Got a sweet tooth that just won’t quit?
You’re in luck! This list of homemade candy recipes is here to satisfy those cravings.
From easy treats to impressive showstoppers, these 25 recipes will have you feeling like a confectionery master in no time.
1. Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Even though I really enjoy making these pretzel snacks, I must say that I don’t always have what it takes to hand-dip all the pretzels. I usually start off with such big plans, hoping to get a dozen or two looking perfect. After a bit, I lose steam and just end up pouring the chocolate in piping bags to stripe them instead.
It’s a good plan to have a mix, don’t you think? These look amazing with or without sprinkles, and I have a special place in my heart for pretzel rods.
2. Samoa Truffles
When Girls Scout cookie season swings around, do I go a little crazy? Is there a box in my freezer set aside for a rainy day? If that sounds like you, I really get it.
That’s the reason I’m so smitten with this recipe. You can taste those Samoa flavors all year long, and it takes just half an hour of your time.
The caramel and toasted coconut filling is so delicious you could just eat it with a spoon.
But if you can resist, try dipping it in chocolate for some heavenly little bites.
3. Homemade Caramels
Sure, it’s easy and cheap to grab a bag of caramel candies at the store.
However, there’s just no comparison with the homemade variety. This recipe’s so packed with flavor from the use of evaporated milk, and when you make them at home, you can toss in extras like chopped nuts or mini chocolate chips for a little fun.
4. Chocolate Peanut Butter Grahams
These candies look and taste incredible, and no one needs to know how simple they are to make at all.
I love both the taste and the crispness of graham crackers, however, you could really use any cookie for this. I like pairing it with dark chocolate, but you could also do a combo of dark and milk.
The thing that matters most is that peanut butter and white chocolate coating. Smooth peanut butter is a must, and pass on the natural kind given that it won’t melt the right way.
5. Homemade Almond Joy Candy Bars
You simply will not believe how easy this recipe is. On top of that, it tastes like the real thing. You just need six ingredients for the filling.
That’s condensed milk, vanilla, salt, powdered sugar, shredded coconut, and almonds.
Rather than only placing one almond per candy, I’m into roughly chopping mine and sprinkling them on top. Cut it up into bars once it sets, and then just dip into dark chocolate.
6. Stained Glass Candy
You do need a good candy thermometer with this recipe, so just take note.
I like the bigger kind that hooks to the side of the pot because it is safer and more accurate. The incredible thing with this recipe is how colorful you can make it, and when you happen to find some flavored oils, you can make this everything from raspberry to mint.
7. Gummy Recipe
I think it’s totally genius to make a batch of chewy and soft gummies from a flavored drink you enjoy. You just need your chosen drink, gelatin, and a little corn syrup for stability.
I don’t think using a soft drink would be good unless you let it go flat. The bubbles will mess with how it comes out, and the gummy won’t be as clean.
For vegans, use agar agar instead of gelatin. The only thing you need to know is it will be more firm.
8. Homemade Mallomars
How long has it been since you last had a mallomar? You must have enjoyed it.
From that crisp and airy base, the fluffy middle, and the dark chocolate coating, they’re just a little sinful. If you ever plan on making your own marshmallows, making them for mallomars is an outstanding call. It’s not that difficult, trust me!
9. Candied Orange Peel Recipe
It still amazes me how many people throw citrus peels in the trash. Candied citrus tastes awesome, keeps in the freezer for months, and makes amazing decorations for cake.
It takes a bit to make, and the water should be boiled and refreshed more than once to shed the bitterness. Once it’s been boiled in simple syrup and then coated in sugar, it becomes a colorful treat that’s going to be a hit.
10. Homemade Jelly Beans
I won’t lie, this recipe isn’t quite there yet. The texture is softer than you’re used to, and the coating isn’t as set and smooth.
The idea of making margarita jelly beans was enough to get me on board! A great shortcut I found was pouring the mix into a bunch of straws, like those jelly worms you might have seen.
After they set, you can get rid of the long jelly-bean sticks and chop them up.
Make the coating as the final thing. For 10-15 minutes, the beans need to be “tumbled” in sugar syrup. But the silver lining is you can do this while you catch up on TV.
11. Peppermint Patties Recipe
How could I resist a York Peppermint Pattie? The texture matters so much, so you need to add in enough powdered sugar to make a soft dough.
You could also make it a little softer and pipe it inside a homemade Oreo cookie sandwich. You could even dunk the ends in chocolate to make them even better.
12. Cool Whip Candy
Have you ever wondered what gives a candy bar that wonderful texture? I can often be found on Google trying to figure these things out.
While I don’t think those big companies use Cool Whip to get that soft, fudgy filling, it does work! Make sure to warm up your arm, you’re going to have to fold quite a bit!
13. Lemon Drop Candies
When you’re whipping up candies such as this, it matters to have everything all set before you get started.
That means you need to measure it all out and have your equipment close by. Since you’re about to boil sugar, you must work fast when it gets to the right temp.
What’s good with this recipe is you’re not aiming for all perfect, identical shapes. They can be rustic and all different. It’s the flavor that makes it!
14. Chocolate Caramel Pecan Turtles Candy
There’s so much to be smitten with, and you can whip these up on short notice. It’s a great call to toast your nuts first whenever you’re cooking with them.
This helps highlight their flavors and just takes a bit. If you’re tight on time and can’t make your own caramel, feel free to just melt some candies you buy.
15. Southern Pecan Pralines
I am deeply in love with pralines. From the creamy shell to the lightly toasted pecans, they’re simply irresistible.
Mix the nuts in with that candy thermometer, and make sure not to mix too much or you’ll give up that smooth texture you’re after.
Once it’s all mixed, you need to move quickly to scoop your candies. Or just put the mix in a baking dish lined with parchment and chop into squares.
16. Churro Toffee Disneyland Copycat Recipe
One good thing to come from the 2020 lockdown has to be those Disney Park recipes they gave us.
I’d heard of these treats before but hadn’t yet gotten to try them myself. Obviously, making them at home is the next best thing! Making English toffee can be a little intimidating at first, but have faith and be careful with the hot pot.
Grab some white chocolate that’s high quality, and do not be shy with that cinnamon sugar.
17. Homemade Gumdrops
I never realized that making chewy gumdrops would be so straightforward. I mean, you are boiling sugar, but it’s mostly just gelatin along with sugar syrup that’s been flavored.
Make them any way you want, and grab some crazy colors that are going to make you smile. Just make sure you use silicone candy molds that can go in the oven.
Roll them in sugar once they set, and lay them out to grow crystals for a few days.
18. Easy Crockpot Candy
I’m sure you agree that every word in that title sounds good! Candy that’s easy to make in the Crock-Pot? Please, where do I start?
Just dump everything into your pot and let it melt, then stir that mix and cook with no lid to keep water from seeping in.
When it’s all mixed, spoon bite-sized bits on parchment paper and sprinkle some sea salt.
19. The Easiest Microwave Cashew Brittle Recipe
Is there somebody you know who can’t eat peanuts? It’s not unusual! I feel for anyone who’s allergic to peanut butter given how many wonderful recipes use it.
So, playing with variations on familiar favorites makes sense. Creamy and nutty, cashews stand in well for peanuts. Be sure to sprinkle some sea salt on top, and think about drizzling chocolate.
20. Easy Buckeye Recipe
I can’t place when I first tasted these, but the look just wins me over.
Set them in a cookie tray or put candy eyes on for Halloween! The filling isn’t so different from peanut butter fudge with a little bit of a softer texture.
Use an ice cream scoop for small, consistent rounds. While you’re dipping these in chocolate, use a toothpick and be certain to keep the top bare.
21. Oh Henry Bars (Scotcharoos)
Though you may also know these peanut butter Rice Krispie treats as scotcharoos, that name is from an old candy bar.
No matter the name, crispy cereal, crunchy peanut butter, butterscotch, and chocolate just taste too good.
22. Homemade Junior Mints
Whenever I am letting myself indulge in candy, I want to have a healthier variation on hand. You can save a lot of unhealthy calories just by whipping up these at home using coconut oil, honey, and peppermint extract.
Pair dark chocolate with it since it makes that mint taste awesome. Just a few white chocolate stripes would be so cute.
23. Scottish Tablet
You might be wondering why this list needs another fudge. For one, you can’t go wrong with too much fudge.
What matters more is that Scottish tablet, such as any fudge you find in the UK, has an entirely different crispness than what we are used to. As opposed to that creamy, chewy fudge we all know, a lot of fudge recipes in the UK give you something more crumbly that just breaks apart and melts in your mouth. And wow, there is a LOT of sugar in this one!
24. Saltine Cracker Toffee
I can still recall getting a little bag of this candy as a Christmas present. All it took was one bite before I had to ask for the recipe.
It might be simple, but it really works. Salty crackers make the perfect base to layer creamy toffee and dark chocolate.
Just remember with saltines that you don’t need salt in your toffee. As good as a sprinkle of sea salt is, it just might be too much.