How to Make Candy Kabobs

I was at the store yesterday and saw these cute Easter candy kabobs and was tempted to buy them for Easter baskets, but I knew that my kids didn’t like most of the candy included on them. So although they were cute, I knew the candy kabobs would go to waste. I decided to peruse the candy aisles instead and see if I could figure out how to make candy kabobs on my own. It turns out, there are a few tricks to making candy kabobs, but once you know those, it’s pretty easy!  I love that I can make my own candy kabobs now with whatever candy I want and for whatever occasion I need them. 

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What kind of candy do you use for candy kabobs?

After a few trials and errors, I figured out that the best kind of candy to use for your candy kabobs is candy on the softer side (no hard gummies) and slighty larger candies, or candies that have a larger surface area so that you have more room to push the skewers through. For example, gummy sharks are bigger and easier to work with than gummy worms. You also want candy that won’t crumble and/or fall apart when you put a little pressure on it and stick something through it. 

What sticks to use for candy kabobs?

There are a few different kinds of shish kabob sticks or skewers out there, but the best sticks to use for candy kabobs that I have found are bamboo skewers. The points are nice and sharp and you can do a couple of things to them to help make it easier to work with them. Here are my tips for working with bamboo skewers.

• Soak the skewers for an hour before you want to make your candy kabobs. Wipe them down and let them dry for just a minute before you use them. 
• You can also spray your skewers with a little bit of cooking oil/spray to help keep the candy from sticking to your bamboo skewer as you slide it down the skewer.

Tips for Making Candy Kabobs

Choose a variety of textures and colors when you choose your candy for your candy kabobs. Color is key! Bright, vibrant candies make the best looking candy kabobs.

• Place your bigger, heavier candies on your candy kabob first so they will be at the bottom of your candy kabob. This will help your kabobs look balanced and more pleasing to the eye. 
• Mix your shapes, colors and textures as you work your way to the top of the skewer. 
• Not sure if your kabob will look right on the skewer? Lay your candies out on the counter in order that you want to build your kabob first so that you can visualize what it will look like before you go through the work making the candy kabob. 
• Leave about 3 inches of bare stick at the bottom of your kabob as a handle. 

How to Wrap Your Candy Kabobs

Your candy kabobs will look best wrapped in cellophane bags. It gives them a finished look and makes them look professional. You can buy bags like these for your candy kabobs, or if you have a roll of cellophane around you can make some bags of your own, which is what I did. It only takes a few minutes and they look great!

Simply cut a piece of cellophane that is wide enough to wrap around your kabob. Also make sure it is long enough to cover your whole kabob and have some extra room at the bottom to gather it with a ribbon. Simply tape the cellophane up the back where the seam is once it’s folded over then fold the top over like the end of a present and tape it as well.

It makes a long, skinny bag of sorts that is open on the end. Slip your candy kabob into the bag and tie at the bottom with a ribbon.

What kind of candy should I use to make candy kabobs?

Any trip to the candy aisle will yield plenty of ideas for what candy to use to make candy kabobs, but here are a few ideas to get you started. Be sure to check seasonal aisles too for candies that can help work with any holiday themes.

• Marshmallows
• Marshmallow based candies (twists, etc.)
• Ribbon candy (Sour Haribo belts or Airheads)
• Gummy sharks, eggs, bears, etc.
• Gummy peach rings
• Peeps
• Chewy sour balls
• Swedish Fish
• Licorice pieces
• Nerds ropes (cut them into pieces)
• Fruit slices (like orange slices)
• Sour patch Watermelon/strawberries
• Circus peanuts

You can make these cute candy kabobs for so many occasions! Here’s a cute Halloween version that I added to a drink…