Homemade Candy Corn is easy to make and tastes so much better than the store bought stuff. Make it yourself today and you will never go back.
I love candy corn and mellow cream pumpkins so much that my husband wisely hid the bag he bought for our son so I didn't eat them all. Who knew you could actually make them?
I have tweaked the directions since I originally posted this. The first time I used Alton Brown's recipe and directions, but after making them a few more times I have found that it needs to be cooked a little longer or it is far too soft. And his rolling and cutting steps seemed a bit confusing and cumbersome.
The latest batch I made for these photos used half corn syrup and half honey. The flavor was amazing! Don't feel limited by the vanilla extract either. My husband got some fruity flavored patriotic candy corn over Labor Day that was really tasty too.
Haunted Halloween Recipes
I have joined up with some of my favorite bloggers to bring you fun and tasty recipes for
- Eyeball Pasta by Making Miracles
- Graveyard Chocolate Mousse by Art of Natural Living
- Homemade Candy Corn by That Recipe
- Spiced Caramel Halloween Graveyard Cupcakes by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- Strawberry Cheesecake Brain by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Witch Finger Cookies by Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Witches Brooms by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
We share Recipes From Our Dinner Table! Join our group and share your recipes, too! While you're at it, join our Pinterest board, too!
Candy Corn
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 6 ½ teaspoons nonfat dry milk
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup light corn syrup ( (or add half honey half corn syrup))
- 2 ½ tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- red and yellow gel paste food coloring
Instructions
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil and grease well.
- Sift the powdered sugar, dry milk and salt into a medium bowl and whisk together .
- Combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup and water in a 2-quart pot. Place over medium heat, cover and cook for 4 minutes. Add the butter, clip on a candy thermometer and bring the sugar syrup to between 235-240° F, 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and remove the thermometer.
- Add the vanilla and the dry mix and stir until well combined. Pour onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Cool for 10 to 15 minutes, until the mixture is cool enough to handle.
- Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces. Pinch off about a third of one ball and add it to one of the other two balls. Leave the small ball white. Add red and yellow coloring to the medium sized ball to make orange.Add yellow coloring to the larger ball.
- Roll each color of dough into a strand about 18 inches long. Cut each strand in half then roll each piece into a strand that is about ½ inch thick and 22 inches long.
- Lay three colored strands on top of each other - yellow, orange, then white (yes, my photo is in the wrong order) and press them together using your fingers.
- Shape each multi-colored strand into a triangular rope with white on top and yellow on the bottom.
- Then lay it on it's side with the skinny (white) end away from you and the yellow next to you. Use a sharp thin knife dipped in water to cut each wedge into individual candies cutting from the small end through to the larger end. I found this method helps them keep their shape best.
- Press gently to reshape and smooth out the cut edges as needed (dip fingers lightly in water if it becomes too sticky).
- Lay the candies on a piece of parchment until dry, at least 2-3 hours. Store in an airtight container.
Other Halloween Recipes
Until next time, happy eating.
~Audrey
alaynascreations
My husband is not a fan of candy corn but he is a fan of AB. I just might be able to get him to try this version!
Happy to be co-hosting the #HomeMattersParty with you again this week!
Audrey
Thanks, Alayna.
Meredith
This does look like a lot of work, but I bet my kids would love to help! How fun to have homemade candy corn!
Audrey
If you have a few people to help it goes much faster.
satrntgr
Those look great - I never knew you could make your own...and they probably taste so much better than the ones from the store. Thanks for linking it with the #HomeMattersParty
Audrey
They are so good! Thanks for stopping by.
Enzie Shahmiri
I have never tried candy corn. Looks tasty! Happy to be co-hosting the #HomeMattersParty with you again this week!
Jane @SustainMyCraftHabit
Have never been a big fan of candy corn and to confess, I thought it was made with corn kernels! Ha ha, learned something new today. Thank you for sharing and co-hosting the #HomeMattersParty with us!
Shann Eva
My kids love candy corn and they would get a kick out of watching me try to make it. It's really great to be co-hosting #HomeMattersParty with you this month!
Sarena @ Teal Inspiration
I bet these taste better than the store bought version! It's been great co-hosting the #HomeMattersParty with you!
Sahana
Seems like a fun to make homemade Candy Corn. Thank you for sharing the process. It's great to be co-hosting with you.#HomeMattersParty
thejohnsonplusdog
Wow, looks fun! It's been fun co-hosting with you at the #HomeMattersParty
Melissa Vera
Wow I would never have thought to make my own candy corn. Thanks for the recipe. Love having you as a cohost on #HomeMattersParty
Michelle James
This is one of those things I am happy to purchase. LOL! It really does look like work but you make it look fairly easy. If I was going to attempt such a thing I am grateful for your tips and suggestions from the original recipe. I just thought these things always came in a bag. Haha!
You are amazing to even try it!
drone news
A good software program would have awesome realism. They wouldn't make him a general
for I-told-you-so. "I see it on the screen," Dawn's voice interrupted.
Lisa Pomerantz
OK, so I have to be honest, this is clearly one of those foods that I never thought of as being made, by like people... Like there was some giant candy corn stash somewhenre and it opens up and comes out each year at halloween to feed the wee ones and their mums! Brilliant! and gluten free? WHo knew! #FridayFrivolity
Audrey
I thought the same thing when I saw the recipe. I am not much of a candy maker.
Beverly
I love candy corn. Never thought of making it however. I am sure it would be fun to try it.
Thanks for sharing at Over The Moon party,
Bev
Krisitne
WOW! So cool! I wil try this, thanks! #smallvictoriessundaylikup
Audrey
It is fun, but a bit of work.
Wendy Klik
I love these. Thanks for sharing.
Lisa/Syncopated Mama
HOmemade candy corn? How fun! Pinned to try someday when Gv gets older.
Wendy Klik
Homemade candy corn....what a fantastic idea!!
Hezzi-D
I'm TOTALLY intrigued by this. Definitely going to have to try it this year!
Karen
This looks like such a fun project. Yours totally look like the real thing.
Inger @ Art of Natural Liivng
I have seen lots of homemade candy but this one is new! Totally cute and it has to taste better!
Christie
I would never have even thought to try to make them. I'm a minority and LOVE candy corn. So, you know I'll be trying this.