Old-Fashioned Jelly Nougat Candy

If you loved those amazing Brach’s nougat candies as a child you’re going to flip over this easy DIY version. It calls for just a few ingredients and comes together in minutes! 

What were your favorite candies as a kid? I’m probably dating myself here, but I remember when our local Sears department store had a candy counter. I loved getting Brach’s kisses. But even more than that, I loved their nougats. 

That chewy white base, those delicious gummies. . .I loved everything about them! And when I got old enough to buy my own treats, I often picked up bags of nougats, especially around Christmas time. They were so colorful and fun! 

Why You’ll Love This Jelly Nougat Candy Recipe

Take about an Easy Homemade Holiday Treat!

The past couple years I’ve experimented with Christmas candies. I’ve made quite a few: my Mama’s turtles, Divinity, Buckeyes, Fudge, Peanut Butter Cups, and a host of truffles! I’ve got pralines, coconut balls, English toffee, and Soft Christmas Peppermints. 

One would think I had enough candy recipes! But the temptation to add a nougat recipe was too much of a temptation, especially when they kept showing up in my Pinterest feed. But you guys probably know me by now. I rarely make things according to the recipe. I like to make things my own. 

Most online recipes called for white chocolate chips. I didn’t have any of those but I had a full package of almond bark. They also called for Dots Candies. I had two bags of gummy bears. So, I went with what I had. You’re more than welcome to use what you like. 

Jelly Nougat Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here’s a quick peek at what you’ll need. These are simple ingredients you can find at your local grocery store. 

• 2 10-ounce packages mini marshmallows
• 24 ounce package almond bark (or two bags of white chocolate chips)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2-3 cups gummies or Dots (cut in half)

How to Make Old-Fashioned Jelly Nougat Candy

These come together quickly and easily! 

Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray and place a piece of parchment paper inside, overlapping on the sides. 

Spray the paper with more of the non-stick spray and set aside. 

Cut Dots (or gummies) in half and set aside. 

In a large microwave safe bowl place all ingredients except the gummies. Make sure your almond bark squares are in small pieces. (I neglected to do this and had to cook mine longer.) 

Microwave in one-minute increments until marshmallows puff up and almond bark begins to melt, stirring often. 

You’ll probably need to do this for at least three minutes. 

Stir well to melt the chocolate. 

As soon as it comes together gently fold the candies in. *You can reserve a few to press on top. 

Note, if you use gummies like I did you have to be careful not to over-stir them or they will begin to melt. I learned this the hard way but caught them just in time!  If you use dots you probably won’t have this problem. I just happen to prefer the taste of gummies. 

Dump into prepared dish. 

Butter your hands and gently press it into place. 

If you like, you can press more candies on top. 

Allow to sit out overnight to firm up. 

Cut into squares or rectangles. 

Serve and enjoy! 

Store in a cool dry place in an airtight container. 

What to Expect from this Homemade nougat candy

This is one of those Easy Christmas candy recipes you’re going to make again and again!

These are every bit as delicious as the original, if not more so! Because they’re made from scratch they don’t have that “preservative” taste that store-bought candies have. I loved, loved, loved the gummies and found the whole experience very satisfying because it made me feel like I was a kid again! White chocolate nougat candy recipe is sure to be a new favorite!

Variations to this Recipe

Cinnamon Bears: I mean. . .yum! Add a cinnamon twist at Christmas-time! 

Dried fruit: choose from Craisins, dried cherries, dates, or whatever you prefer! 

Nuts: You can chop and add your favorite nuts in place of candies if you like. 

Pretzels: Yum! The salty pretzels add a whole new dimension of texture and flavor. 

If you like this DIY jelly nougat candy you’ll probably enjoy these other candies: 

• Peanut Butter Snowballs 
• Easy Peanut Brittles
• Copycat York Peppermint Patties
• Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffles

That’s it for this post, friends!

I hope you enjoyed this old-fashioned jelly nougat candy recipe. This Brach’s nougat candy recipe is going to be a fan favorite.

If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you’re at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 165 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.