When making these truffles, use supermarket-quality white chocolate, which has more stabilizers than expensive brands and sets up better. Todd Coleman
We know that everybody (ok, not everybody, but you know what we mean) loves classic Halloween candies like candy corn and Reeses cups, but at SAVEUR, we encourage thinking outside the wrapper. When you make your Halloween candy from scratch, the possibilities are endless. From chocolatey bites to fruity delights, you can recreate the sweet sensations of your favorite treats all from the comfort of your kitchen.
First, learn about the different kinds of sugars you can use with our guide to sugar around the world. Perfect for special occasions like Halloween and Thanksgiving, candies make for quick and easy desserts you can whip up to share (or keep all for yourself).
We’ve prepared our best homemade Halloween candy recipes, from chocolate and peanut butter buckeyes to cherry fizz hard candy, because nothing on the shelf can beat a piece of candy made by your own two hands. And if you don’t want to share with those trick-or-treaters, we don’t blame you.
Cherry Fizzy Candy
This simple candy’s bright fruity flavor and effervescent feel on your tongue is a surprisingly perfect pairing for the cold sweetness of a scoop of vanilla. Pastry chef Tracy Obolsky taught us the recipe when she came by our test kitchen; the flavor is easy to customize by switching out any variety of powdered Kool-Aid or powdered, fruit-flavored gelatin. Citric acid is often sold as lemon salt in grocery stores; if you can’t find it, it can be omitted. Get the recipe for Cherry Fizzy Candy »
Peanut Butter Buckeyes
Peanut Butter Buckeyes
When making these truffles, use supermarket-quality white chocolate, which has more stabilizers than expensive brands and sets up better.
Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cordials
Invertase, a liquid enzyme that’s found in small bottles at most candy-making supply stores, is used in these candies to liquefy the luscious fondant filling. Once you’ve made the cordials, it will take about ten days for the filling to liquefy. We based this recipe on one found in Peter Greweling’s Chocolates and Confections (Wiley, 2010). For more Valentine’s Day recipes, check out our guide. Get the recipe for Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cordials »
Smoky Whiskey Balls
This recipe, from Eatocracy managing editor Kat Kinsman, appeared in our 2012 Cookie Advent Calendar. Kat says: “I’m a freak for bourbon balls and for smoke, so I decided to play around with them a tad a while back. The result is this recipe: rich with chocolate and the smoky vanilla notes of the whiskey, with an added kick from bourbon-soaked pecans.” Get the recipe for Smoky Whiskey Balls »
Cardamom-Laced Milk Chocolate Truffles
We based this recipe on one that appears in Peter Greweling’s Chocolates and Confections (Wiley, 2010). Feel free to improvise with the coating, using other kinds of ground spices, nuts, or chili powder. Make sure to keep all your materials cold while you’re mixing and shaping the truffles, so that the candies keep their shape; if they get too warm, refrigerate ingredients for 5-10 minutes. Get the recipe for Cardamom-Laced Milk Chocolate Truffles »