Halloween Candy Recipes

Grandma's Old-Fashioned Halloween Candy Recipes Are Easy To Make

Kids love trick or treating, and these Halloween candy recipes make old-fashioned Halloween candy that is wholesome and delicious.

In the 1950s, when I was a boy out trick or treating, kids were always lined at the homes where people gave out homemade candies. You never forget the taste of those delicious candy apples, popcorn balls, chewy caramels and Halloween taffy. Your trick or treaters will love these nostalgic Halloween candies too. With these vintage Halloween candy recipes, you can make delicious treats to enjoy at Halloween or anytime.

Halloween Taffy

Your entire family will enjoy making this vintage Halloween taffy recipe. Not only will you enjoy eating the homemade taffy candy, but your kids will get to experience the fun of an old-fashioned taffy pull.

1 cup molasses, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 2 teaspoons butter, 1 teaspoon [baking] soda. Mix ingredients and boil until mixture hardens when dropped in cold water, then add teaspoon soda; mix quickly and pour into buttered pans. When cool enough to handle, pull taffy and cut into sticks. Wrap in waxed paper. Put nothing on hands while pulling; keep hands cool. Nutmeats may be stirred into candy just before pouring into pans.

Candy Apples on a Stick

This old-time Halloween candy recipe for candy apples will bring back memories. Our neighbor Mr. Watkins always made taffy apples on Halloween, and I can remember looking forward to them all year. Make this traditional candy apples recipe with your family.

Two cups granulated sugar, one-half cup light corn syrup, one-quarter cup water, red coloring, one-half teaspoon cinnamon flavoring, twelve red apples, twelve wooden skewers.

Cook the granulated sugar, corn syrup, and water in a small saucepan, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Continue cooking without stirring until the syrup is brittle when tested in cold water. During the cooking, any sugar crystals thrown on the sides of the pan should be carefully washed down with a wet cloth. Remove the syrup from the heat and set at once over hot water. Add coloring and flavoring and mix well.

Insert the skewers, which can be purchased from the butcher, in the blossom end of the apples. Hold each apple by the skewer and plunge into the hot syrup. Draw it out quickly and twirl it until the syrup is spread smoothly over the apple. Place with the skewer end down in a cake rack, which has been placed over a large bowl, so that the apple does not touch anything while hardening. These apples should be made the day they are to be used.

Chewy Chocolate Caramels

Another favorite Halloween candy recipe is this chocolate caramel candy recipe. If you are a chocolate lover, you will love these homemade chocolate caramels. Make them anytime you want something chocolatey and chewy to nibble on!

Three tablespoons butter, one cup molasses, three-quarters cup cream, four squares unsweetened chocolate, one cup sugar, one-half teaspoon vanilla. Melt butter in a saucepan and add cream, sugar, and molasses. Bring to the boiling-point and add chocolate, balancing it on a large wooden spoon that it may melt gradually with no danger of its burning on the kettle. Continue the boiling, stirring occasionally, until a firm ball may be formed when mixture is tried in cold water, add vanilla, and turn into a buttered pan, having the mixture three-fourths inch in depth. When nearly cold, cut in cubes, using scissors, or a sharp knife. Wrap in squares of paraffin paper, and let stand in a cold place to harden.

Pull Toffee

Here's a perfect Halloween candy recipe. Not only can you make this delicious pull toffee recipe in four delicious flavors, but you can host an old-time toffee pull too. Your entire family will enjoy making pull toffee.

Combinations: 3 cups corn syrup; or 2 cups corn syrup and 1 cup molasses; or 2 cups corn syrup and 1 cup honey. Place either syrup combination in a saucepan with 3/4 teaspoon salt. Butter the inside upper edge of the pan to prevent boiling over. Cook until the mixture forms a hard ball, when dropped in cold water. Pour candy mixture into a buttered, shallow pan. Let it stand to cool until it can be handled. When cool, butter the hands and pull. Cut into sticks when done and wrap in waxed paper.

• For Vanilla Candies, use white corn syrup, and add 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla before pouring candy in the pan.


• For Peppermint, add a few drops of oil of peppermint while pulling.


• For Chocolate, add 3 squares chocolate to syrup.


• For Nut Candy, add 3/4 cup chopped nuts to either vanilla or chocolate as it is cooling, fold in toward center as it cools and pull.

Vanilla Caramels

This vanilla caramel candy recipe is an easy Halloween candy recipe to make, and the homemade caramels are perfect for Halloween treats or to nibble on anytime.

Two cups granulated sugar, 1/2 cup light corn syrup, 1 cup sweetened condensed milk, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup butter, 2 teaspoons vanilla. Mix together all ingredients except vanilla, and cook over a low flame, stirring constantly, until thermometer reads 246º Fahrenheit. Remove from fire, beat, add vanilla, and turn at once into a slightly greased pan. When cold, remove from pan and cut, using a large sharp knife.

Caramel Making Reminders:

1. Cook over a low flame.

2. Stir constantly. Caramels burn very easily. Seriously.

3. Wrap each caramel in waxed paper immediately.

Popcorn Balls

Of all the Halloween candy recipes, this is one of the most popular. This easy popcorn ball recipe is fun to make, and the popcorn balls taste delicious. Popcorn balls are a traditional Halloween treat, and they were always one of my favorites.

1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup light corn syrup or molasses, 1 tablespoon butter, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon vinegar. Melt the butter in an enameled saucepan, add the sugar and syrup, and cook without stirring until a little dropped into cold water will crack. Remove from the heat and pour the syrup over the popcorn, which should be spread in a large pan. Pour very slowly, turning the popcorn so that the kernels will be well coated. Shape in small balls, pressing well into shape, and wrap each in waxed paper.

Popcorn Pumpkins

This easy Halloween candy recipe is fun to make, and you can use the little popcorn pumpkins to decorate the table for Halloween or for your Thanksgiving dinner. Simply place one of the little pumpkin candy decorations in front of each guest's place setting. You will receive lots of compliments with this one!

Popcorn pumpkins are very tasty and make splendid decorations for the table at a Halloween party. These pumpkins are made of popped corn.

Directions: Put one quart of popped corn through the coarsest blades of the meat grinder [or blender]. Place in bowl and pour over it a syrup made by boiling together two cups of brown sugar, one-half cup water, a tablespoon butter, and a pinch of salt. Orange food coloring (1 drop red to 9 drops yellow) may be added. Cook without stirring until a little syrup dropped in cold water will form a firm ball. This taffy will hold the kernels together.

Form into pumpkins keeping the corn taffy over hot water to prevent it hardening to quickly. Insert raisin on toothpick for stem.