35 Delicious Homemade Candy Recipes

Homemade candy recipes in a variety of forms, ingredients, and colors are delightful treats for all ages, and some of them make excellent gift ideas. And this is the reason why I am here, showing you how to create delicious sweets at home without any fancy cooking tools. 

Chocolate, fruits, or nuts are just a few of the essential components in these amazing treats. And making candy at home is also a fun activity that you and your children can do together.

So, how are you spending your weekend? Do you want to use your leisure time to bring your family closer by making these adorable but delicious candies? If your answer is yes, keep scrolling down to see this ultimate list of more than 30 handmade candy recipes.

The 35 Greatest Ideas For Your Homemade Candy Recipes Of All Time

The total of 35 different handmade sweets is divided into two categories: Chocolate candies and Non-Chocolate candies.

There are also sub-groups with various handmade candy ideas to provide you a wide range of choices for your candy batch. Just take a brief look at what I have got here.

Chocolate Homemade Candy Recipes

Chocolate Balls/Truffles

1. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
2. Chocolate Cherry Cordials
3. Brigadeiro (Brazilian Fudge Balls)
4. Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles
5. Samoa Truffles
6. Bailey Irish Cream Chocolate Truffles
7. S’more Cookie Dough Truffles

Chocolate Bars, Cubes, Or Cups

8. Gingerbread Fudge
9. Almond Joy Bars
10. Homemade Crunch Bars
11. Homemade Snickers Bars
12. Peppermint Mocha Fudge
13. Chocolate Marshmallow
14. Peanut Butter Fudge Cups
15. Homemade Mallomars

Free-Shaped Chocolate

16. Halloween Candy Toffee Bark
17. Christmas Cracker Candy
18. Honey and Chocolate Bark
19. Chocolate Cheesecake Bark

Non-Chocolate Homemade Candy Recipes

With Seeds or Nuts

20. Pumpkin Seed Brittle
21. Pistachio Cherry and Almond Nougat
22. Cashew Brittle
23. Candied Pecans

With Candied/Jellied Fruits

24. Cran-Apple Jellies
25. Lemon Drop Candy
26. Candied Citrus Peel
27. Homemade Gumdrops
28. Tanghulu (Chinese Candied Fruit)

And More Homemade Candy Without Chocolate

29. Stained Glass Candy
30. Strawberry Marshmallows
31. Amish Caramels
32. Caramel Corn
33. Cherry Lollipops
34. Bourbon Salted Caramel
35. Peanut Butter Snowballs

The Classic But Never-Get-Old Sweets – Chocolate Homemade Candy Recipes

These homemade chocolate candies are like saviors for your long, dull days. They might come in many shapes, but they are all packaged with a lot of joy. And making them is also a kind of joy. Now, let’s find your happiness with these 19 chocolate-based ideas.

Homemade Candy Recipes For Flawless Chocolate Balls/Truffles

Little chocolate balls or truffles are full of surprises because of their super delicious filling. And perhaps, after making these balls successfully, you would never want to buy any store-bought chocolate box to give to your loved ones again.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

Chocolate chip cookie dough bites are made with flour, sugar, chocolate chips, and butter. They look not only pretty but also taste so rich.

The star in this recipe is chocolate chips. Combine these chips in a bowl with the cookie dough and roll into tiny balls. They also store well in the fridge, allowing you to consume them anytime you want.

Chocolate Cherry Cordials

Let’s uncover the surprise in these chocolate balls in this recipe. Indeed, pink maraschino cherries are coated in rich chocolate, resulting in a blast of sweet chocolate and fruity syrup tastes in every bite, making them so attractive and irresistible.

However, it might take a little time and effort to make this candy properly, as cherries need to be soaked overnight.

Brigadeiro (Brazilian Fudge Balls)

Brigadeiro is a Brazilian word that means brigadier, and they are a typical Brazilian candy that is widely used at birthday parties or any special event.

Brigadeiros’ recipe is straightforward. Plus, you will use cocoa powder to make these balls, not melted chocolate. Do not forget to add some colored sprinkles to finish them off. And now you have no-fuss chocolate candies with a sophisticated appearance.

Enjoy the holiday with this festive Brigadeiro –  a traditional Brazilian chocolate candy. Let’s see this video to collect more understandings:

Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles

This is another gem in the world of chocolate-based homemade candy ideas. They are the perfect combination of sweet and salty that makes me feel so good after just one bite.

Peanut butter-pretzel truffles – bite-sized treats with peanut butter mixture covered by chocolate with a glaze of melted peanut butter on the top are truly a bomb in every chocolate box.

Samoa Truffles

You will always say Yes to these Samoa truffles because they will make your taste buds feel like it is on cloud nine.

The combo of coconut, chocolate, and caramel are so flawless that they make your truffles come out tasty and eye-catching. With only 5 ingredients and around 1 hour to complete, now you cannot wait to put them in your mouth.

Bailey Irish Cream Chocolate Truffles

These Bailey Irish cream chocolate truffles will make a perfect chocolate box with incredible flavors. The combination of Bailey Irish cream, chocolate, and butter creates the most delicate truffles of all time. 

They are so good that I think they deserve to become the iconic chocolate truffle for any celebration. And with this recipe, let your creativity work and turn these truffles into high-class chocolate truffles with a fancy look.

S’more Cookie Dough Truffles

S’more sweets seem like a traditional treat at every campfire. And s’more cookie dough truffle will be a new twist for your campfire nights.

With many different ingredients like chocolate chips, marshmallows, graham crackers, cookie dough, and others, your s’more candies are full of intriguing things for you to uncover, then you cannot help but say “some more, please”.

Recipes For Homemade Chocolate Candy Bars, Cubes, Or Cups That Are Too Cute To Be Eaten

There are various hand-sized homemade candies with different shapes that are so convenient and easy to share. And these are 8 recipes that allow you to create the most fantastic candy bars, cubes, or cups with chocolate and other ingredients.

Gingerbread Fudge

This is another brilliant gift idea for you. Gingerbread fudge is not only perfect for Christmas; it can be any holiday treat that everyone would love.

They are so soft and flavorful that you want to chew them every day. With some aromatic spices mixed with white chocolate, these gingerbread fudges must be your go-to festive sweet to enjoy with your family.

A sweet and spicy fudge with only a few ingredients is a good choice for homemade candy. Watch this video: 

Almond Joy Bars

This almond joy bar is guaranteed that it can bring joy into your life. Aside from chocolate, almond and coconut are the stars of the show, ensuring that you are having one of the greatest chocolate bars ever.

Also, I highly recommend you choose dark chocolate instead of semi-sweet chocolate since the bitter flavor of dark chocolate will perfectly blend and balance the sweetness of the coconut filling, making these bars more perfect.

Homemade Crunch Bars

You might be too familiar with Nestle crunch bars, so why don’t you make them by yourself to start your baking career?  These candies are super easy to make and only take 5 minutes to prepare.

Plus, with only 4 ingredients, they are a very cost-effective option for your handmade sweets. You may also keep your chocolate crunch bars in the freezer for up to a month to savor them gradually.

Homemade Snickers Bars

These homemade Snickers bars are way tastier than any Snicker bars that you buy in the supermarket. So let’s amaze your friends and say “I made these” to see how they react.

They are layered candy with chocolate, peanuts, and caramel. With varied textures and flavors, they are genuinely a twist in your mouth. For the best homemade Snicker bars quality, store them in the fridge because the soft candy does not look good.

Peppermint Mocha Fudge

Do you want to make your chocolate candy more magical with peppermint mocha coffee? This mixture will make an unexceptional chocolate fudge that you have never expected.

And you know what is better? That every bite of them will make you feel like Christmas, with a sweetness of chocolate and a little bit of cooling and minty flavor that you will never forget.

Chocolate Marshmallow

Even if you are not a fan of marshmallows, this recipe will persuade you to reconsider. Instead of using melted chocolate, cocoa powder paste will be used in this recipe to make chocolate marshmallows.

It is because the cocoa powder paste will not cause the marshmallow foundation to dry up during the candy-making process. So this recipe requires a few more steps to create than a regular vanilla marshmallow, but it is well worth it.

Peanut Butter Fudge Cups

Who always craves peanut butter? Let’s fulfill your hunger with these homemade peanut butter cups – a perfect sweet-and-salty balance for your sweet tooth.

To make them better than any store-bought peanut butter cup, you should use high-quality chocolate and peanut butter. Plus, they are also great for a beginner to impress everyone else.

Homemade Mallomars

Do not be concerned with the long list of ingredients; they are all there to make the finest chocolate mallomars you have ever had.

To prepare this treat, you will need to bake the cookie dough for the base and the marshmallow before covering them in chocolate. But these mallomars are all worth your time and effort as their flavors are incredible.

And Various Recipes With Freestyle Shape of Chocolate Homemade Candy

You do not even need to make your homemade chocolate candy in certain forms to make them appear beautifully. The super tasty flavor of these free-form sweets will also please you in another way that you cannot resist.

Halloween Candy Toffee Bark

Everyone decorates their houses with carved pumpkins. Why don’t you make yourself stand out at this event by decorating your kitchen with this fun and creative Halloween bark?

This recipe is a perfect idea for any fall party. And these sweets are unquestionably a ‘treat’ for your neighborhood children’s ‘trick-or-treat. So just give them a shot on your next Halloween to astound everyone.

Christmas Cracker Candy

When Christmas is around the corner, it is time to celebrate it with these cracker candies. They are saltine crackers topped with chocolate and caramel layers to offer the salty-sweet flavor for these crispy crackers.

However, to avoid split layers, make sure the caramel layer is still warm when coating it with chocolate.

Let’s celebrate the most wonderful time of the year – Christmas with these cracker candies. Watch this video: 

Honey and Chocolate Bark

You will begin this candy-making by melting the chocolate and then stir the remaining ingredients to blend.

A bit of dark chocolate (or you can use regular chocolate for a sweeter version) and the slight sweetness of honey and dried cherries create the complex tastes that make you want to nibble these chocolate bark all day long. 

Chocolate Cheesecake Bark

These chocolate cheesecake barks are the solution for low-carb and keto treats that you have always searched for in candy.

Made with only a few key ingredients, including chocolate, cream cheese, peanut butter, and yogurt, this homemade candy is not only nutritious but also helps you relax on hot days. They also taste delicious, with little crunchy peanuts in every bark.

Recipes For Full-Of-Color Non-Chocolate Homemade Candy  

Who said sweets wouldn’t taste nice if there is no chocolate in them? Here are 16 recipes to show the opposite, demonstrating that excellent components like seeds, fruits, peanut butter, or syrup can still make the best-handcrafted candy.

Add Some Crunchy Seeds or Nuts To Your Homemade Candy Recipes

Protein and fiber are abundant in seeds and nuts. Their crispy texture elevates the deliciousness of your homemade candies to a new level, making you want to eat more.

Pumpkin Seed Brittle

This brittle has an exciting flavor as the combination of pumpkin seeds and sugar mixture. Seeds will be toasted first, then coated with some cinnamon and cayenne pepper to add some ‘heat’ to the very mild taste of pumpkin seeds.

The boiling sugar part, however, is crucial to ensuring that your candy looks excellent. So just pay more attention to the timing when you cook the sugar.

Pistachio Cherry and Almond Nougat

Pistachio and almond have a luscious taste that no one can deny. Now, by adding candied cherries, you not only have a toothsome nut candy, but you also get fancy-looking sweets with various blended colors.

And I am 100% sure that these nougats could be a perfect gift that will go straight to the receiver’s stomach and heart.

Cashew Brittle

Cashews, a low-sugar, creamy nut, are also an excellent choice for making tasty brittle. Cashews must be salted and toasted before being added to the sugar mixture.

Even if the recipe is simple, you must still take the appropriate time and temperature measurements since the sugar mixture can change from liquid to solid in minutes. And a candy thermometer can help you to do it.

Candied Pecans

This is a perfect crispy, sweet-and-salty snack that you can enjoy all day. To candied pecans, you will mix butter, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and a little water and glaze them to the pecans.

Do not forget to add some salt; otherwise, your candies will be too sweet. You may also coat them with a vanilla layer to make your candied pecans smell wonderful.

Recipes For Candied/ Jellied Fruits To Make Homemade Candy

Fruit, whether fresh, dried, or in sauce form, is a popular component in candy-making. And with the following 5 fruit-based recipes, you will have lots of options for making your own sweets at home.

Cran-Apple Jellies

Let’s get some apples, cranberries, pectin, sugar, and lemon juice to make these jellies. Ah, you will need a candy thermometer also. The combination of apple and cranberries produces dark-red jellies, which are then dusted with white sugar to make them more attractive.

Just a little warning for you, cranberries cooking is a mess because they bubble and pop, so you might expect some cleaning afterward.

Lemon Drop Candy

Lemon has always been my favorite fruit to balance the sweetness in candies. Plus, its citrus smell is something I would die for.

However, in this recipe, I only use lemon extract to make candy, but they are still excellent for a sweet and sour mix in a piece of candy. With a few ingredients and 15 minutes to finish, these lemon drops can refresh your days with their bursting flavor.

Candied Citrus Peel

You would never realize how useful citrus peels are until you make these sweets. So don’t throw the peels right away. Let’s reuse them and make delicious candied peels for you and your family to enjoy.

Citrus fruits, like lemons, limes, oranges, or grapefruits, are ideal for making this sweet. Though the preparation takes some time, they are simple to prepare. And I guarantee every piece of this chewy, soft, sweet candy with a citrusy scent will fascinate you for the rest of your life.

You will never want to waste any citrus peel after making these candies. Watch this video: 

Homemade Gumdrops

These gumdrops will undoubtedly be a hit with your children. They come in various colors and forms, and they are a lot of fun to eat. They are also a great way to give a modest but thoughtful present to someone you care about.

These gumdrops, made with applesauce, sugar, jello, gelatin, and lemon juice, will make your holiday season more fun and unforgettable, especially during the holidays like Christmas.

Tanghulu (Chinese Candied Fruit)

Have you visited China before? If not, let me introduce a must-try sweet that is famous in many Chinese night markets. They are called Tanghulu – a traditional Chinese snack on a stick.

Tanghulu has a glossy look with candied fruits. It can be strawberries, grapes, or whatever fruit that you like. You also need white sugar, water, and corn syrup for making the sugar coating.

More Colored and Sugary Homemade Candy Recipes Without Chocolate

Human creativity is limitless, and there are no boundaries for perfect homemade candies. So here are the last 7 recipes, each of which is unique in its own way and may satisfy all of your demands.

Stained Glass Candy

Wanna some hard-rock candy that melts in your mouth? These gorgeous colorful stained glass candies will satisfy you. They might be old-fashioned treats during the holidays, but their flavors will never go out of style.

Stained glass candies are delicious and simple to prepare also. But you need a little patience and a candy thermometer to ensure you can make these candies properly and beautifully.

Strawberry Marshmallows

Strawberry marshmallows have a light pink appearance and a fluffy texture that is ideal for hot beverages such as a cup of hot chocolate.

They are also a fantastic companion for your campfire, regardless if you toast them over the fire or just eat them plain. You will notice the smoothness and subtle sweetness inside every bite that makes them so irresistible and amazing.

Amish Caramels

Let’s try another version of caramel candy with these Amish caramels. They are also surprisingly easy to prepare with simple ingredients, but they will be your new favorite of caramel candy.

Eye-catching golden color, tender, chewy, and incredibly delicious are something that I can describe them, just like a definition of perfection. There is no reason that you should not give it a try on your next holiday. So just pin this recipe now.

Caramel Corn

Who’d have guessed that these caramel popcorns, the most basic candy, would be included in this ultimate list of homemade candy? However, I will show you how to transform them into a fantastic snack with a few extra tricks.

This recipe is all about the buttery and caramel tastes in this popcorn, so you will never go back to eating plain popcorn again after you tried this caramel corn.

It does not require any special skills or tools to make perfect caramel corn. Watch this video: 

Cherry Lollipops

Let these lollipops remind you of your summer childhood when you and your neighborhood friends can still enjoy your carefree days with sweet lollipops.

Though there are many lollipop flavors, these cherry lollipops are so much better, especially in the summer as it is the cherry season. And you do not even need a fresh cherry to get an extract; the cherry-flavored gelatin can do this job excellently.

Bourbon Salted Caramel

If you enjoy the sensation of soft candy melting in your tongue with salty caramel and a touch of bourbon taste, you should not pass this recipe.

Also, they easily outperform regular caramel candies as the bourbon’s distinct flavor. To create this candy, you will need a candy thermometer (only costs a few bucks) to verify that the butter combination reaches 245 degrees F for the best firm-and-soft texture that you can chew.

Peanut Butter Snowballs

These vanilla-covered white balls are packed with peanut butter and butter, which are also easy to make with only 4 ingredients.

Vanilla’s creamy scent, combined with peanut butter’s salty-sweet combo, creates a delicate treat that tastes and looks so great. Peanut butter snowballs are also ideal if you’re searching for a low-cost handmade sweet.

Let’s Become Everyone’s Favorite Person By These Homemade Candies

Everyone loves sweets. As a sweet addict, I am constantly looking for new and inventive candy-making ideas to try at home to improve my baking skills and save money (because ready-made candies sometimes are expensive for me).

And after years of trying to make various types of candy, I have realized that making sweets on my own is a lot of fun. When I eat them, I am always satisfied with my time and work, whether they turn out correctly or not.

So if you agree with me, just pin this homemade candy list immediately. And if you also want to spread this joy to your friends and your family, do not forget to share it to create the best memories in the kitchen and everywhere else. Enjoy!