Kids and candy go hand-in-hand, but sometimes homemade candy recipes can be too technical or dangerous for young kitchen assistants. These simple and safe kid-friendly recipes are a great way to introduce children to the joys of candymaking, and everyone in the family will enjoy eating the final product!
1. Candy Pizza
(c) 2008 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.
This candy pizza recipe is easy and fun for kids to make, and tastes as great as it looks! Chocolate is mixed with mini marshmallows and crispy cereal to form a chewy, crunchy, chocolatey crust, and is topped with candied fruit or candies, coconut, and drizzles of white chocolate.
2. Rocky Road Candy
Elizabeth LaBau
These classic Rocky Road drop candies feature dark chocolate, chewy marshmallows and toasted nuts. You can experiment with adding different nuts, chunks of white chocolate, or dried fruit to the mix.
3. Butterscotch Chow Mein Drops
(c) 2008 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.
These easy drop candies get their crunch from fried chow mein noodles, and their sweet nutty taste from butterscotch chips mixed with a generous dollop of peanut butter.
4. Sweet Potatoes Candy
(c) 2007 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com
Young helpers will enjoy shaping the potatoes; and rolling them in the cinnamon mixture. These candies don't contain actual potatoes, but they do feature an unusual but delicious cinnamon-coconut combination.
5. Oreo Truffles
(c) 2007 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.
This recipe for oreo truffles calls for only three ingredients. Kids can help roll the balls and dip the candies, and they’ll like the familiar taste of oreos in cookie form.
6. Rock Candy
(c) 2007 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Rock candy is a simple sugar candy that can double as a science experiment. The process can take up to a week, but it’s fun to watch the sugar crystals growing over time.
7. Candy Spiders
(c) 2007 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Despite their creepy-crawly appearance, these Candy Spiders are fun and easy to make. Marshmallows, rice cereal, and chocolate form delicious spiders that kids and adults will love to gobble!
8. S'mores Pops
(c) 2007 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.
S'mores Pops combine three classic S'mores tastes—marshmallow, chocolate, and graham—into one delcious package. Try mixing it up by using cinnamon or chocolate graham crackers, or using a different kind of chocolate. These are great for bringing to picnics or campouts!
9. Tiger Fudge
(c) 2007 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com
Tiger Fudge is a peanut butter and chocolate treat made from only three ingredients. It looks so sophisticated and tastes so good, no one will ever guess how easy it is to make.
10. Chocolate Coconut Haystacks
(c) 2007 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com
Who knew two simple ingredients could be so good together? Toasted chocolate and coconut are a match made in heaven in this quick and easy drop candy. You can experiment by substituting raisins or slivered almonds for a portion of the coconut.
