If you're wondering how to make Fun Dip, you're going to freak out at how easy it is!
It's super simple to make and makes a ton. It would be great to serve at a party so the kids could put their own favor together.
I love figuring out copycat recipes and this one is really similar to the original. You've got to give it a try!
Our family loves Fun Dip candy so figuring out how to make it at home was really, well, fun. And once I figured out how to make Cherry Fun Dip flavored whipped cream, I knew I could use it in all kinds of recipes. So making a homemade version just made sense!
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Homemade Fun Dip is So Easy
Fun Dip is one of my favorite childhood candies and one that my kids love too.
It's a very sweet, flavored powder that comes in a paper pouch that is easy to tear and use as well as with a candy stick!
You wet the stick, dip it in the powder, and lick it off. And then you eat the stick.
I wondered if you could make homemade Fun Dip. And you can!
There are a few recipes online for it, but I decided to give it a try on my own.
I made a few varieties and in the end, found that Jello creates a flavor closest to the original.
And then you can use this DIY candy to make a tasty Fun Dip Kid's Drink or a Cherry Fun Dip cocktail!
Growing up, my mom used to always make Homemade Cinnamon Candy for Christmas.
But that needs a candy thermometer and I'm just too lazy for that. Also, I'm afraid of boiling sugar.
I read that Fun Dip was creating to rival Kool Aid so I wanted to give that a try. But thought Jello might work too.
Other candies I could have tried as a base are Pixy Stix and SweetTarts. Both sounded like a lot of work.
I was right, Jello is the best way to make copycat Fun Dip.
Ingredients
Since cherry Fun Dip is my favorite flavor I decided to use that as the baseline. And cherry Jello is super similar. You'll want a 3 ounce package.
You can use other Jello flavors and create your own custom candy flavors. If you buy a larger package, you may need to measure it out.
Don't get sugar free Jello. You're making candy for goodness sake.
Citric acid is easy to find online and is what makes the candy go from sweet to tart. You'll only need a small amount. But luckily you can use any leftover for making bath fizzies or homemade cleaning products or even hair care treatments.
How to Make Fun Dip
- Add the Jello powder and citric acid to a small mixing bowl.
- Stir until well combined.
- Grab something to dip with and enjoy!
I tried Kool-aid but it was SUPER tart on its own. Like, TOO tart.
You would have to add a ton of sugar to make it edible.
Adding the citric acid to the Jello, which has a similar flavor on its own, gives it the bite or tang it needs to mimic the Cherry Fun Dip.
How much does this DIY Fun Dip recipe make?
3 ounces. Which is WAY more than a standard serving of Fun Dip.
That's what makes this recipe good for a party. Or you could use it for my other Fun Dip recipes such as a Fun Dip Cocktail or my Cherry Fun Dip Flavored Whipped Cream.
How can I make other flavors of Fun Dip?
To make other flavors, just use some different Jello! This Berry Blue was as close as I could find to the Raspberry Apple flavor (which is one of the basic Fun Dip flavors).
Try experimenting with different Jello flavors and see what you like!
How to Make Fun Dip Sticks
I can't, for the life of me, find a Fun Dip Sticks recipe. I'm a novice candy maker so I have no idea how to create this sugary, hard, chalky candy stick at home.
But I did try to find alternates that you could use along with the DIY Fun Dip.
My top choice for a DIY Fun Dip Stick is candy cigarettes. The flavor is not exactly the same, but it's pretty close.
They have just a touch of vanilla flavor like the Lik a Stix, but it's much more subtle. These are also way skinnier so it would pick up less Fun Dip each time.
Also, make sure you aren't buying candy cigarettes that are gum. That would be gross. Maybe...
Oriental Trading Company also has a white candy stick but I haven't tested it yet.
Since I have other Fun Dip recipes where I didn't need the sticks, I just used them here.
I had my kids come in and do a taste test too, to make sure I was on the right track.
The Kool Aid had big flavor, but you would need to add SO much sugar in order to make it sweet enough to actually enjoy.
The Jello already has the sweetness figured out so it's the best ingredient to start with.
Of course, you can skip the citric acid. But I really do think that it helps the powder taste closer to the real Fun Dip.
Don't want to make your own??
Just buy your Fun Dip here.
Or check out these other recipes for DIY Fun Dip:
- Epic Sweets version uses Jello and Kool-aid for the tart kick instead of citric acid.
- Real Healthy Recipes has a healthy version!
Now you know how to make Fun Dip - it's so good and really takes you back to that childhood candy you've always loved!
Related Recipes
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Homemade Fun Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 ounces cherry jello mix
- ¾ teaspoon citric acid
Instructions
- Add both ingredients to a small or medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Stir until well combined.
- Grab something to dip with and enjoy!
Loretta says
The kool-aid method is 2 cups of sugar to one package if kool-aid. I used to do that as a child. I recently learned the recipe for fun dip, pixie stix and sweethearts are exactly the same. The only difference is the packaging. Lol. Good recipe for those not in the know.
Katie says
An alternative for vegetarians/vegans: 1/2 cup sugar and one packet of Kool Aid is perfectly sweet and sour and no gelatin.