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How To Make The Best Homemade Candy Ever

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Would you love to know how to make the best homemade candy ever? As a little girl, I can still remember pulling taffy, did you do that? We would have our hands coated with butter and start pulling the taffy until it was just perfect. I haven’t made taffy for years. It’s a fun thing to do with a large group of people or just your family for an entertaining evening. Today, these are some of the childhood candy recipes I have made for years.

Homemade Candy

I love going to church and neighborhood parties that have a table filled end to end with homemade candy. Of course, I love the famous See’s Candy, but there is something about handcrafted candy, especially if it has chocolate and nuts. Any kind of candy with nuts is yummy!!

Rocky Road Fudge

Rocky Road Fudge
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12 people
Ingredients
  • 12- ounces chocolate chips
  • 1 cup softened butter
  • 4 cups sugar
  • 1-1/2 cups evaporated milk
  • 20 large marshmallows
  • 2 cups chopped nuts (I like pecans or almonds)
  • 10-15 large marshmallows (cup up and frozen)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, cut the chocolate chips into the butter and set aside. Bring the sugar, milk and 20 marshmallows to a boil over medium heat. Boil for five minutes, stirring constantly. Pour this mixture over the butter and chocolate chips. Stir until thick. And nuts, vanilla, and frozen marshmallows. Pour into buttered 9 by 13-inch pan. Chill until firm. Cut into squares when chilled.

2nd Rocky Road Fudge Recipe

2nd Rocky Road Fudge Recipe
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Chill Time:
2 hrs
Total Time
25 mins
 
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12 people
Instructions
  1. In a heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt the chocolate chips with the sweetened condensed milk and butter, stirring constantly, remove from heat. In a large bowl, combine nuts, and marshmallows, fold in the chocolate mixture. Spread into buttered 9 by 13-inch pan. Chill two hours or until firm. Cut into squares.

Easy Homemade Caramels

Easy Homemade Caramels
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 25 pieces
Ingredients
  • 1 can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup white/clear Karo syrup
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients above in a saucepan and cook over a medium heat, stirring constantly until the temperature reaches 242 degrees (or a firm ball stage).  A firm ball stage is achieved by dropping a little caramel into a cold cup of ice water.  If it’s ready it will make a firm ball. Add one cup of nuts, if desired.
  2. Pour into a buttered 9 by 9-inch pan. Let it sit overnight on the counter. Cut into squares and wrap in waxed paper or place in tiny foil cups (similar to cupcake holders). Makes about 50-one inch pieces.

Easy English Toffee

Easy English Toffee
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 10 people
Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 5 tablespoons water
  • 1-2 cups chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped nut
Instructions
  1. Cook in a large skillet, stirring constantly over medium heat until caramel color (medium brown). Add 1/2 cup sliced almonds or pecans. Then pour the mixture onto a buttered cookie sheet, spread quickly, sprinkle 1-2 cups chocolate chips on top. When slightly melted, spread the chocolate chips around, sprinkle with finely chopped walnuts on top. Break apart when cool.

Are you making homemade candy this year? What is your favorite one you like to make? I love the holidays because it’s such a happy time of the year. I need to turn on some Chrismas music. Have you brought out the Christmas Carols, yet?

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16 Comments

  1. Linda, shame on you. I gained 10 pounds just reading this post! *LOL* They all sound delicious. Thanks for sharing you recipes.

    Big hugs, Mare

    1. Hi, Mare, Oh I have been gaining weight steadily the last few weeks. LOL! A cute lady down the street delivered a bag of homemade dipped candy to Mark and I. Oh my gosh, It’s so yummy! Have a great day, girlfriend! Hugs, Linda

    2. Yes, Thanks for the great recipes and I too have gained. I just have to sample that fudge, peanut brittle, those gingerbread cookies ect keep up the good work. Happy Christmas to you and yours. Debbie

    1. Hi, Rita, this is so crazy because a cute lady down the street delivered some homemade dipped candy to Mark and I. The drool, LOL! I love your comment! Here’s a piece of candy through the internet! Hugs, Linda

  2. I love making candy. I make peanut brittle , gum drops , chocolate covered cherries , peppermint patties , black licorice, and chocolate covered orange cremes. I will have to add the caramels this year, i know my mom and sister will love the addition . Thank you for all the great recipes. God Bless and Merry Christmas

    1. Hi, Judy, oh my gosh, you rock with candy making! Oh my goodness, I can just about taste all of those. I didn’t know you could make gum drops or black licorice! How fun to make candy with your mom and sister. I’m jealous in a good way! Merry Christmas, hugs! Linda

  3. I always make candy to give friends and neighbors for Christmas. It is the ONLY time I make candy.

    The favorites from my childhood are: fudge, easy divinity (I just call it fluff because it is not real divinity), my mother’s recipe for almond roca (it is basically the same as your English Toffee but I live and was reared in Washington where Almond Roca is made!!), nut brittle (my mother did not like peanuts so used a mixture of other nuts for her brittle – I do the same). Funny thing is, I don’t like any of the candies I make! Yay for my waistline! I have in the past also made dark chocolate truffles – easy and those I do like so I try not to make them; and dipped chocolates.

    We also pulled taffy. Dad loved the candy (as do I) but refused to pull the taffy. He said his hands were too warm and the taffy melted in his hands. I really believe it was because he didn’t like to burn his hands as the taffy was still hot when we pulled. The last time I made taffy was when my 32 year old daughter was about 7-8 years old.

    I cherish the recipes that I made with my mother back when I was a child. I don’t make them often because of: the cost, most of my friends (and myself) are either diabetic (not me) or watching their diet. With all of that in mind I am not making candy this year.

    Leanne

    1. OH, Leanne, how I love this comment! I remember the “burned” hands as well when pulling taffy. It was so fun but I haven’t made it for years. I LOVE Almond Roca, how fun you were raised in the town that made it! Oh, the memories we have making candy with our family. Happy Holidays, my friend! Linda

      1. Linda –
        I wasn’t raised in Tacoma WA where Almond Roca was made. But, I was raised in the same state!! Near where I was raised, there is a town called Cashmere where Applets and Cotlets are made. Love those as well but don’t buy them very often.

        I have done something that I have found very interesting. I read a post somewhere giving a list of questions grandchildren should ask their grandparents. I have very young (6, almost 5 and 3) grandchildren and they are just learning to read! SO, I have/am in the process of writing a letter to them and answering those questions. It has been heart rending (both my mother and father are deceased as well as my husband). It has also been a wonderful journey back through my childhood and years of marriage to the grandchildren’s grandfather. My husband died before our daughter married so the kidlets were not given the opportunity to know him.
        I have also included family favorite recipes in the letter – including the candy recipes, and other goodies my mother made.

        Memories are good. This is the time of year that I think about all of the things that I have gone through – good and bad! The good always outweighs the bad, though.

        Merry Christmas to you, Linda. Keep up the posts. Love them.

  4. Yes I’m also going with plenty of nuts in the candy since my folks are into healthy eating (in their eighties so they must be doing something right!) My first career was in nutrition and back then they ate out so much and ate lots of processed food. How things have changed but yes I also pretty much limit my candy making to the holidays–Christmas and Valentine’s Day are times I think we can tolerate a bit more sweetness! Always love to look at your yummy food posts though.

    1. Hi, Deb, your folks are in their eighties?? I love it, see we need to all eat nuts. Add a little chocolate and I’m good. I love hearing your career was in nutrition. You know what I’m talking about when I talk about processed food. I’m with you nowadays I only make candy (limited) around Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Happy Holidays, my friend, Linda

  5. I found this recipe several years ago, and have made it every Christmas since! I use a small scoop to “plop” them into the mini candy cups you mentioned. It makes 10 dozen!
    Try it:
    Slow Cooker Chocolate Peanut Clusters

    16 Oz Dry roasted peanuts, salted; 16 Oz Dry roasted peanuts, unsalted;
    11½ Oz Milk chocolate chips;
    10 Oz Peanut butter chips;
    3 Pkg White baking chips
    (10 to 12 oz. each);
    20 Oz 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate baking chips.

    Combine peanuts in a 5-qt. slow cooker.

    Layer with the remaining ingredients in order given on ingredient list. (do not stir)

    Cover and Crock on Low for 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until chips are melted.
    Stir to combine.

    Drop onto waxed paper or candy cups.

    Let stand until set.

    Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

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