Did you know that you can make homemade Tootsie Rolls out of basic baking ingredients! It’s true! Baking cocoa, powdered sugar, dry milk, vanilla and corn syrup. They are a fun and easy treat to make with the kids.
These homemade Tootsie Rolls were a hit with the kids! Fun and easy to make, and they make a lot! I searched for a recipe that used baking cocoa (because that’s what I had on hand vs. baking chocolate) and also a recipe that needed to be warmed up. I thought it might help create a smooth dough. Couldn’t find one. So I used several different recipes to come up with these. The texture was just right. Slightly softer than regular Tootsie Rolls, but still smooth and firm. Especially when pulled right out of the refrigerator.
Homemade Tootsie Rolls
6 T Baking cocoa
1 tsp. Vanilla
3/4 c. Powdered Milk
2 T Butter
3 cups Powdered Sugar (divided)
1/2 c. Corn Syrup
Cooking Spray
In a sauce pan (on med) heat butter, cocoa, and corn syrup until smooth and melted.
Stir in the powdered milk and the vanilla extract. Remove from heat.
Add a cup of the powdered sugar and stir until it is incorporated. Once that sugar is mixed in, add a second cup of powdered sugar and stir to mix. At this point the dough will start getting stiff and it might be difficult to stir more powdered sugar into the candy.
Dust your work surface with powdered sugar (using the remaining cup of powdered sugar. 1/2 cup at a time), and knead the candy until it is smooth. If it is still very soft, knead in more powdered sugar until it is firm but not dry or crumbly.
The dough might be a little sticky, but it dries as you work with it so I just sprayed my hands with a little cooking spray to keep the dough from sticking and I didn’t have any issues.
Once the homemade Tootsie Roll candy is smooth and a firm, break off a small piece and roll it into a long, thin rope. Using a sharp knife, cut it into small pieces and place them on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. Repeat until you have formed all of the Tootsie Roll dough into small pieces. We ended up with over 75 pieces.
Aaron had fun making shapes with the dough that I gave him. He used cookie cutters to cut them out.
Refrigerate the tray of Tootsie Rolls until they firm up, for about 1 hour. Wrap the homemade Tootsie Rolls in waxed paper to keep them from sticking to each other. They will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I like them cold, but you can bring them to room temperature before serving.
For dozens of other fun recipes to make with kids be sure to check out our Play With Your Food Pinterest board!
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LaVonne @ Long Wait says
October 3, 2011 at 3:18 amThanks for sharing this one. I love it. I pinned it to my “Foods to Die For” board on Pinterest and tweeted it on Twitter.
Happy Week!
[email protected] Bitsy Paper says
October 3, 2011 at 2:21 pmOh my goodness these are awesome! I hope you will link up this recipe to my Wickedly Creative Halloween Ideas Party.
http://www.itsybitsypaperblog.com
Stephanie says
October 3, 2011 at 3:43 pmThis is great, I can’t wait to give it a try, thanks for the idea.
Emily says
October 4, 2011 at 3:53 amWow! Thanks for sharing this! We will definitely be making Homemade Tootsie Rolls this year.
Analog Girl says
October 4, 2011 at 6:13 amThank you for sharing this recipe! I have Pinned this so that I can make these. My husband loves the fruit flavored versions of Tootsie Rolls. Do you have any ideas on how to make those?
karie says
February 22, 2014 at 2:51 pmTake dehydrated fruit and grind it to flour consistency. Replace cocoa with it. Might have to play around with the amounts for the flavor.could also add a little fruit flavorings for baking/candy making. I made apple this way
Brandy says
February 24, 2014 at 11:19 amThat is an awesome tip and would be a great natural substitute, thanks!!
Kathryn Michelle Jenkins says
October 4, 2011 at 6:14 pmwhat a great treat and tutorial! look so fun. take care!
kathryn
http://www.thedragonsfairytail.blogspot.com
Alexa says
October 4, 2011 at 7:22 pmThis is genius! I have to send the recipe to my nephew. This is the only candy he likes! Now he can make his own!!!
I’d love it if you linked up to my blog hop Terrorific Tuesdays!
http://swelldesigner.blogspot.com/2011/10/terrorific-tuesday-blog-hop-time.html
Kristens Creations says
October 6, 2011 at 4:13 amSo glad you posted this recipe! I didn’t even know there was a recipe on how to make tootsie rolls…good to know! So glad you joined the party! Kristen
Emily says
October 6, 2011 at 8:02 pmWhat a fun idea! I’m definitely going to try this soon.
The Answer Is Chocolate says
October 8, 2011 at 3:17 pmYour site is proving very dangerous for me! These are great!!
Christa says
October 10, 2011 at 1:52 pmThanks for the recipe! I love Tootsie Rolls, but they’re still a little hard for my teeth. These should be perfect. 🙂
Mao Mao says
October 11, 2011 at 8:51 amThey seem yummy 🙂
maomaocrafts,blogspot.com
Abby says
October 11, 2011 at 4:58 pmmmmmm my mouth is watering!
The Stuff of Success says
October 11, 2011 at 8:40 pmThese look great – feel free to share at the Success U – Wednesday Linkup Party at http://www.thestuffofsuccess.com. Who can resist tootsie rolls!
Emily says
October 12, 2011 at 5:47 amoh yum!!! Looks so delicious! Would love for you to come over and link up to my Tasty Tuesday party. http://nap-timecreations.blogspot.com/
orangepflege says
October 12, 2011 at 6:48 amWoW! that looks very good.. thanks for posting.=D
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Karyn - Pint Sized Baker says
October 17, 2011 at 12:16 amJust found you through “Skip to my Lou” and I love the idea of homemade Tootsie Rolls! This is Great!
lovecrafts says
October 18, 2011 at 7:43 amSo fun! i love it, thanks for sharing.
S says
January 30, 2012 at 9:44 pmFound you on Pinterest. Cannot believe how easy and delish these were. Regular Tootsies are loaded with hydrogenated gook and don’t even resemble what they once were. May even attempt Tootsie Pops!
A one, a two….. lol
MoonCat says
March 5, 2012 at 7:50 pmAbsolutely delicious – I found it easier to maneuver the candy when mixing in the second cup of powdered sugar with my hands, and next time will probably use a little less as they seem a little tiny bit ‘grainy’ this time – but I will most definitely make them again!!
Brandy says
March 5, 2012 at 8:50 pmMooncat: GREAT! I am so glad they turned out for you. Thanks for letting me know!
Brandy
Gluesticks
Carissa Rasmussen says
September 24, 2012 at 3:21 pmI love tootsie rolls; never thought about making them myself! Thanks for the inspiration
Sarah says
September 24, 2012 at 8:47 pmThis could be a dangerous recipe, they wouldn’t last very long in my house but what a fantastic idea. If you get a chance I would love for you to link up at my Pin Party.
http://sarahdawndesigns.blogspot.com/2012/09/pintastic-monday-link-party-10.html#.UGC99K4-WnA
Eric and Tabitha McCoy says
September 24, 2012 at 9:09 pmThank you for posting this. I made them last night and everyone that I have given them too, LOVED them. My husband wants me to make some fruit flavored ones now. Not sure how to do it. So if anyone has a recipe to do them, please let me know. Thanks,
Tabitha
anon says
January 21, 2013 at 9:43 pmLooks great! Any ideas on a sugar-free version?
Darcy says
January 27, 2014 at 3:51 amI had success making tootsie like things by using chocolate chip and Karo- basically chocolate chips in a modeling chocolate recipe (which usually uses white chocolate).
You might be able to make modeling chocolate (candy clay) with white chocolate and fruit flavor/color it for a fruity version.