Whether you’re making a batch for gift giving, or creating a festive platter for a holiday party, these Christmas Candy Recipes are sure to be a hit.
Scroll Down for the Christmas Candy Recipes ⬇
Christmas candy ranges from classic, old-fashioned favorites like fudge and caramels to fancy and festively decorated confections like peppermint bark and candy canes. Whichever you prefer, candy is always at the heart of the holidays.
Traditions involving Christmas Candy date back thousands of years. Candy Canes became popular beginning in the 1600s when a German choirmaster made sugar sticks shaped into the shape of shepherds’ crooks and gave them to the children in the choir.
In Europe, confectioners in the 1800s used ribbon candy to decorate their shops during the holidays.
In Iceland, kids leave their shoes by the window, and when they wake up, the shoes are full of candy if they were good or rotten potatoes if they were naughty.
Way back in the 12th century, kids would go door to door to collect candies, much like we do at Halloween today, then they would leave their stockings and shoes outside to receive candy and gifts from St. Nick.
Not only is Christmas Candy at the center of holiday tradition, it’s also delicious! People love to indulge in sweet treats, especially the seasonal holiday favorites. Even See’s Candy opens limited-time holiday shops to accommodate the increased shoppers coming in to buy gift-wrapped candies by the pound.
Christmas Candy Recipes For every Occasion
If you want to make candy to give as gifts over the holidays, look for cute holiday tins from retailers like Amazon and Target. You can even gift small amounts in cute little gift bags. Here are some of the best candies to make to give as gifts.
- Fudge
- Divinity
- Peppermint Patties
- Homemade Turtles
- Truffles
- Peanut Brittle
- Peppermint Bark
- Chocolate Covered Cherries
- Homemade Caramels
- Buckeyes
If you want a fun holiday activity to do with the kids, make candy! They will love making their own sweet treats that they can eat (or gift to someone), and it’s a great way to start a family tradition. Here are some cute candies to make with the kids as a holiday activity (recipes are in the list below!).
- Homemade Gumdrops
- Santa’s Coal Candy
- Grinch Candies
- Easy Christmas Trees
- Rock Candy
- Polar Bear Paws
- Reindeer Candy with Peanut Butter Cups
- Meringue Christmas Trees
- Homemade Candy Canes
- Melting Snowman Chocolate Balls
- Homemade Marshmallows
Use these Christmas Candy recipes as a foundation, then get creative to make them extra festive. With homemade marshmallows for example, you can use food coloring to swirl in holiday colors. Then dip them in melted chocolate and top them with candy sprinkles shaped like snowflakes!
Christmas Candy Recipes
Peppermint Bark
Peppermint Bark is an easy but always-loved Christmas candy that is perfect for gift-giving, your cookie tray or just because!
Marzipan Chocolates
Embrace your inner chocolatier by trying your hand at marzipan chocolates. They feature a soft marzipan center, snappy chocolate shell, and almonds on top!
Sugared Cranberries
Sugared Cranberries are such an easy treat for the holidays. They're addictive and so delicious!
Easy Chocolate Fudge
You’re just 3 ingredients away from enjoying this smooth, rich & EASY chocolate fudge that is a traditional Christmas candy treat.
Chocolate Truffles rolled in Coconut, Pecans or Cocoa
An easy chocolate truffle recipe that's smooth and silky, just like truffles should be.
Easy Christmas Crockpot Candy
Just 4 ingredients and a slow cooker and you can make this easy and festive Christmas Crockpot Candy. Give them as a gift or decorate the candy tray with these for your holiday party.
Peppermint Meringues
A pretty and festive holiday treat that is light and airy, you'll love these peppermint meringues.
Christmas Crack
Don't let the holidays pass by without making this Christmas Crack Candy at least once. Such a fun treat made from saltine crackers, just 4 other ingredients, and only 15 minutes!
Homemade Chocolate Turtles
One of everyone's favorite candies, make these homemade chocolate turtles to serve at Christmas. Don't forget to leave some for Santa.
Homemade Peanut Brittle (+Video)
This nutty, buttery candy is a holiday favorite for good reason! Make a batch of this to give as gifts to your candy lovers this holiday season.
Homemade Peppermint Patties
Homemade peppermint patties are cool, creamy, and surprisingly easy to make! Add these to your Christmas candy treats to make.
Melting Snowman Chocolate Balls
These adorable melting snowman chocolate balls are so adorable. You'll want to make these cute Christmas candies to put in everyones stocking.
Christmas Nougat Candy
These Christmas Gumdrop Nougats are so pretty and festive. Make a batch of these to add to your holiday candy dish.
Homemade Candy Canes
Start a fun new holiday tradition and make your own candy canes! Put them in the stockings, stir them into hot chocolate, and enjoy these festive treats.
How to Make Classic English Toffee
Classic English Toffee is a traditional holiday treat that is both delicious and easy to make!
Reindeer Candy made with Peanut Butter Cups
You can make these super cute cand reindeer using store bought candy and pretzels. They make for a fun-to-look-at and even better to eat treat for a holiday party, or a crafty Christmas treat for the kids to make.
Reindeer Chow
Part snack, part candy, make this reindeer chow to feed Santa's helpers (and your guests) with cereal, white chocolate, peanuts, pretzels, and M&Ms.
Polar Bear Paws Recipe {See's Candy Copycat}
This See's Candy Copycat recipe for Polar Bear Paws makes sweet and silky treats with a touch of salt and filled with creamy caramel and roasted nuts.
Chocolate Covered Cherries
Chocolate covered cherries with a little bit of booze? These pretty holiday party treats are marinated in bourbon, covered in fondant, and dipped in white chocolate.
Better than Store Bought Chocolate Covered Cherries
An alcohol-free version of these equally delightful chocolate covered cherries are perfect Christmas candies to have on hand for your holiday dinner party.
Cinnamon Rock Candy
This classic Christmas rock candy has a warm cinnamon flavor and is so pretty to look at. Great for gift-giving!
Christmas Puppy Chow
A delicious party snack meets candy with rice Chex coated in milk chocolate, butterscotch, and powdered sugar then tossed with festive holiday M&Ms.
Homemade Caramels
These homemade caramels are soft and chewy and easy to make. Prepare a batch of these to wrap and fill up a tin to give as a Christmas candy gift for teachers, coworkers, friends, and family.
Easy Christmas Treats : Trees
These white chocolate dipped Bugles are decorated with sprinkles and nonpareils to make festive holiday candy treats and they're easy enough to make that you can turn it into a fun holiday activity for the kids.
Buckeye Recipe
Buckeyes are a no-bake Christmas candy treat that is a holiday favorite with rich and creamy peanut butter coated wth silky smooth chocolate.
Best Butter Mints (Homemade)
These old-fashioned candies are so pretty in the candy dish, and they taste great! Make a few batches and swirl in festive holiday colors!
Quick and Easy Molasses Candy
These molasses flavored hard candies are easy and fun to make and have such a lovely look to them. They'll disappear from the candy dish in no time!
Caramel Filled Apple Ribbon Candy Recipe
These ribbon candies are absolutely gorgeous! The ribbons are flavored with tart green apple and filled with creamy caramel.
Martha Washington Candy Recipe
An old fashioned candy made with coconut, pecans, and cherries, then dipped in chocolate, this recipe is easy to make and is a popular holiday treat.
Butterscotch Squares copycat recipe
These copycat See's Butterscotch Squares are made with butter, brown sugar, and heavy whipping cream, vanilla, and powdered sugar then dipped in chocolate.
Grinch Candy
These Grinch Candies are such a cute addition to the Christmas Candy Tray!
Santa’s Coal Candy
Everyone will want coal in their stockings this year with this Santa's Coal Candy. Takes just 10 to 15 minutes to make, and only 3 ingredients!
Homemade Gumdrops Recipe
Just 5 ingredients to homemade gundrops! These are so fun and festive and are perfect for making together as a family for a fun holiday activity.
Rocky Road
Take your fudge up a notch with this rocky road fudge candy recipe. No baking required, and made with just 5 ingredients, it's a delicious treat and makes a perfect holiday gift.
Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy Recipe
Divinity Candy is an old fashioned Southern confection that is meringue based, light and airy, and super sweet. You can make different variations of this, from peppermint to cherry, but the base recipe takes only 6 ingredients! Plus, they look like little snowballs on your holiday dessert tray!
Homemade Almond Roca (4 Ingredients!)
Skip the store-bought almond roca and make it homemade with this easy 4-ingredient recipe!
Meringue Christmas Tree Cookies
These little Meringue Christmas Trees are adorable and super easy Christmas cookies. They'll look so cute on your cookie tray!
Homemade Marshmallows
Love marshmallows? Well, you’ll obsess over these homemade marshmallows! The pillowy soft, gooey delights are tasty sweet treats that are super easy to make.
Stained Glass Candy (Christmas Hard Candy)
This hard candy recipe is reimagined with fun Christmas colors and cinnamon and spearmint flavors.
Reindeer Corn (Christmas Candy Corn)
This Christmas version of candy corn features white, green and red Christmas colors with the same nostalgic taste.
Read These Next!
- 80+ Taco Toppings - March 20, 2024
- 150+ Pizza Topping Ideas - February 20, 2024
- Lentil Soup With Ham - February 14, 2024