20+ Homemade Candy Recipes (2024)

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!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsem*nt, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.

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.

How do you make homemade candy last longer? ›

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.

What can I make with hard candy? ›

Hard candy recipes (25)
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  5. Eggless mango cake popsicles. ...
  6. Stained Glass Cookies: ...
  7. Stainless Glass cookies. ...
  8. Stained Glass Cookies.

Is homemade candy better for you? ›

Crafting candy at home presents numerous health benefits, from improved control over ingredients to the joy of creative culinary endeavors. By making informed choices about the ingredients and methods used, individuals can enjoy sweets that are not only delicious but also better for their health and the environment.

What is the most profitable 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 most expensive candy ever made? ›

"The most expensive candy in the world, as of 2021, costs $1000 per pound." "DeLafée's Gold Chocolate Box, which costs $508 for a box of 8, contains edible gold." "The Wispa Gold Wrapped Bar costs about $1628 per candy bar."

Why won't my homemade candy harden? ›

If the sugar mixture is not cooked to the proper temperature (the hard-crack stage 300-310° F {149-154° C.} or if you are working in a kitchen with high humidity, chances are your candy is retaining too much moisture.

What is the longest lasting candy? ›

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.

How do you preserve homemade candy? ›

Stored in an airtight container in a cool dry place, most homemade candy will keep for about 2 to 3 weeks. Fudge and caramels can be wrapped tightly and frozen for up to 1 year. To prevent candies from exchanging flavors, always store different types of candy in separate containers, using waxed paper between layers.

What does cream of tartar do to hard candy? ›

Cream of tartar can prevent your homemade hard candy, caramel, and toffee from forming a gritty texture due to sugar crystallization. Adding a pinch of cream of tartar to your sugar syrup will help break down the sugar molecules and stop them from crystalizing early on.

What candy is hard to melt? ›

Pan candy.

Candies such as Lemonheads, Red Hots, and Atomic Fireballs are each individually wrapped, which creates a barrier and protects the candy from the hot temperatures outside. And, because pan candy is on the harder side itself, it's less likely to melt when you take it out of its packaging.

Can you eat DIY candy? ›

Not only are you crafting adorable miniature versions of your favorite foods, but you are also preparing yourself a tasty treat to enjoy once the crafting fun is done. Made with edible ingredients, they are as safe to consume as they are delightful to craft and eat.

What is the number one healthiest candy? ›

What is the healthiest common candy? Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (70% or more) is often considered one of the healthiest options. It contains less sugar and is rich in antioxidants called flavonoids, which may have heart-healthy benefits.

What does eating candy everyday do to your body? ›

"The effects of added sugar intake — higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, diabetes, and fatty liver disease — are all linked to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke," says Dr.

What kind of candy are millions? ›

Manufactured and imported from the UK, Millions are an iconic tiny tasty chewy sweet. Millions are a favorite with children and adults alike and are available in fun, brightly coloured cannisters. Flavours include Strawberry, Cola and Bubblegum.

What is the bug ingredient in candy? ›

Insect Ingredients in Candy

Not just candy corn, but a whole lot of other confections are coated with a natural ingredient named shellac. Shellac originates from the secretions of a parasitic insect called Laccifer lacca, which uses trees or shrubs as its host.

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 company makes millionaires candy? ›

Pangburns Millionaire$ Gusset Bag, 16.75 Ounce, Pangburn's Millionaires Candy, Buttery Pecans, Creamy Caramel, Honey, and Mouthwatering Milk Chocolate; Texas Born, and Loved by All.

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