DIY Candy Land: 20 Homemade Candy Recipes (2024)

‘Round these parts, we’re pretty keen on candy. Cotton candy, Halloween candy, candy canes, candy corn. All the candy. Here we’ve rounded up 20 of the best DIY candy hacks for you make at home. Welcome to Candy Land.

1. Pomegranate Gumpdrops: The gumdrop has an old world way about it, and this from-scratch version capitalizes on that. So much whimsy, so much nostalgia, so much sugar. (via The View From Great Island)

2. : The Almond Joy is Mounds’ sophisticated older sister. This recipe lets you have a hand in the sophistication. Plus, isn’t coconut a health food now? Better make a double batch. You know, for health ;) (via )

3. Candied Citrus Peel: These sweet slivers of candied citrus peel make for a great holiday or hostess gift. You can also use these yummy peels as sugar cookie trimmings, cupcake toppings, or mix-ins for your morning granola bowl. (via Heather Bullard)

4. Peppermint Patties: We are swooning over this vegan and gluten-free York Peppermint Pattie hack. So creamy, so dreamy. (via Oh She Glows)

5. Sparkling White Chocolate Lemon Truffles: Dress up your candy in winter white with these sparkling white chocolate and lemon truffles. So fresh and bright and unexpected! (via How Sweet It is)

6. Chocolate Crunch Hearts: What’s sweeter than a Crunch Bar? How about a homemade crunch heart? Make these for your lover — or hoard them all to yourself. (via Kirbie Cravings)

7. Root Beer Float Truffles: One of the best parts about making your own candy is that there are no limits. Here’s something you can’t find in the stores — root beer floats packed nice and neatly into sweet little bite-sized truffles. (via Food Fanatic)

8. Three-Step Chocolate Marshmallow Cups: Homemade marshmallows are all the rage right now, but we’re one-upping them with this recipe. Because the only thing that you can do to a marshmallow to make it even better is to encase it in chocolate. (via A Subtle Revlery)

9. Funfetti Cake Batter Fudge: Everything is better with a little confetti — fudge included. Make your day a little brighter with these Funfetti cake batter fudge bites. (via Sweet 2 Eat Baking)

10. Peanut Butter Cups: The Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup is the High Priestess of Halloween candy hauls. Harness its power in the comfort of your own kitchen with this DIY hack. (via The Kitchn)

11. Apple Cider Caramels: These little guys are traditional caramels that have been just a small bit dressed up with apple cider and sea salt. Get your candy thermometer ready for this recipe! (via Smitten Kitchen)

12. No Bake Snickers Bars: The chocolate, peanut, nougat, and caramel combination is one that never goes out of style. Skip the Snickers King Size for a big hunk of this homemade layered treat. (via Sweet Society)

13. DIY Candy Canes: Feeling pretty capable this holiday season? Tackle this recipe for homemade candy canes, but beware! This recipe is not for the faint of heart. (via The Knead for Speed)

14. Three Ingredient Butterfinger Bars: These Butterfingers are made from scratch using just three ingredients. For our next trick, we walk on water. (via Bless This Mess)

15. Salted Caramel Swirl Marshmallows: These little bites are a great holiday treat. And with their sweet swirls of salted caramel, they could really jazz up your next hot cocoa or batch of Rice Krispies Treats. (via Erika Rax)

16. Almond Brittle With Sea Salt: Peanut brittle is an old-timey holiday favorite. This toasted almond and sea salt version is nostalgic and refined. (via Food52)

17. Paleo Tootsie Rolls: Tootsie Rolls can be a polarizing candy — people tend to have strong opinions about them. Here, we are Team Tootsie, and we love this allergen-free Paleo hack on our old favorite chewy chocolates. (via Brittany Angell)

18. Whiskey Sriracha Candy: Look! All of your favorite food vices, packed into tiny little sugary hearts. What could go wrong? These quirky treats are sure to please your adventurous side. (via Olives for Dinner)

19. DIY Candy Bars: Twix, Reese’s, and Almond Joy: Here we show you ways to create your three of your favorite treats, including Twix, Reese’s Cups, and Snickers. What’s the best part? You can make each with four ingredients or fewer. Magic. (via Brit+Co)

20. Guinness Pretzel Truffles: Guinness-fortified chocolate truffles rolled in pretzel pieces? Yes, please. And duh. (via Sprinkle Bakes)

What’s your favorite candy? And what’s your position on The Great Tootsie Roll Debate? Talk to us in the comments, or say hi on Twitter.

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Emily McDonald

Emily K. McDonald is a writer, editor, and Food's Official #1 Fan. She blogs about cooking, eating, and running at LeafParade.com. One day she will learn to play the accordion.

DIY Candy Land: 20 Homemade Candy Recipes (2024)

FAQs

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 do you make candy at high altitude? ›

Rule of Thumb: For each 1,000 feet above sea level, reduce the temperatures in the recipe by 2°F. This adjustment allows the candy maker to control the degree of evaporation necessary to achieve the proper sugar concentration for the desired end product.

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.

Can you eat candy 2 years out of date? ›

“In the case of most commercially processed foods, it's contamination during processing and packaging that leads to foodborne illness, not the age of the food. So, even after some time passes, candy should be safe to eat as long as it was properly handled and it remains unopened prior to eating.”

How far in advance can you make 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.

How do you make homemade candy last longer? ›

To keep your homemade candy at its best, opt for room-temperature storage. Room temperature storage eliminates the risk of condensation, allowing your candy to stay as fresh as possible for longer.

How long will homemade chocolate candy last? ›

Handmade, premium gourmet (and typically ultra-expensive) chocolates and chocolate truffles purchased from specialty stores don't last as long as regular boxed chocolates. They will usually remain at peak quality for 2 to 3 weeks at room temperature .

How long can candy last in a jar? ›

If the packaging has been opened, soft candies should be kept in a covered candy dish, away from heat and light at room temperature (about 70 degrees). Stored in this manner, the candy should last six to nine months. If the packaging has not been opened, soft sweets will last approximately twelve months.

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