20+ Homemade Candy Recipes (2024)

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byArman Liew

updated on Nov 19, 2023

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This complete list of over 20 candy recipes will convince you just how easy it is to make your favorite candies from the comfort of your kitchen. Each one is easy to make and comes together with wholesome ingredients.

20+ Homemade Candy Recipes (2)

We eat a lot of candy in my house, so any chance we get to make our own version of our favorite candies, I’m all for it. Not only is it better for my wallet, but it’s better for my waistline.

Now, I’ve developed plenty of dessert recipes, but not all of them qualify as “candy.” So, to make sense of all the sweet recipes I’ve come up with, I made a roundup of my (and your) favorite candy recipes.

Table of Contents
  1. Why make homemade candy
  2. Chocolate candy
  3. Copycat candy bars
  4. Fruity candy
  5. 20+ Candy Recipes (Recipe Card)

Why make homemade candy

  • Easier to enjoy in moderation. Just like any time of home cooking, making your own candy from scratch encourages you to be more thoughtful and savor each bite.
  • Healthier. Most store-bought candies have high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and other unnecessary ingredients. Making your own candy means you have the final say over your ingredients.
  • It’s fun! Who doesn’t enjoy making candy? Most of these recipes come together with just a few simple steps so you can get the whole family involved.

Chocolate candy

Chocolate is my go-to candy of choice, so any chance I get to make my own, I’m all about it! Especially when it’s this easy. Each of these recipes is full of chocolate flavor, and most double as being no-bake and lower carb.

  • English toffee– You don’t need to wait for the holidays to enjoy this crispy, sweet, chocolatey treat. Made with 4 ingredients and paleo, gluten-free, vegan, and keto-approved!
  • Coconut clusters– Refreshing 2-ingredient coconut clusters made with no added sugar and ready in 5 minutes.
  • Peppermint bark– If you’ve ever had the bark from William Sonoma, you’re going to love this easy no-bake version.
  • White chocolate peanut butter cups– Satisfy the white chocolate lover in your life with these easy no-bake white chocolate cups, plus endless flavor combinations.
  • Chocolate coconut cups– Rich dark chocolate with a creamy coconut filling. You won’t be able to stop with one!
20+ Homemade Candy Recipes (3)

Copycat candy bars

I’ve been making my own homemade candy bars for years, ever since I learned just how easy it is. I started off with Twix, and now as you can see, I’m hooked!

  • Kit Kat bars– These are seriously addictive and taste even better than traditional Kit Kats.
  • Healthy Snickers– Layers of chewy nougat with melted caramel and chopped nuts, all covered in melted chocolate.
  • Reese’s hearts– Loaded with peanut butter and ready in 5 minutes, these vegan chocolate peanut butter hearts taste exactly like Reese’s. Paleo and nut-free options included.
  • Crunch bars– This easy no-bake version of classic crunch bars pulls triple duty as dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan.
  • Peppermint Patties– Just 5 minutes and 3 ingredients are all you’ll need to make these refreshingly minty chocolate bites. They’re seriously addictive.
  • Creme eggs– If you wait all year for Easter just to get your hands on Cadbury creme eggs, consider this your lucky day.
  • Junior Mints– You won’t find any corn syrup, modified food starch, or artificial flavors in these bad boys. Just refreshing mint candies covered in melted dark chocolate.
  • Butterfinger bites– Turn your favorite peanut butter candy bars into no-bake bites, ready in minutes with just a handful of ingredients.
  • Almond Roca– I grew up eating Almond Rocas over the holidays, and when I found out just how simple they are, I was all too eager to create a copycat recipe.
  • Ferrero Rocher– Combine your love of chocolate and hazelnuts with these addictive bites. They’re crunchy on the outside, fudgy on the inside, and guaranteed to be a hit.
20+ Homemade Candy Recipes (4)

Fruity candy

Fruity candies are great for sharing since they’re light, refreshing, and often full of nostalgic flavors. Plus, they adhere to a variety of diets, so you never have to worry about bringing them to a big get-together.

  • Turkish delight– Delicate rosewater-infused gummies covered in powdered sugar. These Turkish delights are almost as fun to make as they are to eat.
  • Tanghulu– Inspired by my childhood travels through China, these irresistible fruit candies are simple yet elegant and truly delicious.
  • Candy grapes– Embrace the viral TikTok trend with these sweet and sour sugar-coated grapes. A healthy treat adults and kids alike will love.
  • Low-calorie candy– These creative little gummy candies are fun to make and endlessly customizable.
  • Gummies– Once you learn how easy it is to make those classic gummy bears (without the sugar), you’ll probably become obsessed. I know I did!
20+ Homemade Candy Recipes (5)

20+ Homemade Candy Recipes (6)

20+ Candy Recipes

This complete list of over 20 candy recipes will convince you just how easy it is to make your favorite candies from the comfort of your kitchen. This simple peanut butter fudge is a great one to start!

Servings: 24 servings

Prep: 1 minute min

Cook: 1 minute min

Total: 2 minutes mins

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Line a 24-count mini muffin tin with muffin liners.

  • In a microwave-safe bowl, add the white chocolate chips and peanut butter and microwave in 20-second spurts until the white chocolate melts. Whisk together.

  • Evenly distribute the fudge mixture amongst the muffin liners. Place in the freezer.

  • Add the chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 20-second increments until melted. Drizzle over the top of each muffin liner and freeze for another 10 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 146kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 3gFat: 9gSodium: 50mgPotassium: 78mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 20IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 0.3mgNET CARBS: 13g

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Arman Liew

Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

20+ Homemade Candy Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is Millionaire candy made of? ›

The rich combination of pecans, caramel, and chocolate is an enduring favorite, and the candy is fairly easy to replicate at home.

What's the healthiest candy to eat? ›

15 Healthy-ish Candy Options for Every Craving
  • Unreal Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars. Read More. ...
  • Alter Eco Chocolate. Read More. ...
  • SmartSweets Sweet Fish. Read More. ...
  • Justin's Peanut Butter Cups. Read More. ...
  • YumEarth Sour Giggles. Read More. ...
  • DOVE CANDY BAR. Read More. ...
  • Red Vines Made Simple. Read More. ...
  • Black Forest Gummy Bears. Read More.
May 22, 2024

How long does homemade candy last? ›

Most candies will keep 2 to 3 weeks (if not longer) if stored tightly covered in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator. It's best to avoid storing different types of candy together in the same container because hard candies will become soft and sticky, and soft candies will dry out.

How to turn sugar into candy? ›

To make quick hard candy with just sugar, combine 2 cups of sugar with 1/2 cup of water. Heat the mixture over medium-high heat until it reaches 300°F (hard crack stage) on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat, add flavoring and coloring if desired, then pour onto a greased surface to cool and harden.

What is the most expensive candy ever made? ›

With a price tag of $1,628 per bar the Wispa Gold holds the no. 1 spot as the most expensive candy bar in the world.

What is Milky Way candy made of? ›

The Milky Way bar is made of nougat, topped with caramel and covered with milk chocolate. It was created in 1923 by Frank C. Mars and originally manufactured in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The name and taste derived from a then-popular malted milk drink (milkshake) of the day, not after the astronomical galaxy.

What is the number 1 candy of all time? ›

Top-selling chocolates and sweets. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the No. 1 selling candy brand in the United States, consisting of white fudge, milk, or dark chocolate cups filled with peanut butter. They were invented by H.B. Reese after he founded the H. B. Reese Candy Company in 1923.

What is the oldest candy? ›

The two oldest candy types are licorice and ginger. The historical roots of licorice are found in the early years of man's appearance. In particular, many licorice were eaten by Pharaohs and Prophets. The licorice comes from a plant called “Glycyrrhiza” which in Greek means «sweet root».

What candy does not expire? ›

Hard candies essentially have an indefinite shelf life, provided they are stored properly. Items like lollipops, Jolly Ranchers, and other individually wrapped candies do best without exposure to moisture.

Which candy has the longest shelf life? ›

Hard candy like Jolly Ranchers, lollipops and other individually wrapped candies can essentially last forever if they're stored right and kept away from moisture. Dark chocolate can last one to two years in a cool, dark, dry place. Milk and white chocolate will last up to 10 months.

Does freezing candy make it last longer? ›

Freezing is a popular method for keeping candy over long periods of time. However, not all sweets are suited for the freezer. While toffee and truffles can be frozen for up to two months, avoid freezing candy with fruits and nuts.

What does cream of tartar do to hard candy? ›

Preventing sugar crystallization.

Cream of tartar can prevent your homemade hard candy, caramel, and toffee from forming a gritty texture due to sugar crystallization.

Should you stir sugar when making candy? ›

Avoid stirring the sugar if at all possible once you put it on the stove. Agitation can cause the sugar to crystallize. If you have to stir it, use a clean stainless steel spoon.

Why can't you stir sugar? ›

The sugar molecules will begin to crystallize back into a solid at the least provocation. Stirring or jostling of any kind can cause the sugar to begin crystallizing. For this reason, it is important to avoid stirring the sugar as it cooks or while the temperature is raising to whatever candymaking stage you need.

What is the bug ingredient in candy? ›

The hard, shiny shells on candies are often made from shellac, a resin secreted by the lac bug. You may know shellac from its more famous work in varnishes and sealants, but it's also a mainstay in pill coatings, candy, coffee beans, and even the waxy sheen on apples and other fruits and vegetables.

What is the pork product in candy? ›

Candy. Numerous foods contain gelatin, a protein derived from the collagen in cow or pig bones, skin and connective tissues. It's often used as a thickening or stabilizing agent and can be found in a variety of candies, including Altoids, gummy candies and Starburst chews, among others.

What is candy coating made of? ›

The main components of this coating include sugar, corn syrup, coloring agents, and a food-grade wax. The process of creating this unique candy coating involves several steps, and precision is the key to achieving the desired result.

What kind of candy are millions? ›

Millions are sort of like little tiny starburst balls, but just a bit harder. Definitely all about the chew for these. Of course when my bro picked these up for me, he chose blackcurrant flavor, which Americans seem allergic to using in candy for some reason.

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