Homemade Candy Recipes – this list has a treat for almost ANY occasion you have on hand! From chewy to crunchy and sweet to salty.
Well, well, well. Soak it all up, friends –> the glory that is this rainbow list of candy recipes which is turning my face into a permanent heart eyes emoji. 😍😍😍😍😍
1. Easy Crockpot Candy
I don’t know about you, but every single word in that title is music to my ears! Candy that’s easy and I can make it in my slow cooker? Sign me up.
All you have to do is toss everything into the pot and let it melt away. Give it a stir and cook with the lid off to make sure no water gets in.
When it’s all mixed together, just spoon out little lumps onto some parchment paper and give them a sprinkle of sea salt.
2. Southern Pecan Pralines
I have such a deep love for pralines. That combination of the creamy coating and those lightly toasted pecans is just impossible to say no to.
You’ll need that candy thermometer again for this one. When you’re mixing in the nuts, be careful not to overdo it, or you might lose that perfectly smooth texture.
Once everything is combined, you have to work fast to scoop out the candies.
As an alternative, you can pour the whole mixture into a lined baking dish and just cut it into squares later.
3. Homemade Jelly Beans
I’m not going to lie, this recipe isn’t quite perfect. The jelly beans are softer than what you’d buy in a store, and the coating isn’t as smooth and set as you might be used to.
But the idea of making my own margarita jelly beans was just too good to pass up!
A great little shortcut I discovered was pouring the mixture into a bunch of straws, like you might have seen for making jelly worms.
Once it sets, you can push out the long jelly sticks and cut them into little bean-sized pieces.
The final step is making the coating. The beans need about 10-15 minutes of being “tumbled” in sugar syrup. The good news? You can do this while watching TV!
4. Saltine Cracker Toffee
I remember getting this as a Christmas gift one year. After just one taste, I was immediately texting for the recipe.
It’s another one of those simple combinations that just works so incredibly well. Those salty crackers are the perfect base for the rich, creamy toffee and that dark chocolate on top. Yum.
Just a little tip when you’re using saltines: you won’t need to add any salt to your toffee.
As much as I love a good salty-sweet moment, it might just be a little too much in this case.
5. Samoa Truffles
Are you one of those people who goes a little wild when it’s Girl Scout cookie season? And maybe you keep a secret stash in the freezer for emergencies? I totally get it.
That’s why this recipe is just so incredible. You can have that amazing Samoa flavor all year long, and it only takes about half an hour of your time.
That caramel and toasted coconut filling is just heavenly, honestly good enough to eat right out of the bowl.
But if you have the willpower to wait, dipping it in chocolate creates the most delicious little bites. So good!
6. Homemade Mallomars
When was the last time you actually had a mallomar? I bet it was a pretty great moment.
Between that light and crisp base, a fluffy center, and a rich dark chocolate coating, they’re just so wonderfully sinful.
If you’ve ever wanted an excuse to make your own marshmallows, this recipe is it. And I promise, it’s not as hard as you think!
7. Oh Henry Bars (Scotcharoos)
Most people know these as peanut butter Rice Krispie treats, and they get their name from a candy bar from way back when.
No matter what you call them, you just can’t go wrong with that mix of crispy cereal, crunchy peanut butter, butterscotch, and chocolate. It’s a winner.
8. Gummy Recipe
Making a batch of soft and chewy gummies with your favorite drink is absolutely genius! All you need is the drink you love, some gelatin, and corn syrup to make it stable.
I wouldn’t recommend using a soft drink unless you let it get flat first. All those bubbles can affect the final product, and you won’t end up with a clean gummy.
For anyone who’s vegan, agar agar is a perfect swap for gelatin. The only thing to keep in mind is that it will result in a firmer texture.
9. Chocolate Peanut Butter Grahams
These look and taste so amazing, and no one has to know just how easy they are.
I love the flavor and texture you get from graham crackers, but really, any cookie would work here. The real magic is that peanut butter and white chocolate coating.
You’ll definitely want to use smooth peanut butter, and try to avoid the natural kind since it doesn’t melt as well.
I love pairing it with dark chocolate, but a mix of dark and milk chocolate would be just as delicious.
10. Cool Whip Candy
How many times have you bitten into a candy bar and thought, “what is that incredible texture?” As a home baker, I’m always Googling things when I can’t figure them out.
Now, I’m pretty sure those big candy companies aren’t using Cool Whip to get that soft, fudgy filling, but it totally works!
Just get your arm ready, because this one needs some serious folding!
11. Candied Orange Peel Recipe
It’s crazy to me how many people just toss out their citrus peels. When you candy them, they taste incredible, last for months when you freeze them, and make for a truly great cake decoration.
I will admit, it can take a bit of time to make. You have to boil and refresh the water a few times to get rid of any bitterness.
But once they’re boiled in that simple syrup and tossed in sugar, it’s a colorful treat that everyone will love.
12. Easy Homemade Lollipops
There is absolutely nothing wrong with using shortcuts when you’re cooking. Work smarter, not harder, you know?
Of course, some recipes need those longer, more complex techniques. But let’s be real, when we’re talking about candy, it just has to be sweet!
All you need for this recipe is a set of cute candy molds (just make sure they’re oven-safe) and some hard candies.
Fill the molds up with the hard candies and bake them until the candy has melted. It’s so easy!
13. Scottish Tablet
You might be wondering why there’s another fudge on this list. First of all, you can never have too much. But the real reason is that Scottish tablet, and a lot of fudges you’ll find in the UK, have a totally different texture than what we’re used to.
Unlike the super creamy, chewy fudge we usually see, many UK fudge recipes give you something more crumbly.
When you take a bite, it breaks in half and just melts in your mouth. And yes, you saw that right. There is a LOT of sugar in this recipe!
14. Homemade Junior Mints
If you’re going to treat yourself to some candy, it’s nice to have a healthier option sometimes, right?
With just whipped coconut oil, honey, and peppermint extract, you can whip these up at home and avoid some of those less-than-healthy calories.
Dark chocolate is the way to go here; it just makes that mint flavor pop so well. But I have to say, a few stripes of white chocolate would look unbelievably cute.
15. The Easiest Microwave Cashew Brittle Recipe
Do you know someone who can’t have peanuts? It feels like they’re everywhere!
Seriously, I feel for anyone who can’t enjoy peanut butter, and I know so many amazing recipes are loaded with it.
So, it’s great to try out some classics with a different twist. And cashews are so wonderfully creamy and nutty; you won’t even miss the peanuts.
The only thing I think could make this better is a little sea salt on top and maybe a good drizzle of chocolate.
16. Peppermint Patties Recipe
Who doesn’t love a cool and rich York Peppermint Pattie? I just can’t get enough of that amazing filling, and I’ve even used it as a filling for chocolate cake.
The texture is the most important part here, and you want to add just enough powdered sugar to form a soft dough.
Though, I have made it a little softer before and piped it into a homemade Oreo cookie sandwich. Just dip one end in chocolate for some extra yum.
17. Chocolate Caramel Pecan Turtles Candy
There is just so much to love about these, and they are so simple to make at the last minute. Anytime you cook with nuts, it’s always a good idea to toast them first. It really brings out the flavor and only takes a few minutes.
If you don’t have time to make caramel from scratch, you can totally just melt down some caramel candies.
18. Homemade Caramels
I know, I know, it’s easy and inexpensive to just buy a bag of caramel candies at the store. But they just can’t compete with homemade stuff.
This recipe has so much flavor because it uses evaporated milk. And since you’re making it at home, you can add in all kinds of fun extras, like chopped nuts or mini-chocolate chips.
19. Easy Buckeye Recipe
I can’t quite remember when I had these for the first time, but I just love how they look. They are so cute nestled into a cookie platter or with some funny candy eyes for Halloween!
The filling is a lot like a peanut butter fudge, but it’s going to be a little bit softer. I like to use an ice cream scoop to get those perfectly round balls.
When you dip them in chocolate, use a toothpick and be sure to leave the top part uncovered.
20. Chocolate Covered Pretzels
As much as I love these little pretzel bites, I have to admit that I don’t always have the patience to dip every single one. I always start with the best intentions, and I’ll get a dozen or so that look perfect.
But then I get bored and just end up pouring the chocolate into piping bags and striping them instead. It’s nice to have a mix of styles, right?
These look fantastic with or without sprinkles, and I especially love making them with pretzel rods!
21. Lemon Drop Candies
When you’re making hard candies like these at home, it is so important to have everything ready to go before you even start. That means having everything measured out and all the equipment you need right on hand.
Since you’ll be working with boiling sugar, you have to move fast once it gets to the right temperature.
The great thing about this recipe is that you’re not trying to get perfect little circles. They can be rustic and all different shapes. It’s the taste that really matters!
22. Churro Toffee Disneyland Copycat Recipe
If there’s one thing we can be thankful for from the 2020 lockdown, it’s all those incredible Disney Park recipes they released.
I’d heard about these sweet treats before but never got to try one. Making them at home is definitely the next best thing!
Making English toffee can feel a little intimidating at first, but just trust the process and be careful with that hot pot. Be sure to use some high-quality white chocolate, and don’t hold back on the cinnamon sugar!
23. Homemade Almond Joy Candy Bars
You will not believe how easy this recipe is, and they taste just like the real deal.
For the filling, you only need six ingredients: condensed milk, vanilla, salt, powdered sugar, shredded coconut, and almonds.
Instead of putting just one almond on each bar, I like to chop mine up and scatter them over the top.
After it sets, just cut it into bars and dip them in dark chocolate. So simple!
24. Stained Glass Candy
This one is a little more involved, and you’re going to need a good candy thermometer.
I like the larger ones that can hook onto the side of your pan. It just feels safer and I find it’s more accurate.
The best thing about this recipe is you can make it as colorful as you want. And if you can get your hands on some flavored oils, they can be anything from mint to raspberry.
25. Homemade Gumdrops
I never realized how simple it is to make chewy gumdrops. I mean, yes, you are boiling some sugar. But besides that, it’s really just flavored sugar syrup and some gelatin!
You can make them any flavor you want and use all the crazy colors that make you happy.
Just make sure to use silicone, oven-safe candy molds. I have a few and just love playing with the fun shapes.
After they’ve set, roll them in a little sugar and let them sit out for a couple of days to crystalize.