My fave tips and recipes
Hey, I’m Kim!
After a lot of practice (and a few sticky disasters), I’ve crafted a delicious selection of lollies and mastered a ton of candy making tips to share with you—lump free. (You’re welcome.)
Citrus Patch Sours
Let’s be real—sometimes, you just want to snack on something that makes your taste buds question their life choices. Enter these candied citrus peels, lovingly coated in sugar and citric acid to give them that “Whooo! That’s sour!” punch, followed by a sweet, chewy reward. It’s like if nature made Sour Patch Kids but forgot to add the artificial colors and questionable ingredients.
We’re taking citrus rinds—yes, the part you usually throw away—and turning them into something that will make your mouth pucker and your inner child do a happy dance. Plus, making these means you get to tell people, “Oh, I just casually make my own gourmet sour candy at home.” Fancy, right?
Grandma’s Sugared Peanuts
Just a good old fashioned sugar rebellion.
While going through my Grandma’s recipe collection, I found a simple yet delightful one for sugared peanuts. It relies on nothing more than sugar doing what it does best.
Sugared peanuts are made by boiling peanuts with sugar and water until the sugar crystallizes around each nut. The result? A crunchy, sweet treat that tastes remarkably like a peanut butter cookie. Normally, we go to great lengths to avoid sugar crystallization in candy making—but with this recipe, we embrace it. So go ahead and stir that boiling sugar, you rebel, you.
Microwave Dulce de Leche Caramels
Let’s talk about dulce de leche—a rich, creamy, caramelized milk that’s basically what happens when regular milk decides to live its best life. It’s sweet, it’s smooth, and it’s the flavor equivalent of a warm hug from someone who smells like cookies. Now imagine taking that magical stuff and turning it into a soft caramel. Are you drooling yet? Because you should be.
Did I mention these are made in the microwave? I am usually not a huge fan of microwave caramels because the caramel just isn’t that… caramel-y. The sugar just doesn’t have time to do it’s thing and it tastes that way too. I said what I said. BUT, when you use dulce de leche, a caramelized milk to start with, then that caramel flavour is already there. So let’s get zapping our way to these chewy and buttery delights!
Jello Marshmallow Jigglers
If you're looking for a simple, fun, and delicious treat that kids can make, Jello Marshmallow Jigglers are the perfect choice! With just two ingredients—Jello mix and marshmallows—you can create colorful, wobbly, and fluffy treats that are as fun to eat as they are to make.
Jello Marshmallow Jigglers are a delightful twist on classic Jello jigglers. By combining Jello with melted marshmallows, you get a soft, bouncy treat with a unique, foamy texture on top and a firmer, jiggly layer on the bottom. These treats are perfect for parties, playdates, or just a fun kitchen activity with the kids.
Dulce de Leche
Pure decadence.
Dulce de leche, which literally means “sweet milk” in Spanish, is a heavenly caramel-like sauce beloved across Latin America. Made by slowly cooking sweetened milk until it transforms into a thick, golden delight, it’s a little creamier and not as sweet than your classic caramel but just as dreamy. Think of it as caramel’s sophisticated cousin who always brings dessert to the party. Here’s the great news: dulce de leche is very easy to make, using only one ingredient! Yes, just one.
This golden, creamy delight is like a warm hug in dessert form. Whether you’re swirling it into ice cream, slathering it on toast, or eating it straight from the spoon (hey, no shame here), dulce de leche is pure magic in a jar.
Meltaway Butter Mints
These little butter mints melt right in your mouth, I dare you to eat just one! I have adjusted this recipe so you don’t have to haul out the mixer, just melt the butter instead and mix together the ingredients in one bowl. A fun dough that resembles play dough starts to form and from there, you choose the colours and shapes for these mints. These are great to have on hand when you are hosting, or they make a beautiful gift when presented in a jar or box. Either way, these will be appreciated as a sweet little minty treat.
Salted Peanut Butter Cup Fudge
If you enjoy peanut butter cups, you will love this fudge! A rich, smooth layer of peanut butter fudge, topped with salted chocolate ganache will make this decadent treat a favourite. This type of fudge is using sweetened condensed milk, so it is incredibly creamy and no-fail!!
Chocolate Caramel Pecan Clusters (Turtles)
These homemade turtles will be the hit of any gathering you bring these to! With three delicious components, this is an easy, Christmas candy that the kids will love to help make and enjoy.
Peppermint Patties
There is nothing quite like that cool, smooth pepperminty inside with semi sweet chocolate on the outside. These peppermint patties are super simple to make and even better than the store bought version!
One Mug Hot Chocolate
An easy and quick recipe for one mug of hot chocolate, because sometimes you just want a good cup of homemade hot chocolate!
Boozy Bears
These little gummies have a boozy little secret! Provided is the recipe for a basic gummy, then you decide what alcohol you’d like to use to make your boozy bears. I also give a few cocktail options to make them extra fun!
Toffee Bits
Fast, easy and delicious. These toffee bits are so buttery and crunchy, you’ll be finding anything to put these on!
Spooky Spider Truffles
These spooky spider truffles are actually pretty adorable and very easy to make! Get the kids in there and have some fun with these chocolatey treats.
Apple Cider Gummies
Apple cider gummies are a fun twist on a fall classic. You'll love these chewy little bursts apple and cinnamon. Kid's will love making and eating up these!
Toffee Apples
Toffee covered apples are crunchy, buttery, sweet and salty treats, sure to be your next favourite fall apple recipe.