Candy and Confections

Fried sweets dominate the fair midway — quick, portable, indulgent, and impossible to resist. When I set out to capture that “splurge” energy in caramel form, churros were the obvious inspiration. I used lightly browned butter, cinnamon‑infused cream, and a final dusting of crunchy cinnamon sugar to distill the...

Since the 1950s, caramel apples have been one of the most iconic treats on the fair midway — that perfect collision of sweet, chewy, creamy caramel and crisp, sweet‑tart apples. These caramel candies capture all of that flavor in every smooth, creamy, perfectly chewy bite. The secret is a...

This is the caramel recipe for popcorn fans, caramel corn fans, or anyone who loves the salty‑sweet flavor trend. Buttery, salty popcorn flavor is infused into every creamy, chewy bite, and the glossy caramel corn kernel on top adds a perfect crunchy contrast while deepening the popcorn notes even...

For anyone who grew up snacking on Cracker Jack, this caramel‑candy–coated popcorn is pure nostalgia. Like the original, my caramel corn uses a molasses‑based syrup that bakes into a light, crisp candy shell around tender, freshly popped kernels. I skipped the peanuts (I always ate around them anyway), but...

What comes to mind when you think of snowballs and sweet treats? Is it one of the many varieties of wedding cookies? Or perhaps it is the classic Hostess snack cake? Or maybe Traditional Newfoundland Snowballs? Until relatively recently (can I say that when referring to something in the...

There is a reason that peanut butter and chocolate have been a classic and popular pairing for over a century – the salty, sweet, contrasting and complimentary flavors and textures make for a uniquely satisfying food experience. In the 1920’s, H.B. Reese, a former Hershey’s employee, created the Reese’s...

Crispy, gooey, buttery, sweet Rice Krispie treats have been a popular, beloved snack and dessert option since the 1940’s when Kellogg’s first published the recipe on the back of their Rice Krispies cereal boxes. Originally called Marshmallow Squares or Marshmallow Crispy Squares, the treats are simple to make, require...

Fudge recipes using marshmallow cream (or creme) have been around since at least the 1950’s, and for very good reason. They are one of the quickest and easiest types of fudge to make as they don’t require a candy thermometer or any experience or “knack” to determine when the...

Last week, we chatted about the recent scarcity of coconut snack products, particularly the chocolate covered and cocoa coconut chips that were among my family’s favorites. Despite a small hiccup in the process (due to brand differences in coconut flakes), I was able to successfully make chocolate coconut chips...

Is it just me, or are coconut chips, particularly chocolate coconut chips, more difficult to come by these days? My younger son loves coconut and used to regularly ask me to buy the chocolate covered coconut chips as a special snack, while I was partial to the cocoa coconut...