The Best Tips for Storing Homemade Candy from Our Test Kitchen Pros (2024)

Keep our Test Kitchen-approved tips and tricks handy when you want to wrap and store homemade candies—so you can indulge in them as long as possible.

By

Andrea Beck

The Best Tips for Storing Homemade Candy from Our Test Kitchen Pros (1)

Andrea Beck served as garden editor at BHG and her work has appeared on Food & Wine, Martha Stewart, MyRecipes, and more.

and

Katlyn Moncada

The Best Tips for Storing Homemade Candy from Our Test Kitchen Pros (2)

Katlyn Moncada is the associate food editor at BHG.com, sharing food news and tutorials on becoming better home cooks. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience in digital media, photography, and video production.

Updated on August 31, 2020

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If your holiday tables are lined with tins of chewy caramels, fudge, and crunchy peppermint bark every year, it's a good idea to know the best way to store those homemade candies. Unlike storing your favorite cookies that last only a few days, most candies last much longer. In fact, those chocolate truffles, honey nougat, and peanut butter balls (to name just a few) can last weeks when stored properly. Learn the best ways to store every type of homemade candy as well as our Test Kitchen freezing tips to keep your candies fresher longer.

The Best Tips for Storing Homemade Candy from Our Test Kitchen Pros (3)

How to Store Homemade Candy

Most candies will keep 2 to 3 weeks (if not longer) if stored tightly covered in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator. It's best to avoid storing different types of candy together in the same container because hard candies will become soft and sticky, and soft candies will dry out. Here are some tips for storing candies:

  • Protect truffles, caramels, and nougats from dampness by wrapping them individually in clear plastic wrap. Chocolate candies will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge. Caramels can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Store popcorn balls this way, too, but consume within one week for the best quality.
  • To protect brittles and toffees from dampness, layer them in an airtight container ($16, Bed Bath & Beyond) between sheets of waxed paper. Store at room temperature 1 to 2 weeks.
  • Layer fudge pieces or divinity between waxed paper in an airtight container to prevent from quickly drying out. Store at room temperature up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
  • To preserve the glossy finish on chocolate-covered candies, separate chocolates from one another by storing them in mini paper cups.
  • Gumdrops are an exception to storing candies tightly covered. They need to be loosely covered so their surface remains dry. Moisture makes the sugar coating soft and sticky.

Freezing Homemade Candies

Your best bet for keeping your candies tasting fresh is to consume them within the periods we mentioned above at room temperature or in the fridge. If you are trying to get a head start on holiday baking, these peanut butter balls are an easy candy recipe that can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. We also have some freezer-friendly bar cookies and holiday cookies that will be perfect for your holiday planning.

When removing candy from the freezer, allow it to come to room temperature (about 2-3 hours) before opening or removing the wrapping. This will prevent moisture from collecting on the surface of the candy and causing white speckles or gray streaks.

Now that you know how to store your candy properly, follow our tips on how to make delicious fudge and homemade candies at home. Then you should definitely check out our favorite Christmas candy recipes for inspiration on what to include in the holiday spread this year.

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The Best Tips for Storing Homemade Candy from Our Test Kitchen Pros (2024)

FAQs

The Best Tips for Storing Homemade Candy from Our Test Kitchen Pros? ›

Most candies will keep 2 to 3 weeks (if not longer) if stored tightly covered in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator. It's best to avoid storing different types of candy together in the same container because hard candies will become soft and sticky, and soft candies will dry out.

How to store candy long term? ›

Protect Candy in the Pantry.

Airtight storage in a cool place will ensure a longer shelf-life. Some treats may also be frozen.

How do you keep candy fresh in a jar? ›

Hard candies can last up to one year if they're stored in a cool, dry place away from humidity and heat. To keep hard candies from absorbing moisture from the air and other nearby treats, sprinkle them with finely ground sugar before stashing them in an airtight glass jar.

How long can you store homemade hard candy? ›

* Hard candy: Lollipops, roll candy and butterscotch candies can last up to a year when stored at room temperature or in cool, dry conditions. * Jellied candies: Upon opening the packaging and storing at room temperature, jellied candies can last six to nine months.

What's the best way to store hard candy? ›

For storage, keep hard candy at room temperature, in a dry place – never in the refrigerator.

What is the best way to store homemade candy? ›

Most candies will keep 2 to 3 weeks (if not longer) if stored tightly covered in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator. It's best to avoid storing different types of candy together in the same container because hard candies will become soft and sticky, and soft candies will dry out.

How do you increase the shelf life of candy? ›

A general rule to follow is that the softer the candy, then the shorter the shelf life it will have. Keeping candy in a cool, dry and dark place is the best way to store it, Blakeslee said. "The less exposure to air, the better," she said. "Also, store it at room temperature.

How do you keep homemade candy from sticking together? ›

If the candy cools too quickly, set it on a saucepan over hot water to soften it, but if it gets sticky, return at once to the work counter. Toss in a small amount of powdered sugar to keep from sticking together.

How long can candy last in a jar? ›

Yep, candy does expire, but the good news is that most types of candy keep well for six months or more. Also, in general, the quality will decline before the candy truly expires or becomes unsafe. Most candies have low moisture content paired with high levels of sugar, which is a preservative.

What makes candy go bad? ›

Store your candy in a cool – room temp or slightly less – and dry place. If it contains nuts or chocolate, it'll expire faster. If not, the less moisture and fat that type of candy has, the longer it will last. Upper end on lifespan for the most persevering candies is two years, but most are about 6 months.

What candy has the longest shelf life? ›

Hard candy like Jolly Ranchers, lollipops and other individually wrapped candies can essentially last forever if they're stored right and kept away from moisture. Dark chocolate can last one to two years in a cool, dark, dry place. Milk and white chocolate will last up to 10 months.

Why is my homemade hard candy sticky? ›

Why is my hard candy soft and sticky? The simple answer is that there is too much moisture in your candy. One or more factors could be contributing to this problem. In hard candy making, it is important to cook all the water out of the sugar/corn syrup/water mixture.

What temperature should candy be stored at? ›

Wilbur Chocolate in Lancaster, however, says that 63 to 68 degrees is the ideal temperature range for storing candy. Know your candy. No one wants a rock-hard coconut bar, so be sure to store those closer to room temperature. It's the same for licorice.

How do you freeze dry homemade candy? ›

If you don't have a drying machine, grab some dry ice and follow these easy steps:
  1. Make sure the candy is in bite-size pieces.
  2. Put the candy in a freezer bag.
  3. Completely freeze the candy.
  4. Put the freezer bag in a cooler with dry ice.
  5. Do not close the cooler completely.
  6. Remove after 48 hours, and enjoy!

How long will sweets last in a paper bag? ›

As paper bags breathe more than plastic, the sweets are always 'double-bagged' to aid longevity of the sweets. If the bags are kept closed, they should be great for about 3 weeks once made, although the expiry date of the contents is much longer than this!

How do you store candy for next year? ›

Hard candy - Hard candies can last up to a year when stored at room temperature or in a cool, dry location. Jellied candies - If the packaging has been opened, soft candies should be stored away from heat and light at room temperature (about 70 degrees). Stored in this manner, the candy should last 6-9 months.

How to preserve sweets for a long time? ›

On average, they last for 2-3 days at room temperature and 5-7 days in the refrigerator. To store them correctly, you should keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

What is the best candy bar for long term storage? ›

Chocolate bars are the most stable and last longest. Dark chocolate has the longest shelf life, followed by milk and white chocolate—up to two years, one year, and four months, respectively, according to Lake Champlain Chocolates.

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