Homemade Tootsie Rolls

Tootsie rolls top view

Victor Spinelli / Getty Images

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 16 servings

Tootsie rolls are a favorite candy for many people. Did you know that you can make them at home? This recipe for homemade tootsie rolls makes soft, chewy candies with that familiar chocolate taste you've always enjoyed.

All of the ingredients are common, so there's nothing special you need to pull off this copycat candy recipe. You may even have everything you need in your kitchen already.

It's very hands-on, too. You'll knead and shape the candy much as you would bread, but instead of flour, a dusting of confectioners' sugar is used to keep it from sticking. This is definitely a fun kitchen project and one everyone in your family will appreciate!

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped

  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

  • 3/4 cup powdered milk

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 2 to 3 cups confectioners' sugar, divided

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Melt the chocolate in a large microwave-safe bowl or in a double boiler over simmering water.

  3. Once the chocolate is melted and smooth, stir in the corn syrup and the butter, stirring until the butter is melted. Stir in the powdered milk and vanilla extract.

  4. Add 1 cup of the confectioners' sugar and stir until it is incorporated. Once that sugar is mixed in, add 1 cup more of confectioners' sugar and stir to mix. At this point, the dough will start getting stiff and it might be difficult to stir more confectioners' sugar into the candy.

  5. Dust your work surface with confectioners' sugar and knead the candy until it is smooth. If it is still very soft, knead in more confectioners' sugar until it is firm but not dry or crumbly. You might need up to 3 cups of confectioners' sugar total.

  6. Once the candy is smooth and a perfect firm but supple texture, break off a palm-sized piece and roll it into a long, thin rope. Using a sharp knife, cut it into small pieces, and place them on a baking sheet. Repeat until you have formed all of the tootsie roll dough into small pieces. Depending on the size of the rolls, you should get 80 to 100 pieces.

  7. Refrigerate the tray of tootsie rolls for about 1 hour or until they firm up.

  8. Serve and enjoy!

Tips

  • Store your tootsie rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They'll stay good for up to two weeks.

  • If the candies start to stick together because of condensation from the refrigerator, you can wrap them individually in waxed paper or cling wrap

  • Let your tootsie rolls reach room temperature before serving.

Variations

  • If you want to make these extra special, roll them in chopped nuts or coconut at the end.

  • Real Tootsie Rolls do have a hint of orange flavor. You can add that to this recipe by stirring 1/8 teaspoon of orange extract when you add the vanilla. Don't overdo it, though! A little goes a long way.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
158 Calories
3g Fat
31g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories 158
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 4mg 1%
Sodium 26mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 30g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 45mg 3%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 86mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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