3: Creating the Slugs

Now we can put it all together.

Take your pans with your cooled slug trails and begin piping your mallow directly onto them. Pipe a giant L shape drawing the toe of the L up. Repeat this until all your trails have a perfectly cute slug body on it.

NOTE: If you would like you can pull up 2 antennae shapes with a toothpick, but it's pretty finicky to work with. I tried it for awhile then decided it wasn't worth it.

To attach the eyes just let them sit and dry for about 1hr. They should still be a little tacky to the touch but holding their shape nicely. Then press 2 candy eyes onto each slug at the top. They should stick perfectly by themselves.

NOTE: I used store bought candy eyes that cost a small fortune. Shortly after I found this awesome instructable: https://www.instructables.com/id/Make-your-own-Edible-Eyes/ I also think you could pipe some chocolate ones (white, with dark) on to wax paper to use as well.

If you want to individually wrap them for class treats etc. then let them air dry over night so that they are dry to the touch. Then slip them into a clear plastic sandwich baggy, and tie it off with some fun ribbon.

Step 4: Eating Slugs 101

My kids and I found there is no wrong way to eat a Slug but there is a less messy way. The best way to eat these little guys is to hold the slug trail like a spoon and eat the slug off first. Then you can finish off the candy slime just as you would a sucker or jolly rancher. My children didn't want to eat them at first they wanted to just keep them as a pet. I say save them, or eat them, either way they are a great way to spread some LOVE!