Old Fashioned Candy Recipes - 20+ Candy Ideas to Tempt a Sweet Tooth

Do you have memories of spending time with grandma making sweet treats? These old fashioned candy recipes will take you right back to those days! Candy is the perfect addition to a party dessert table.

The holidays are a popular time for homemade candy recipes but, truth be told, I enjoy making it all year round!

Of course, you can just go to your favorite grocery store and buy candy treats but why not try making some easy homemade candy recipes instead?

They make great gift ideas and you will know exactly what is in them!

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Ideas of old fashioned candy

What does the term “old fashioned candy” actually mean? To me, the term refers to candy that reminds you of earlier days when life was simple and more things were made at home, instead of purchased at the store.

Think back to the days when mom gave you a nickel to head down to the candy store. Many of the offerings in the glass cases that we drooled over are what I think of as old fashioned candy.

Peanut brittle
Fudge
Chocolate covered anything
Bark
Toffee
Truffles
Honeycomb
Ribbon candy (a personal favorite)
Gumdrop
Taffy

All of these sweet treats can be made at home. It’s a great way to get kids interested in cooking, as well!

If you love to display candy in special jars, check out my Patriotic 4th of July candy jar project. You’ll be able to serve some of these candy recipes for Independence Day in a special way.

Tips for Making Homemade Candy

It’s not enough to have a yen for some homemade butter brickle. Making candy is an art. These tips will go a long way towards success in your candy making endeavor.

Have the right equipment on hand

Invest in a candy thermometer. Some candy is fast and easy to make, but many recipes require specific temperatures for the sugar.

The only way to know for sure that the temperature is correct is to use a special tool for testing it.

If you like to make truffles or rum balls, get a candy dipping set. It makes the process so much easier!

Wooden spoons are safer and won’t transfer the heat like metal ones will.

The weather matters!

Check the local weather. Believe it or not, this can matter when it comes to making candy.

Clear dry days are the best when it comes to candy-making.

Test the thermometer before starting

Test your thermometer each time you make candy. Just insert the thermometer into a pot or boiling water. It should say 212 degrees F.

Take special care when handling very hot melted sugar, especially around kids.

Gather your ingredients

Make sure you have all the ingredients. It is no good to get to the end of the recipe only to discover that the corn syrup you “know you had” has gone hard in the bottle.

Keep your equipment clean

Clean the thermometer after using it so it will be ready to use next time.

Work quickly

Measure out your ingredients before you start. Even though it takes a long time to reach 200 degrees, the temperature will rise quickly after that.

Having everything ready to go helps with the candy making procedure.

Deep pots are best

Use deep pots that won’t boil over when the sugar cooks. Double boilers are useful for melting chocolate.

Fudge making tips

If making fudge is your thing, be sure to also check out my post for the tips for making perfect fudge.

Pin these candy recipes for later

Would you like a reminder of these candy recipes? Just pin this image to one of your Candy Boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

Treat yourself to one of these Old Fashioned Candy Recipes

If you have a sweet tooth for candy pops, fudge or toffee recipes, one of these easy candy recipes is sure to hit the spot! Which is your favorite from my idea of best candy recipes?

Old Fashioned Candy Recipes - Simple Candy Ideas to Tempt Your Sweet Tooth

These nostalgic sweet treats will have you thinking of tasty days gone by.

Butterfinger Truffles - Chocolate Bites with Butterfinger Candy

Prep Time 45 minutes Calories 103.5

These Butterfinger truffles will be gone in a flash. The delicious chocolate bites are made with Butterfinger candy for a crunchy sweet treat that is sure to be a family favorite. If you are looking for easy candy to make, start with this recipe.