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10 Homemade Halloween Candy Ideas

Forget the bags of "fun size" candy bars. These addictive DIY treats will wow your Halloween party guests.

Sunset Staff

Have you ever had a bunch of adults over to help hand out candy and wished you had something other than candy corn to give them? (And we love candy corn! It’s just tricky to pair with adult beverages, although it can be done.) Any of these recipes will go over well this year. They’re mostly bite-sized, filling that universal urge to pop sweet treats into our mouths on October 31. They’re fun, and yet they’re sophisticated enough for grown-up parties. So whip up a batch of Cinnamon Pumpkin Seed Brittle, or Butterscotch Caramels, and watch your guests dip into the candy bowl time and time again like kids. Because you are never too old for a fun-sized treat on Halloween.

1 /10 Thomas J. Story

Spun-Sugar Cobwebs

Spun-sugar recipes typically involve flinging hot liquid sugar across a setup of dowels and newspaper. It’s messy and, frankly, a little bit frightening. Here’s a much easier method that requires nothing more than a few forks and a small upturned bowl, and you can do it on your kitchen counter. The results–golden, airy sugar webs–make excellent Halloween cupcake toppers.

Recipe: Spun-Sugar Cobwebs

2 /10 Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Mini Caramel Apples

These sophisticated Halloween party treats are a modern nod to the holiday tradition of bobbing for apples. You get all the satisfaction of a caramel apple in one bite and without a messy chin.

Recipe: Mini Caramel Apples

3 /10 Annabelle Breakey

Peanut-Raisin Bark

Skip the store-bought Halloween treats, and instead make these simple and easy DIY candy bars that’ll please any party crowd.

Recipe: Peanut-Raisin Bark

4 /10 Annabelle Breakey

Bite-Size Honey Popcorn Balls

Halloween candy sans chocolate might sound blasphemous, but this take on caramel corn does not disappoint. The miniature portions work well for little trick-or-treaters, and served in holiday-hued goody bags, they make for the perfect Halloween party favor.

Recipe: Bite-Size Honey Popcorn Balls

5 /10 Annabelle Breakey

Cinnamon Pumpkin Seed Brittle

This tasty brittle showcases the flavors of fall. The candy makes a great addition to your Halloween party dessert spread, or it can be bagged and given to guests as a party favor.

Recipe: Cinnamon Pumpkin Seed Brittle

6 /10 Carol Shih

Candy Emoji Ghosts

These Halloween meringues are so easy to make, and can be customized with any emoji-inspired face you’d like, whether spooky or silly.

Recipe: Candy Emoji Ghosts

7 /10 Annabelle Breakey

Chocolate-Pistachio Apricots

This grown-up version of our Chocolate-Pistachio Marshmallows glows with Halloween color.

Recipe: Chocolate-Pistachio Apricots

8 /10 Annabelle Breakey

Chocolate Candy Corn Truffles

Dark chocolate and bitter orange offset the sweetness of candy corn in these fun and fancy truffles.

Recipe: Chocolate Candy Corn Truffles

9 /10 Annabelle Breakey

Butterscotch Caramels

It’s hard to stop at just one when you try these silky brown-sugar candies.

Recipe: Butterscotch Caramels

10 /10 Annabelle Breakey

Coconut Haystacks

The flaky texture of these clusters reminds us of Butterfinger candy bars.

Recipe: Coconut Haystacks


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