Using a few simple ingredients, you can make a stunning (and huge!) piece of candy that looks like a precious gem. And to cast it, all you need is some household equipment a little patience.

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients

You will need:

Dry rice, flour, dried beans, beads, sand, or a similar substance (for the mold)

3 cups of sugar

1 cup of water

Few drops of food coloring

Flavoring (optional)

3 cups of white chocolate chips

1 tablespoon of cocoa powder

Oreo crumbs (optional)

Adapted from Ann Reardon

Step 2: Make Mold

Fill a large, shallow bowl or dish with your rice, flour, or other grainy substance. I used rice. Next, gently push down a smaller bowl, tilted slightly. (The rice underneath will help keep it in place). Completely cover the bowl with foil, making sure to smooth it out as much as possible.

Step 3: Make Sugar Syrup

On the stove over low heat, pour the water over the sugar. Heat the mixture until the sugar is just dissolved.

Step 4: Color, Flavor, and Leave to Dry

Once off heat, add your flavor and color until it looks how you want it to. I used a pretty pink food coloring and raspberry extract. Then pour the syrup into the foil mold.

Wait about 48 hours for the syrup to dry.

Step 5: Coat in First Layer

Remove the candy from the foil, and invert it over a glass. Cover the top with melted white chocolate.

Step 6: Coat With Second Layer

With your remaining chocolate, stir in the cocoa powder. This works better than regular melted chocolate, which looks shinier and less rock-like. Then, smother the geode with a second layer.