Homemade Candy Recipes: 30+ recipes from chocolate to hard candy! (2024)

Recipes | Desserts | Candy | 35+ Homemade Candy Recipes

Candy

Author by Amanda Davis on Updated on

It’s no secret that we love Homemade Candy Recipes around here! From Homemade Fudge to Chocolate-Covered Fruit Truffles, we love it all – and we had a feeling you do, too!

Homemade Candy Recipes: 30+ recipes from chocolate to hard candy! (1)

Homemade Candy Recipes

Seems like people just don’t make homemade candy recipes as much anymore and I’ve noticed the price for “homestyle candy” at the stores is skyrocketing!

These are simple recipes with simple ingredients – but for some reason, people seem intimidated by them. So we went out in search of the best and most simple homemade candy recipes.

Whether you are a beginner or adept at homemade candy making, you will find delicious, new-to-you recipes in this collection. Some will require the use of a candy thermometer (highly recommended) while others just need a bowl and a microwave! From fudge and brittle hard candy to candy bars and gummy candies, you will find something for every sweet tooth below!

Homemade Candy Recipes: 30+ recipes from chocolate to hard candy! (2)

Homemade Fudge Recipes

(Clockwise from top left corner)

  • This homemade Bailey’s fudge has just three ingredients and is a decadent, grown-up treat!
  • Is there a flavor combination better than Chocolate & Peanut Butter? I don’t think so – so this was an easy choice!
  • If you like your chocolate with a little bit of crunch, check out this homemade Chocolate Walnut Fudge!
  • White Chocolate Cranberry Fudge is such a pretty and festive dessert! Swap out the mix-ins for other times of the year.
  • These Red Velvet Oatmeal Fudge Bars are the perfect combination of crunchy and smooth.
  • A hot-chocolate fudge with two layers of white and milk chocolate topped with mini hot chocolate marshmallows from Sugar, Spice & Glitter.
  • Another PB & Chocolate dessert for my fellow fans, Peanut Butter Cookie Cups – yum! (not pictured)
  • Salted Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups sound even better than the original! (Flavor the Moments) (not pictured)
  • If you have 6 minutes, you can make these 6-minute Microwave Caramels from Spend with Pennies. (not pictured)
  • Whether you call it honeycombs or seafoam candy, this recipe from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen is delicious! (not pictured)
  • Who wouldn’t go crazy for these Homemade Twix Bars from Dinner, then Dessert. (not pictured)
  • Easy Pumpkin Pie Fudge is one of our favorites to make for fall and Thanksgiving gatherings!

Homemade Candy Recipes: 30+ recipes from chocolate to hard candy! (3)

Hard Candy Recipes

  • Save this Maple Syrup Snow Candy for the next time you have a fresh snowfall! (from Happy Hooligans)
  • Sea Glass candy can be made in just about any color, but I love this seafoam color version from The View from Great Island.
  • Candy meets science with these DIY Agate Candy Slices from Sugar, Spice & Glitter.
  • It’s shockingly easy to make your own Candied Citrus Peel to add to treats (or enjoy on its own!)
  • The original homemade candy recipe: Saltine Toffee is always a favorite at parties!
  • Peanut Brittle is one of my favorite hard candies – if you haven’t tried it yet, you need to!

Homemade Candy Recipes: 30+ recipes from chocolate to hard candy! (4)

Homemade Candy Recipes: Truffles & Things

  • Divinity Candy is a church bazaar classic that you can easily make at home. (From the Idea Room)
  • Oh, I can’t even imagine how amazing these Meyer Lemon-filled Chocolates from the View from Great Island must taste!
  • Chocolate. Caramel. Cashew. Clusters. Yes, please!
  • Skip the chocolate shop and make these Chocolate Turtles at home!
  • Pomegranates, Pistachios, Ginger and Chocolate – you can find them all in this delicious bark recipe from Nutmeg Nanny.
  • Hearts aren’t just for Valentine’s Day – but you can also make these Chocolate-covered Fruit Truffles in any other shape you wish!
  • Buckeyes are an Ohio tradition that the rest of the country needs to try! (from Nutmeg Nanny)
  • If you have a Butterfinger fan in your home, you need to make these Butterfinger Tornado Truffles from Tastes of Lizzy T.
  • You will not believe how easy these candy bars are to make! (below)

Homemade Candy Recipes: 30+ recipes from chocolate to hard candy! (5)

There are just too many amazing homemade candy recipes to choose from!

Other Delicious Candy Recipes

  • Wrap up some White Chocolate Candy Cane Pretzel Sticks and tie them with a bow for a homemade Christmas gift. (not pictured)
  • Peppermint Candy Cane Bark makes the perfect wrapped Christmas gift for friends and family. (not pictured)
  • Candy bark is a delicious and easy treat that you can customize for any occasion! (not pictured)
  • Delicious homemade Orange Creamsicle Gummies are the perfect accompaniment to a summer party. (not pictured)
  • Slow Cooker Chocolate Peanut Candy is one of my favorites for making for gifts – this recipe from Dinner, then Dessert makes a ton! (not pictured)
  • And we can’t forget Easter Crack for Easter! This bark also makes a great Easter basket stuffer. (not pictured)
  • Crunchy Popcorn Chocolate Bark makes a great snack for the kiddos (or adults!) for movie night. (not pictured)
  • I had never heard of Old Fashioned Potato Candy, but this recipe from How Does She sounds delicious! (not pictured)
  • Did you know that you can make your own Gummy Candy at home?! (from Easy Peasy and Fun, not pictured)
  • Don’t miss our chocolate covered strawberries, ideal for just about any and every occasion and holiday. (not pictured)

Which are your favorite homemade candy recipes?

This post originally appeared here Jan 10, 2018.

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Amanda Davis

Amanda Davis is the entrepreneurial mom of four grown children and four step children. She and her husband, Chef Antoine, love to cook together creating recipes for this blog. Amanda also make kid's crafts and creates decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years. She is also a craft book author five times over and product developer as well as the owner of FunFamilyCrafts.com. You can find her on social media by using the buttons to the left!

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  1. Sheia Coon says

    Every think looks so yummy can’t wait to make them. thank you for sharing them all. Sheila

    Reply

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Homemade Candy Recipes: 30+ recipes from chocolate to hard candy! (2024)

FAQs

What keeps hard candy from sticking together? ›

Storing these sweets in the same container will cause the harder candies to become sticky. To make sure that hard candies stay hard, sprinkle with finely ground sugar and store in an airtight jar.

How long does homemade hard 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 harden candy without sugar? ›

To make sugar-free hard candy, such as lollipops, use a sugar substitute called isomalt, which features the same melting and hardening properties of sugar.

How do you make hard candy into shapes? ›

Instead of using molds, you can pour your hot candy onto a greased cookie sheet or other heat-resistant surface, then when the candy has cooled slightly, score it into a checkerboard pattern with a sharp knife. When the candy cools, it can be broken into small, square pieces.

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.

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's the longest lasting candy? ›

Candy Shelf Life Guidelines:
  • Hard Candy: 12 months.
  • Jelly Beans: six months.
  • Jordan Almonds: two months.
  • Licorice: two months.
  • Lollipops: 12 months.
  • Milk or White Chocolate: three months.
  • Mints: 24 months.
  • Novelty Candy: 12 months.

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.

What makes candy go bad? ›

"Light and heat will oxidize and causes rancid flavors, and those are the things that can affect, especially chocolates and candies, the most [in storage]," she said. "The cooler the temperature, the longer those ingredients are going to stay good tasting. ...

Can I use powdered sugar instead of granulated sugar for hard candy? ›

Powdered Sugar: Many candy makers also use powdered sugar, otherwise known as confectioner's sugar, for when they need to store candy long term, as the powdery texture helps eliminate stickiness with hard candy.

At what temperature does sugar become hard candy? ›

The process of turning sugar into a hard, smooth, transparent confection involves heating a sugar/corn syrup/water solution to 300 – 310° F. {150 - 155° C.}, or what is known as the hard crack stage of sugar.

What temperature should sugar be for hard candy? ›

Cook, stirring, over medium heat until sugar dissolves, then bring to a boil. Without stirring, heat to 300 to 310 degrees F (149 to 154 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms hard, brittle threads.

Can you use chocolate molds for hard candy? ›

Generally, this type of mold is translucent and can only withstand heat to a moderate temperature. Ideally, you can use hard candy molds to make chocolates, but you cannot use chocolate molds to make hard candy.

What is the hardest candy to make? ›

What Is the Most Difficult Candy to Make?
  • Rock candy. It requires a lot of patience and precision to create the perfect crystal formation. ...
  • c.berlin · CC BY-SA 4.0. Turkish Delight. ...
  • Fudge. ...
  • Licorice. ...
  • Hard candy. ...
  • Marshmallows. ...
  • Toffee. ...
  • Caramel.

How to make kryptonite candy? ›

Start by mixing the vitamin B2 pill and 150 ml of water. Then you will have to add the sugar and slowly heat the the mixture, while stirring until it's boiling. Let it cook until it has about 300°F, add the mint oil and the food colouring and immediately pour it into the forms.

What's the best way to store hard candy? ›

Hard candies can last up to one year if they're stored in a cool, dry place away from humidity and heat. To keep hard candies from absorbing moisture from the air and other nearby treats, sprinkle them with finely ground sugar before stashing them in an airtight glass jar.

How do you make homemade candy less sticky? ›

Try brushing a light coat of cornstarch on them with a small unused paint brush after they firm up. Making sure the brush doesn't have any cornstarch on it, you could go back over them to remove/brush off any excess cornstarch.

What makes hard candy harden? ›

The process of turning sugar into a hard, smooth, transparent confection involves heating a sugar/corn syrup/water solution to 300 – 310° F. {150 - 155° C.}, or what is known as the hard crack stage of sugar. The use of a candy thermometer is not essential, but highly recommended and accuracy is critical.

Can you use parchment paper for hard candy? ›

Quickly pour the syrup into lightly oiled molds or on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and let harden. To prevent the candy from sticking, dust finished pieces with powdered sugar.

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