Eating insects may be trendy, but these candy critters actually tempt us!

You may not want to taste real edible insects, but you can surprise your friends and family with these cute bugs made from candy.

Whether you prefer fluttery butterflies, slimy snails or creepy-crawlies, with just a few ingredients you can create a cute candy version of your favorite bug.

To make the butterfly, you need white candy melts, mini pretzels, colored sprinkles and colored Tootsie Rolls.

Start by dipping each pretzel into melted white candy melts. This is the messy part. You can dip them several times so the holes are filled in or dip them once and let the candy drip off to leave the holes open.

Place the dipped pretzels on a sheet of parchment paper, sprinkle them well with nonpareils, and let harden. If you’re having extremely hot weather like we are right now, you can place them in the fridge.

Roll a Tootsie Roll between your hands to create the butterfly body.

Now dip the bottom end of each pretzel back into the candy melts, and press onto the Tootsie Roll. You will need to hold them in place until the candy melt hardens, or prop them up in your fridge.

To make the snails, you will need peppermint candies, mini gumdrops and Twizzler Pull ‘n’ Peel candies.

Slice a thin edge off a gumdrop.

Pull off a piece of Twizzler, and slice it in half vertically.

Use a toothpick to poke 2 holes into the top front of the gumdrop (opposite of the side you sliced away), then poke 2 segments of Twizzler into each hole for antennae.

Now press a peppermint candy up against the cut side of the gumdrop, attaching it with the stickiness of the gumdrop.

To make the beetle, you will need mini pretzels, Mounds bars and Mike and Ike candies in the colors of your choice.

Start by cutting the tips off of several Mike and Ike candies. These tips will be the spots on your beetle.

Press them gently onto a Mounds bar. I found they could stick on their own, but I was less likely to break the Mounds bar if I used a few melted chocolate chips to stick them in place.

Slice the 3 curved pieces off a pretzel.

Cut each of those pieces in half, and you have 6 legs.

Carefully poke the legs into the sides of the candy bar.

You can leave the bug as is or increase the cuteness factor by using melted chocolate chips to stick on a couple of candy eyes.

So many cute bugs to choose from! Which one is your favorite?

Candy butterfly recipe

These butterflies are fun to make and sweet to eat. You can get creative by mixing up different colors of candy melts or sprinkles.

Serves 1

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 2 minutes | Total time: 12 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces white candy melts
• 2 mini pretzels
• Colored nonpareils
• 1 colored Tootsie Roll

Directions:

1. Melt the candy melts according to the package instructions.
2. Dip each pretzel into the white candy melts. This is the messy part. You can dip them several times so the holes are filled in or dip them once and let the candy drip off to leave the holes open.
3. Place the dipped pretzels on a sheet of parchment paper, sprinkle them well with nonpareils, and let harden.
4. While they’re hardening, roll the Tootsie Roll between your hands to create the butterfly body.
5. Now dip the bottom end of each pretzel back into candy melts, press onto the Tootsie Roll, and then hold them in place until the candy melt hardens.

Candy snail recipe

These little snails are the simplest bug to make! You can mix up different colors of mints and gumdrops to create a whole family of them.

Serves 1

Total time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 mini gumdrop
• 1 peppermint candy
• 1 Twizzler Pull ‘n’ Peel candy

Directions:

1. Slice a thin strip off 1 edge of the gumdrop.
2. Pull off 1 strand of Twizzler, slice 1 end in half lengthwise, and then cut it off. You should have 2 skinny pieces about 1/2 inch long.
3. Use a toothpick to poke 2 holes into the top front of the gumdrop, on the opposite side of the edge you sliced off.
4. Poke the Twizzler pieces into each hole.
5. Press the peppermint into the cut side of the gumdrop so that it sticks.

More edible animals

Hot dog bento box animals
Mini turkey-shaped cheese balls
Deviled egg chicks