I’ve always wanted to try candy-infused vodkas! A couple years ago, I experimented with fruit and vegetable-infused versions (spoiler– raspberry and pomegranate were the best!), and at that time, many of you recommended I try candy, marshmallows, and… really… all kinds of things! Apparently you can put many MANY different solid foods into a bottle of vodka to give it a new infused flavor. Pretty cool. Today, in honor of trick-or-treating month, it’s candy time.
I chose Jolly Ranchers because they were my favorite childhood hard candy. You can use many different kinds of candy. I recommend something where you can separate the colors though, so it stays bright and pretty (and doesn’t turn muddy or brown).
Here’s how to infuse vodka with Jolly Ranchers!
Needed:
-vodka (make sure it is unflavored)
-airtight containers
-Jolly Ranchers (I used all the ones in a big bag, about 10-12 pieces per small bottle.)
Divide the Jolly Ranchers up by color. This will help both the color and the flavor stay true to the candy. You can add more candy than this if you want something super sweet and intense. Our finished product was sweet and flavorful, but not too syrupy.
My favorite Jolly Rancher when I was a kid was green apple and Laura’s was watermelon. What was yours?
Use a funnel to pour vodka into each vessel, then seal it.
I took this photo after about an hour of the bottle sitting on the countertop. I was shocked by how fast the process happened. I shook it up after about an hour, then let it continue to sit. The next morning the candy had completely dissolved, so I gave it one more shake and called it done! The whole process took less than 24 hours.
The finished vodka can be given as a gift. It can also be served with Sprite, lemonade, or, of course, as a shot. The candy flavor REALLY comes through. It’s fun! Like I said before, you can always add more candy if you want a sweeter, more intense flavor.
What do you think? Candy-flavored vodka, anyone? xo. Elsie
Credits// Author: Elsie Larson. Photography: Sarah Rhodes and Elsie Larson. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess Actions.
Jolly Rancher Vodka
Ingredients
- -vodka make sure it is unflavored
- -airtight containers
- -Jolly Ranchers I used all the ones in a big bag, about 10-12 pieces per small bottle.
Instructions
-
Divide the Jolly Ranchers up by color. This will help both the color and the flavor stay true to the candy. You can add more candy than this if you want something super sweet and intense. Our finished product was sweet and flavorful, but not too syrupy.
-
Use a funnel to pour vodka into each vessel, then seal it.
-
I shook it up after about an hour, then let it continue to sit. The next morning the candy had completely dissolved, so I gave it one more shake and called it done! The whole process took less than 24 hours.
72 Comments
Ooooo, I bet other candy might work as well, like jelly beans or Starbursts! The colors on these Jolly Rancher infusions turned out beautifully. I’ve experimented with fruit and herb infusions before too, with great success. Honestly a strawberry infusion tastes an awful lot like candy, too!
Cat
http://oddlylovely.com
I made this is college all the time expect this looks much more adult than making it in huge Deer Park bottles haha
http://thatsmagsforyou.com
I used to make candy cane vodka and gift it with homemade hot cocoa mix during the holidays. No I pretty much stick to cucumber-infused, but it doesn’t look nearly as pretty!
That’s so inventive! Somebody seems to be preparing for the halloween.
http://www.arcticvanilla.com/
Hi Elsie! Thanks for sharing this 🙂 it looks so cute and easy, can’t wait to test it out.
xoxo from Miami- Jessy
http://www.letsfallinloveblog.com
YES. I was going to say… I used to do this in college, but you ABM gals make it look much classier, haha.
I recently heard this was a thing and that it was even better than skittles vodka!
My favorite flavor was (is) cherry… maybe I’ll give it a try soon.
-E
http://amie-eo.blogspot.com
Okay SO fun.
http://juliettelaura.blogspot.com
I love the bright fun colours! I’ve heard of making this with skittles, but the Jolly Rancher colours are much more bright and fun!
M.
what a fun idea! i can’t wait to try!!
xxoo,
nikki
http://www.dream-in-neon.com
What a brilliant idea and so fun!
The blue-raspberry Jolly Rancer vodka sounds like the perfect gift for my best friend who just loves blue-flavored drinks!
Where did you get the awesome bottles for this?
I remember reading about this process years ago but I always assumed it would be persnickety and take weeks and weeks. I’m so surprised it only took a day and it seemed super easy. sweeet! thanks for sharing.
I make skittle vodka a lot, and I’ve had wethers original vodka which should be horrible but is amazing!
India / Touchscreens & Beautyqueens
What what what??? My favourite candy of all time as a drink?! How did this combo not come about before? I am seriously all over this for Canadian thanksgiving weekend parties. woot woot!
thanks a bundle for sharing!
http://www.oomphlove.blogspot.ca
LOVE love love this one!!! Love colorful drinks.. and candies are my fav… will def try this..
xo
Hems
http://agoldentulip.blogspot.com/
Oh AMAZING! Love it AND the colors. Can’t wait to try than you!
xo
Hollyn
http://psimfromthemidwest.blogspot.com/
Ha! Your alcohol posts lately make me wish I were back in college:)
oh yum! this could be dangerous 😉 looks so pretty!
I made jello shots once. It was really fun except I forgot that alcohol can be ‘sweated’ out when you make the jello. Long story short, I made some jello. Minus the ‘shots.’
It’s such a fun idea to try!!! I sure will give it a try soon!
Thanks for sharing
That is such a fun idea! I must give it a go!
thanks for sharing
xxx Itzi
which flavor was your favorite??
Gah! This looks awesome! So darn sweet (quite literally) and simple! Love it!
http://sometimesgracefully.com
This looks delicious! The bright colors are so so fun
xo, erica
sweet-endeavors.com
Of course!
amazing, will this work with gin???
http://www.mykitschworld.blogspot.com.es
These are so pretty they would look amazing on a table at a halloween party! Jolly Ranchers were my favourite candy growing up so I cannot wait to try this!! XO
love the bright colors!
Elsie, where is your necklace from?
Yes, you can use basically any candy! 😀
xx- Elsie
Haha! I wouldn’t call it classy, but it was fun! 🙂
xx- Elsie
Hobby Lobby.
xx- Elsie
Haha! Yes, you have to add the alcohol in at the very end for jello shot. 🙂
I did the same thing once with a spiked cider. whoops!
xx- Elsie
Watermelon!
xx- Elsie
Yes, it will work but Gin has a stronger flavor than vodka so you’ll probably taste it more. I’d use more candy with Gin, personally.
xx- Elsie
Hi Sherri,
It’s from Danny Brito on Etsy!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/dannybrito
xx- Elsie
This recipe should be for cheap vodka only! I’m cringing at the thought of using Stoli for this…yikes!
How fun! I’m definitely going to try. It will be great for Halloween!
You can use any brand of vodka you want.
xx- Elsie
Mmmmm this looks so good. Definitely trying!!
xo
http://www.iolablog.com/
I’ve always wanted to try this, but keep forgetting about it. I’m going to have to try this out. It looks so flavorful and fun!
Connie | Sponsored by Coffee
This is awesome! I will definitely be trying this soon!
I love candy and I love Vodka 🙂
When mixed together, it is going to be awesomesauce 😛
http://besthalloweenstorez.com/
These are so cute and so beautiful, I’d love to give these as gifts. Can you think of a way to produce a non-alcoholic version?
This is so fun! I’ve already voted to make these with my girlfriends at our next get together / sleepover 😛 Cute idea for gifts too.
Thanks for making this post now! I really love it. I’ve made skittes vodka before – but somehow it looks like this will turn out even more DELICIOUS! Going to make it for my roommates for Halloween! http://meowemily.blogspot.com
I LOVE candy infused Vodka- it’s so pretty!
My favourite thing to infuse is Skittles to make Skittle Bombs.
Soo good!
Much love. xx
http://christiestakeonlife.blogspot.com.au/
I am definitely trying this. Thanks for the inspiration Elsie.
Rosie x
http://www.rosedogandco.blogspot.com.au
We like to dissolve liquorice lollies in vodka, have you tried that? It’s not so sweet and the black colour looks awesome, suitable for Halloween 😉
Looks too much fun and pretty!! I want to try with Starbursts!
XO Chloe
A Latte Lipstick
I went to a party at my FIL’s house a few weeks ago and someone had jars of Jolly Rancher moonshine. Apple and watermelon! They were delicious, but I can totally see how one could accidentally consume too much. The candy really took the sting of the moonshine away.
YES, please!!
This is such a cute idea! I loooove the colours! This is something I would concider making !
Love the colours, I need to try this tonight!
http://www.georginamarmoy.blogspot.com
Skittles vodka is a bit of a craze in the UK! 🙂
This takes me back to University days!!!!
Can somebody tell me what Jolly Ranchers are? Unfortunately we don’t have them in Germany 🙁
This seems similar to skittle vodka that I’ve seen lots of people make! It always looks fun, I need to try it!
Beauty and Lifestyle Blog
xx
They look so pretty!
Oh my, this sounds yummy! So glad y’all came up with this!!
Why did you move the vodka into another container? Could you do the same process just using the bottle it came in (with a few more pieces of candy, of course) ~~ just curious…
Those are so pretty! I just recently turned 21 (so exciting!) and have been wanting to try some drinks. I’ll keep this fun one in mind!
http://ashcatz.blogspot.com
This sounds so interesting! May have to try it!
http://charlottesophiaroberts.blogspot.co.uk
I love how colorful they all turned out! My favorite growing up was green apple. 🙂
Spree plus zia = heaven. That was my drank!
We used to do this with skittles at uni, I imagine you get much more flavour off the jolly ranchers though
Lauren
livinginaboxx
This may be a stupid question, but how long would this be good? If I gave as a gift and they didn’t drink it for a year because they liked the color and bottle in their wine cabinet, would the color start to fade and lose flavor?
May I ask where you got these bottles? Love these! I’ve done the skittles, I like this idea more!!
How big are the bottles?
What size are the bottles?
That is fantastic. I can’t believe how great that looks. I’m definitely going to try this one for Christmas gifts!
Hi,
The bottles you infused into look a little smaller than a 750ml…How much vodka to the 10-12 jolly ranchers?
Trying to make this next weekend for a post graduation gathering for my daughter & her friends.
Thank you!