Chinese Milk Candy is a beloved Chinese New Year candy. This easy marshmallow nougat recipe, with just three ingredients, makes chewy nougat full of crunchy, roasted peanuts.
Why you'll love this recipe
Traditions for the Lunar New Year include enjoying food symbolic of good wishes. A special candy box, called the Tray of Togetherness, is filled with sweets that represent luck, happiness, and good fortune.
The most popular candy in China, White Rabbit creamy candy, is frequently included. It looks and tastes similar to a vanilla tootsie roll with condensed milk flavor. It's referred to as milk candy because powdered milk is a main ingredient.
Homemade Chinese Milk Candy is super easy to make in about ten minutes. Waiting for the nougat to firm enough for cutting is the only part that requires just a bit of patience.
The candy can be made with regular marshmallows or vegan (no gelatin) marshmallows. The results are a slightly different, but both make a tasty treat.
The regular marshmallows are stickier when melted which makes them easier to mix, but take longer to set. The vegan marshmallows require a bit more muscle to mix, set quickly, and result in a firmer, less chewy nougat.
Ingredients
Powdered whole milk can be found online and at specialty baking stores.
Either regular or vegan (no gelatin) marshmallows can be used. Dandies brand vegan marshmallows are my favorites.
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
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- Use a rolling pin to crush the peanuts inside a ziplock bag.
- Thoroughly grease the inside of a large mixing bowl. Add the marshmallows to the bowl and microwave for 1 minute.
- Mix the milk powder into the melted marshmallows.
- Add the crushed peanuts and mix/knead until incorporated.
- Transfer onto one half of a sheet of parchment paper. Fold the parchment in half over the nougat.
- Use a rolling pin to flatten the candy to ¼- ½” thickness.
- Firm at room temperature overnight or in the refrigerator for about an hour.
- Cut into pieces and wrap in candy paper or foil.
Tips
- The peanuts and milk powder have to be mixed into the melted marshmallow quickly. It helps to have the ingredients premeasured before starting the recipe.
- The regular marshmallows are very sticky when melted. Thoroughly greasing the bowl and vigorous scrapping is required to remove as much of the mixture as possible from the bowl.
- The melted vegan marshmallows are much less gooey and soft and don’t stick to the bowl. However, it is harder to mix in the peanuts and milk. Kneading the confection with your hands is the easiest way to combine the ingredients.
- Peanuts can be replaced with other nuts or chopped dried fruits.
- The Chinese recipes all specify whole powdered milk, not the low or nonfat powdered milk commonly found in US supermarkets. Easily order an American made version online.
Frequently asked questions
This holiday, also known as Spring Festival, is a time to start fresh, honor ancestors, and renew family ties.
Eating sweet things represents wishes for sweetness in the coming year. Sharing gifts of candy is thought to spread good luck and fortune while indulging your sweet tooth.
The word nougat comes from the Old French Provencal word for nut cake.
More Chinese New Year snacks
Dragon Cookies are tasty treats made by piping butter cookie dough in the shape of a dragon! Beautiful and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Peanut Cookies are traditional New Year cookies that make great gifts and yummy snacks.
Pineapple Cookies are bite sized shortbread cookies filled with pineapple jam.
These traditional Chinese New Year Almond Cookies are a crunchy butter cookies with wonderful almond flavor.
This roundup of 10 Chinese New Year Treats offers lots of recipe options!
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Milk Candy Nougat
Ingredients
- 5 ounces marshmallows about 22 regular or 14 Dandies brand (vegan)
- ½ cup roasted peanuts
- ½ cup powdered whole milk
Instructions
- Use a rolling pin to crush the peanuts inside a ziplock bag.
- Thoroughly grease the inside of a large mixing bowl.
- Add the marshmallows to the bowl and microwave for 1 minute.
- Working quickly, mix the whole milk powder completely into the melted marshmallows with a silicone spatula.
- Add the crushed peanuts and mix until incorporated. The mixture is hot and sticky. Vegan marshmallows may require kneading the peanuts into the marshmallows by hand.
- Transfer the mixture onto one half of a sheet of parchment paper. Fold the parchment in half over the nougat.
- Use a rolling pin to flatten the candy to ¼- ½” thickness.
- Firm at room temperature overnight or in the refrigerator for about an hour.
- Cut into rectangles (about ¾” x 1 ½”) and wrap in candy paper or foil.
- Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- The peanuts and milk powder have to be mixed into the melted marshmallow quickly. It helps to have the ingredients premeasured before starting the recipe.
- The regular marshmallows are very sticky when melted. Thoroughly greasing the bowl and vigorous scrapping is required to remove as much of the mixture as possible from the bowl.
- The melted vegan marshmallows are much less gooey and soft and don't stick to the bowl. However, it is harder to mix in the peanuts and milk. Kneading the confection with your hands is the easiest way to combine the ingredients.
- Peanuts can be replaced with other nuts or chopped dried fruits.
- The Chinese recipes all specify whole powdered milk, not the low or nonfat powdered milk commonly found in US supermarkets. This gives the milk flavor a rich taste. Easily order an American made version online.
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