Tasty Millionaire Candy

Featured in Sweet Treats Everyone Will Love.

These DIY treats blend soft caramels with crunchy toasted pecans, all wrapped in milk chocolate with a touch of sea salt. They're a decadent, fancy snack ideal for holiday presents.
Emily Watson
Updated on Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:20:33 GMT
A plate of chocolate treats with pecans on top and sea salt sprinkles, with one candy cut open showing the soft center. Pin it
A plate of chocolate treats with pecans on top and sea salt sprinkles, with one candy cut open showing the soft center. | thefamilycooks.com

I gotta tell you about my go-to sweet treat for special occasions. These Homemade Millionaire Bites are truly worth every calorie, mixing melt-in-your-mouth caramel, crunchy toasted pecans, and velvety chocolate in each decadent nibble. They've been my signature holiday offering for ages and always bring tons of happiness to family get-togethers.

The Secret Behind Their Incredible Taste

What's amazing about these treats is how just a few basic ingredients come together to create something downright wonderful. The way the sticky caramel, nutty pecans and dreamy chocolate work together is just incredible. And thanks to ready-made caramels, they're surprisingly easy to whip up, making them perfect for heartfelt holiday presents.

Everything You'll Need

  • Store-bought caramels: They save us so much trouble.
  • Whole milk: A splash makes the caramel perfectly pourable.
  • Pecans: Don't skip toasting them first for amazing flavor.
  • Sea salt flakes: My little trick for that fancy finish.
  • Milk chocolate melting wafers: Ghirardelli works wonders for this recipe.

Creating Your Sweet Treasures

Set Up
Good tray lining will save you headaches when it's time to remove them.
Melt With Care
Let the caramel melt slowly and enjoy the process, it's weirdly relaxing.
Mix In Crunch
Stirring in those pecans and salt brings everything to life.
Form Each Piece
Your scoop will help make them all the same size without any fuss.
Chocolate Bath
Take your time with the chocolate melting, patience pays off here.
Finishing Sprinkle
That tiny bit of sea salt on top makes them look like they came from a candy shop.

Storage Tips

You can keep these little gems fresh for about two weeks if you store them in a tightly sealed container with parchment paper between layers. That makes them super convenient to prepare before the holiday rush hits.

Fun Variations

I sometimes swap in dark chocolate for a richer taste or throw in some dried cranberries for holiday color. You can try all sorts of twists and they'll turn out just as yummy as the original version.

Common Questions

Dark chocolate works great if that's what you like, and any decent chocolate will do the job nicely. They also freeze really well, just let them warm up completely before you serve them.

Holiday Memories

Crafting these candies has become one of my favorite holiday traditions. There's something truly special about making these little delights that bring so much happiness to everyone who bites into them.

Down-Home Tradition

The deep Southern background of this candy adds an extra layer of meaning. When I'm making them, I can't help thinking about all the family kitchens where these sweets have created moments of joy across many years.

The Making Experience

Nothing beats turning on some Christmas tunes and getting lost in making these candies. It's such a calming afternoon activity and you'll be so happy with what you create.

Gift From The Heart

They make wonderful presents. I love putting them in cute containers or tins to give to teachers, folks next door and friends. Homemade treats just seem to mean more to people than store-bought stuff.

Great Combinations

On my holiday treat plates, these candies always get grabbed first. They look amazing next to other homemade sweets, creating a gorgeous festive collection that's ideal for parties or giving as gifts.

A close-up of chocolate-covered caramel candies, one cut in half to reveal the gooey filling, sprinkled with sea salt and topped with pecans. Pin it
A close-up of chocolate-covered caramel candies, one cut in half to reveal the gooey filling, sprinkled with sea salt and topped with pecans. | thefamilycooks.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What's the point of using a double boiler?
A double boiler setup (bowl sitting over hot water) gives you soft, indirect warmth that stops your chocolate and caramel from scorching or getting lumpy. This leads to perfectly smooth melted ingredients.
→ Is toasting pecans really worth it?
Toasting really brings out the nutty flavor in pecans and gives them a nice crunch that works wonderfully against the sticky caramel and velvety chocolate coating.
→ What's the best way to keep these sweets fresh?
Put the candies between sheets of wax or parchment paper in a sealed container. They'll stay good for about two weeks at normal room temperature without needing to go in the fridge.
→ Why do I need to add milk to the caramels?
The tiny bit of milk helps make the caramel a little thinner so it's easier to handle, but still thick enough to shape into little mounds.
→ Can I swap out the chocolate type?
While we suggest Ghirardelli melting wafers because they melt so smoothly, any good melting chocolate works fine. Just don't use regular chocolate chips as they've got additives that mess up the melting.

Conclusion

These DIY treats blend soft caramels with crunchy toasted pecans, all wrapped in milk chocolate with a touch of sea salt. They're a decadent, fancy snack ideal for holiday presents.

Millionaire Candy

Buttery caramel mixed with crunchy toasted pecans covered in silky milk chocolate, making a luxurious sweet treat that's perfect for giving.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
10 Minutes
Total Time
30 Minutes

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 16 Servings (30 candies)

Dietary: Vegetarian, Gluten-Free

Ingredients

01 About 55 soft caramel sweets (roughly two 11-ounce packages).
02 1 tablespoon regular milk.
03 2 cups chopped, toasted pecans.
04 Small amount of flaky sea salt, extra for topping.
05 2 cups milk chocolate melting discs (best with Ghirardelli).

Instructions

Step 01

Cover two cookie sheets with parchment and give them a light spray of cooking oil.

Step 02

Place a bowl over gently bubbling water. Slowly melt the caramels with milk, giving them a stir now and then, until they're smooth (takes around 10 minutes).

Step 03

Take off the heat, mix in the pecans and salt. Scoop tablespoon-sized dollops onto your trays, making roughly 30 clusters.

Step 04

With a fresh bowl over steaming water, melt your chocolate discs. Keep stirring until they're completely smooth, about 3-5 minutes.

Step 05

Use forks to dunk each caramel cluster into the melted chocolate. Put them back on the parchment, add a sprinkle of salt if you want. Cool in the fridge for 10-15 minutes till they're set.

Notes

  1. They'll stay good at room temp for up to 2 weeks.
  2. Put wax paper between layers when you store them.
  3. You'll end up with about 30 treats.

Tools You'll Need

  • Bowl that can handle heat or double boiler.
  • Cookie sheets.
  • Non-stick parchment.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Milk products.
  • Tree nuts.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 365
  • Total Fat: 20 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 47 g
  • Protein: 3 g