My kids and I love making these homemade dinosaur hard candies. All you need is Jolly Ranchers, a dinosaur mold and about 15 minutes.
How to Make Dinosaur Candy
- Melt it: Place the apple Jolly Ranchers in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave at 80% power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until melted. Carefully remove the dish from the microwave oven.
- Fill the molds: Working quickly, fill the mold with melted candies. Repeat the procedure with the remaining Jolly Ranchers.
- Cool: Allow to set completely at room temperature, then gently pop the candies out.
Make Ahead and Storing Instructions
To Make Ahead: Dinosaur candies could last for weeks if stored right. This means you can make them at least a week ahead without wondering if they’ll be okay.
To Store: To prevent the dinosaur candies from getting sticky, store them in a dry, airtight container. It’s best to keep them at room temperature, but you can also refrigerate them for a firmer texture.
Recipe Variations for Dinosaur Candy
Minty twist: Swap the green apple Jolly Ranchers with peppermint candies. Use the same amount as specified in the recipe.
Tropical candies: Swap the grape Jolly Ranchers with pineapple-flavored candies. Make sure you use half a cup of pineapple candies instead.
Citrus dinosaurs: For this variation, replace cherry Jolly Ranchers with orange-flavored candies. Use half a cup of orange candies.
Berry dinosaurs: Use mixed berry-flavored candies instead of watermelon Jolly Ranchers. Opt for half a cup of mixed berry candies.
Lemon and lime infusion: Replace the watermelon Jolly Ranchers with lemon-lime-flavored candies. Add half a tablespoon of lemon zest to the melted candy mixture before pouring it into the molds.
Coconut candies: Stir a quarter cup of shredded coconut into the melted candies before pouring the mixture into molds.
Nutty dinosaurs: For added crunch, mix crushed almonds or peanuts into the melted candy. Use a quarter cup of crushed nuts and combine them with the melted candies before molding.
Chocolate drizzle: Melt a small amount of dark chocolate and drizzle it over the set candies. For this variation, you’ll need about a quarter cup of melted dark chocolate.
Fruity twist: Add small pieces of dried fruit like mango, papaya, or pineapple to the candy mixture before pouring into molds. Use about a quarter cup of mixed dried fruit pieces for this version.
Cinnamon spice candies: Sprinkle one teaspoon of ground cinnamon over the melted candy mixture before pouring it into molds for a warm, spicy flavor.
Dinosaur Hard Candy
Equipment
- Dinosaur Candy Mold
Ingredients
- ½ cup watermelon jolly ranchers
- ½ cup green apple jolly ranchers
- ½ cup grape jolly ranchers
- ½ cup cherry jolly ranchers
Instructions
- Place the apple jolly ranchers in a microwave-safe dish.
- Microwave at 80% power in 30 seconds intervals stirring between each interval, until melted.
- Carefully remove the dish from the microwave oven.
- Working quickly, fill the mold with melted candies.
- Repeat the procedure with remaining jolly ranchers.
- Allow to set completely at room temperature, then gently pop the candies out.
Notes
- Microwave safety: Always use microwave-safe dishware to prevent accidents. Keep in mind that the bowl can get very hot, and the melted candies are very dangerous. Always handle with caution to prevent burns.
- Quick work: Once the candies are melted, fill the candy molds as quickly as possible to prevent premature hardening. If you’re quick enough, you can even add some extra treats by pushing dried fruits and nuts into the candy mixture.
- Set at room temperature: Allow the candies to cool completely at room temperature to stop them from getting sticky. If they remain too sticky to handle, dust them with powdered sugar.
- Use silicone molds: Soft molds make it easier to release the candies after they are set without breaking them.
- Grease the mold: To prevent the candies from sticking, grease the mold with cooking spray for an even easier release.
