10+ Easy Candy Recipes for Quick and Delicious Homemade Treats

Making candy at home can actually be pretty fun—and honestly, not as hard as it sounds. You don’t need fancy gadgets or years of kitchen experience to whip up something sweet.

Easy candy recipes let you enjoy homemade sweets without stress or complicated steps.

If you’re after a quick snack or maybe a thoughtful homemade gift, these recipes fit right into a busy schedule. Most use pantry staples and take barely any time, so really, anyone can jump in.

1) 3-Ingredient Microwave Fudge

Microwave fudge is one of those “how is this so easy?” recipes. Three ingredients, five minutes, and you get fudge that’s creamy and rich—just melts away.

Want to mix it up? Toss in some nuts or try caramel for a twist.

Melt chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk together, then let it set. Cleanup is a breeze, and you barely need any baking skills.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 can (12 oz) sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk.
2. Microwave for 1 minute, then stir. Repeat in 30-second bursts until smooth.
3. Stir in walnuts if you want.
4. Pour into a lined pan and chill for 2 hours until set.

2) Classic Brigadeiro

Brigadeiro is a Brazilian classic that’s shockingly easy. You just need a few things—sweetened condensed milk, cocoa, butter—and you’re halfway there.

Cook everything over low heat, stirring until it thickens and starts pulling away from the pan. Let it cool before you try to shape it.

Once it’s cooled, roll into balls and coat with chocolate sprinkles or, honestly, whatever you have on hand. It’s a fun treat for parties or just because.

Ingredients

• 1 can sweetened condensed milk (395 g)
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 cup chocolate sprinkles (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder in a pan.
2. Cook on low, stirring all the time, for about 10 minutes.
3. Take it off the heat when it thickens and pulls from the sides.
4. Cool completely.
5. Butter your hands, roll into balls.
6. Coat with sprinkles.
7. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.

For a full recipe, check out this Classic Brigadeiros Recipe.

3) Peppermint Hard Candy

Peppermint hard candy is one of those old-school treats you can totally make at home. You cook sugar, corn syrup, and water until it hits the hard crack stage.

Add peppermint extract and a bit of food coloring if you’re feeling festive.

Once it reaches 300°F (149°C), pull it off the heat fast. Pour onto a greased surface or a silicone mat and let it cool.

Shape or break it up once it’s cool enough to handle. These little candies make cute gifts or just something to crunch on.

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup water
• 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons peppermint extract
• A few drops of red or green food coloring (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Combine sugar, corn syrup, and water in a heavy saucepan.
2. Heat over medium, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
3. Stop stirring and boil until it hits 300°F (149°C).
4. Remove from heat, then add peppermint and food coloring.
5. Pour onto a greased surface or silicone mat.
6. Let it cool until firm but still bendable, then shape or break into pieces.

4) Chocolate Bark with Nuts

Chocolate bark is the ultimate “I need something sweet right now” treat. Melt chocolate, toss in your favorite nuts, spread it out, and let it set.

Use whatever nuts you love—almonds, pecans, pistachios, go wild. The combo of creamy chocolate and crunchy nuts just works.

Break the bark into pieces once it’s firm. Store in an airtight container and snack as you please.

Ingredients

• 2 cups chocolate (milk, dark, or semi-sweet)
• 1 ½ cups mixed nuts (almonds, pecans, pistachios, or your choice)

Cooking Instructions

1. Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.
2. Stir in the nuts.
3. Spread on a foil-lined baking sheet.
4. Cool at room temp or chill until firm.
5. Break into pieces.

For more tips, check this Chocolate Nut Bark recipe.

5) Cream Cheese Mints

Cream cheese mints are almost too easy. They’re soft, a little tangy, and have a peppermint flavor that really pops.

No baking or cooking here—just mix, shape, and chill. Great for holidays, parties, or whenever you need a little something sweet.

Roll them in sugar for a tiny crunch, or leave them plain. You can add food coloring if you want to match a theme or just for fun.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces cream cheese (softened)
• 2 teaspoons peppermint extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• Granulated sugar for rolling (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Beat cream cheese until smooth.
2. Mix in peppermint extract.
3. Gradually add powdered sugar until a thick dough forms.
4. Shape into small balls or mints.
5. Roll in granulated sugar if you want.
6. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

6) Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups

Homemade fruit roll-ups are surprisingly doable. Puree fresh fruit until smooth—no weird ingredients, just real flavor.

Spread the puree thin on a silicone mat or plastic wrap. Foil and parchment don’t really work here, trust me.

Bake at a low temp for several hours. The slow drying turns it into a chewy, sweet snack.

Let it cool, then cut into strips and roll up. Kids (and adults) love these.

Ingredients

• 3 cups fresh fruit (strawberries, mixed berries, or others)
• 1-2 tablespoons honey or sweetener (optional)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Cooking Instructions

1. Puree fruit, honey, and lemon juice until smooth.
2. Spread evenly on a lined baking sheet.
3. Bake at 140°F (60°C) for 4-6 hours until dry but still flexible.
4. Cool, cut into strips, and roll up.

Check out more details here.

7) Salted Caramel Squares

Salted caramel squares are simple, chewy, and have that perfect sweet-salty thing going on. You really only need sugar, butter, cream, and a bit of sea salt.

Melt sugar over medium heat until it’s golden, then stir in butter and cream to make it smooth. Add salt at the end for that finishing touch.

Pour the caramel into a lined pan and let it cool. Once it’s set, slice into squares and try not to eat them all at once.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Cooking Instructions:

1. Line an 8-inch pan with parchment paper.
2. Melt sugar in a heavy saucepan over medium, stirring until golden.
3. Stir in butter until melted.
4. Slowly add cream, keep stirring.
5. Cook for 5 minutes until thick.
6. Remove from heat and stir in sea salt.
7. Pour into the pan.
8. Cool for 2 hours.
9. Cut into squares.

For more details, see this homemade salted caramels recipe.

8) No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars

No-bake peanut butter bars are a lifesaver when you want something sweet but don’t want to turn on the oven. They’ve got a creamy peanut butter base and a chocolate layer on top.

Just a few ingredients and a couple of minutes, and you’re done. They taste a lot like peanut butter cups but way easier.

Perfect for hot days or when you need a treat, like, now. Most of the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen.

Ingredients

• Peanut butter
• Butter
• Powdered sugar
• Graham cracker crumbs or oats
• Chocolate chips

Cooking Instructions

1. Melt butter and peanut butter together until smooth.
2. Stir in powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs or oats.
3. Press into a lined pan.
4. Melt chocolate chips and spread over the top.
5. Chill for about 30 minutes until firm.

Grab a simple recipe here.

9) Mint Cool Whip Candy

Mint Cool Whip Candy is ridiculously easy and kind of addictive. It’s soft, fluffy, and has a gentle peppermint flavor that’s not too strong.

You’ll just need Cool Whip, melted chocolate, and either peppermint extract or crushed candies. A bit of shortening or coconut oil makes the chocolate easier to work with.

Mix it all up and chill until firm. That’s it—you get a cool, light treat that’s perfect for sharing.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Cool Whip
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 tsp peppermint extract or ½ cup crushed peppermint candies
• 1 tbsp shortening or coconut oil (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Melt chocolate chips and shortening or coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl.
   Stir every 30 seconds until everything looks smooth.

2. Gently fold in Cool Whip and peppermint extract or crushed candies.

3. Pour the mixture into a lined pan or silicone molds.

4. Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or until firm.

5. Cut into pieces or pop out of molds.
   Enjoy!

For more details, check the mint Cool Whip candy recipe here.

10) Old-Fashioned Butterscotch Candy

You can whip up old-fashioned butterscotch candy with just a few simple ingredients.
It’s a rich, buttery treat that kind of melts away as you eat it.

Start by combining sugars, butter, and water in a pan.
Cook the mixture slowly until it hits the right temperature—don’t rush this part.

Once it cools, break the candy into pieces or cut it into shapes.
Honestly, it makes a great gift or just something sweet to nibble on whenever.

Ingredients

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 2/3 cup light corn syrup
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Cooking Instructions

1. Toss sugars, water, and corn syrup into a heavy pan.

2. Set the pan over medium heat. Stir until the sugars melt away.

3. Drop in the butter. Let it cook—don’t stir—until the temperature hits 270°F (132°C).

4. Take the pan off the heat and let it sit for a minute or two.

5. Pour the mixture onto a greased surface. Wait for it to harden up.

6. Once it’s set, break or cut it into pieces.