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10 homemade versions of your favourite chocolate treats

We never need an excuse to eat chocolate, but making homemade versions of our favourite store-bought treats might just boost our intake - and popularity points with our friends - this weekend.

“Reese’s” Peanut Butter Cups

One Good Thing by Jlilee
One Good Thing by Jlilee

This homemade version of our favourite peanut butter-chocolate treat from One Good Thing By Jillee uses ingredients you probably already have in your pantry: peanut butter, chocolate chips, powdered sugar and butter.

The hardest part will be waiting for them to set in the refrigerator.

These “Peanut Butta Cups” from Chow get that familiar texture from graham cracker crumbs. While the ingredient list is short, you will have to brush up on some candy-making skills, like chocolate-tempering.

Peppermint Patties

Oh! Nuts
Oh! Nuts

This recipe from Oh! Nuts promises to result in just-as-good-as-store-bought candies — but without the corn syrup or artificial flavours.

Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks (that is, if you have better self-control than I do.)

Homemade Ferrero Rocher Truffles

NoshOn.It
NoshOn.It

These hazelnut truffles from NoshOn.It only require five ingredients, thanks to the use of everyone’s favourite chocolate spread, Nutella.

Bonus points if you wrap them in gold foil and seal with a sticker.

Find step-by-step instructions for another homemade version of homemade Ferreros, courtesy of Instructables, here.

This is how to make friends, and not just at Christmastime.

Homemade Nutella

Brown Eyed Baker
Brown Eyed Baker

Speaking of Nutella, why not make your own? (You’ve already mastered DIY peanut butter, right? This is just as simple.)

We’re eager to try Brown Eyed Baker’s version. (Bonus for vegans: it contains cocoa powder, not milk chocolate chips. You’re good to go.)

Homemade Turtles

Averie Cooks
Averie Cooks

Pecans, caramel, chocolate and sea salt: what’s not to love?

This recipe from Averie Cooks promises to satisfy that “crunchy, chewy, salty-and-sweet” craving, making it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser — if you’re willing to share.

The Kitchn’s version has a more involved caramel sauce. So if you’re really hoping to make every stage from scratch, you’ll satisfy that DIY itch with this recipe.

Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cordials

Saveur
Saveur

This one’s for the grownups.

If, like me, you believe all maraschino cherries should be surrounded by alcoholic fondant and dipped in chocolate, you’re in luck. Saveur has just the recipe for you.

Let’s Dish has a simple, brandy-free version I’d also be willing to binge-eat.

Homemade Peanut Butter M&Ms

Minimalist Baker
Minimalist Baker

es, please!

Sure, this version from Minimalist Baker doesn’t include a colourful candy-coated shell, but does that really matter?

Not only do these bite-size candies promise to be better than the real thing, but they’re also healthier, only using rolled oats, pitted dates, raw almonds, salted peanuts, salted peanut butter and chocolate in what’s sure to become a go-to party recipe.

Vegan “Hershey” Kisses

Fork and Beans
Fork and Beans

Don’t worry. Vegan doesn’t mean tasteless. Simply opt for non-dairy chocolate chips, melt them down, create a moul with a funnel, bury an almond inside, and you’ve got your own version of the Hershey’s favourite.

Fork and Beans details how to do it — and how to add your own paper-strip messages — here.

The Healthy Advocate’s “Midnight Kisses” are super-dark and sugar-free. Enjoy guilt-free candy-eating.

Homemade Mars Bars

Iron Whisk
Iron Whisk

This recipe

 from Iron Whisk is pretty involved — you’ll need a candy thermometer and tempered chocolate — but you’ll definitely reap the rewards.

(Don’t worry. This isn’t a “healthy” recipe. You can have your sugar, corn syrup, whipping cream, etc. here.)

Homemade Bounty Bars

Not Enough Cinnamon
Not Enough Cinnamon

For fans of the chocolate-coconut combination, Not Enough Cinnamon has the perfect three-ingredient recipe for you: homemade Bounty bars. (Or Mounds bars, if you’re American.)

Or you could break the shape rules and make Bounty balls instead of bars. We won’t tell.

While you're at it, might as well make Nutella fudge pops. Check out the recipe below: