How to Make Sweet Cones: A Special Bespoke Gift

In This Article

1. What are Sweet Cones?
2. What You Need to Make Sweet Cones
3. How to Make Sweet Cones
4. Personalisation Ideas for Sweet Cones
5. Sweet Cone Variations
6. Best Sweets for Sweet Cones
7. Top Tips for Making Sweet Cones
8. Questions?

What are Sweet Cones?

Sweet cones are a fun and tasty way to package all your favourite Nestlé Confectionery treats for parties, holidays and special occasions. With a few simple items and a little crafty DIY work, you’ll be layering colourful sweets and treats that look as good as they taste.

The magic of sweet cones lies in their customisable nature, and we’ve got treats for every occasion. Using Rowntree’s® sweets like Fruit Pastilles®, Jelly Tots®, and Randoms® makes sweet cones extra special – adding vibrant colours, chewy fruitiness, and a touch of nostalgia. You can also mix things up with favourites like Smarties®, Milkybar® Buttons, Aero® Bubbles, Quality Street® and Rolo®s for a chocolatey twist.

Sweet cones are a great addition to a party bag, but make sure you’re in charge of portion control if you’re creating them for children. You can write prompts on the labels such as, ‘For Mum or Dad to store’, so you can ensure they are proportioning their sweets appropriately. The great thing about sweet cones is that they last!

If you need to create an even bigger sweet treat for a special occasion, our Ultimate Guide to Crafting a Sweet Hamper is a great place to start. Want to learn more about the history of Rowntree’s®? Dive into our Journey Back in Time with Rowntree’s® Retro Sweets article and discover which type of popular Rowntree’s sweet was originally designed as a throat sweet! And for even more inspiration and ideas delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our monthly newsletter.

What You Need to Make Sweet Cones

1. Choose Your Packaging
   • Compostable clear cellophane cone bags are your best bet. Not only are they clear so you can see all the goodies, but they’re also better for the environment! They come in a wide range of sizes for every occasion and are widely available online. Recyclable piping bags are a good alternative.
   • Crafting a DIY paper cone that kids can decorate is also an option, but your sweets won’t be as visible.
   • Twist ties, coloured ribbons, or twine are all good options to secure the cone. If you have a theme, pick colours to match.
   • When it comes to decorations, go wild! Think stickers, tags, feathers and fun character key rings.
2. Select Your Goodies
   • Chewy and gummy sweets shine in sweet cone bags and Rowntree’s® has them all. You can divide them up into layers of chewy Fruit Pastilles®, squishy Jelly Tots®, or playful Randoms®. You could also mix things up with Pick & Mix bags.
   • For a chocolatey twist, go for Aero® Bubbles, Milkybar® Buttons, KitKat® sharing blocks or Rolo®s.
   • For an extra colour, add Smarties® and Quality Street®.

How to Make Sweet Cones

Follow our easy how to make sweet cones guide, and you’ll be crafting gift-worthy creations in no time!

Make Your Cone

Choose your bag size depending on whether your celebration is for adults or kids. If possible, always go for an eco-friendly option. Remember, a clear bag is best so you can see all those colourful and tasty layers.

Choose Your Sweets

Stick to 3-4 types of sweets to keep layers distinct and visually appealing. Colours are key, so plan your cone before you fill it. If something is not working, don’t be afraid to tip out the treats and start again. Assembling the cones is half the fun! A great cone has a mixture of textures and flavours. A gummy layer leading into a chocolate layer creates a whole range of taste textures and sensations.

Layering Technique

A good rule of thumb for a well-filled sweet cone is to put smaller sweets at the bottom (think Jelly Tots®) and larger sweets (such as Rolo®s or Randoms®) at the top, to fit. As the old saying goes, we eat with our eyes first, so build your cone in colourful layers. The more visual interest, the more your cone will stand out! Also, keep in mind that more treats mean more weight and pressure when the cone is being carried or held upright. So save delicate treats like Aero® Bubbles for the top layers.

Sealing the Cone

Once filled, twist the top of the cone tightly and secure it with a twist tie. From there you can decorate with ribbons, a strip of coloured material, coloured beads on a string, or rustic twine. Twist the cone closed just enough to keep the treats from moving around without squashing any delicate goodies.

Add a Personal Touch

Stickers are a quick and easy way to jazz up your cones. You could also add some personalised stickers, name tags, or printed photos to commemorate the special occasion. Another memorable trick is to hide a personalised message or small toy in the middle of the cone. The personal touch is a great way to reinforce your theme if you have one.

Sweet Cone Variations

The best thing about sweet cones is their versatility! Whatever the occasion, there’s a sweet cone to match. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

Birthday Sweet Cones

• Go bright and vibrant with a blend of Rowntree’s®, Smarties®, and Milkybar® Buttons for a tasty mix.
• Add a colourful balloon or party blower for extra fun.

 

Halloween Sweet Cones

• Think dark and orange colours with lots of squishy Rowntree’s® and gooey Rolo®s.
• Include spooky stickers or glow-in-the-dark decorations.

 

Easter Sweet Cones

• Use pastel colours such as light blue and yellow ribbon for the decorations and use an egg- or chick-shaped gift tag as a label.
• Create a mix of pastel-coloured sweets like Jelly Tots® and Fruit Pastilles® with Smarties® and KitKat® Mini Eggs.
• Tie an Easter chick or a toy such as a small fluffy bunny key ring around the top.

 

Christmas Sweet Cones

• Use a red, green and white theme, and match sweets from Rowntree’s®, Smarties®, KitKat® and Aero® Peppermint Bubbles.
• Tie it with a festive ribbon, a sprig of fir and even add a candy cane for extra holiday magic.

 

Chocolate Lover’s Cone for Valentine’s Day

• Go full chocolate mode with Milkybar® Buttons, Aero® Peppermint Bubbles, Rolo®s, and Quality Street®.
• For a mix of textures, you could also add a layer or two of Rowntree’s® Berry Hearts.
• Don’t forget to write a sweet poem – or a charming limerick – for that special someone!

 

Mint Lover’s Cone

• For a refreshing blast, fill the sweet cone with Polo® Mints and Aero® Peppermint Bubbles. You could even add a chunk of homemade Aero® White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge for a really personal touch!
• Use a variety of green-coloured ribbons to reinforce your minty fresh theme.
• Cut out a paper polar-bear shape to use as the label.

If mint’s your thing, don’t miss our recipes for minty chocolate brownies, made with After Eight®s or Aero® Mint! Or for very special occasions, check out our Aero® Mint Cheesecake or Loaf Cake!

 

Best Sweets for Sweet Cones

1. Chewy and gummy sweets are always the base for any great sweet cone. Rowntree’s® has a fantastic selection full of nostalgic and modern sweets. Try:
   • Randoms®
   • Jelly Tots®
   • Fruit Pastilles®
   • Fruit Gums®
   • Rowntree’s Pick & Mix®
2. Chocolate treats should always be the supporting cast, and Nestlé Confectionery has plenty to choose from! Try:
   • KitKat®
   • Milkybar® Buttons
   • Aero® Melts or Bubbles
   • Smarties®
   • Quality Street®
   • Rolo®a

Get Crafty with Sweet Cones

Now that you’ve got the lowdown on how to make sweet cones, it’s time to get creative! Whether it’s a birthday, Easter, or Halloween, sweet cones are guaranteed to bring smiles and festive fun. So grab your favourite Nestlé Confectionery treats and get crafty today!