These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (2024)

These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (1)

Sure, we look forward to presents and festive lights each holiday season, but we can't lie. We mostly look forward to the Christmas desserts.

Some folks are die-hard Christmas cookie fans, while others adore peppermint in its many forms. (Hello, peppermint eggnog.)

Some of us love making from-scratch recipes at every opportunity. For others, an easy upgrade to store-bought cookies makes us quite happy.

But whatever you prefer, if you're ready to create delicious food gifts for family, co-workers, and guests, these Christmas candy recipes will help you along. From fudge to chocolate bark to truffles, you'll find all kinds of homemade sweets for every person on your holiday gift list.

1

Peppermint Palmiers

These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (3)

These beautiful French cookies are so festive with their dusting of peppermint! Serve them at your next Christmas party with cups of peppermint eggnog, pictured, for a cooling winter treat.

Get the recipe for Peppermint Palmiers.

2

Holiday Reindeer Chow

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This holiday snack is easy to make, difficult to stop eating. Mix up a big batch and wrap some up in gift-bags as party favors, or simply keep a big bowl on hand for munching on while opening presents!

Get the recipe for Holiday Reindeer Chow.

3

Apple Cider Caramel Candies

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These sweet cider-flavored treats are a surprising and delicious holiday treat to have on hand. They make a great host or hostess gift. You can keep them in a bowl on the counter for unexpected guests.

Get the recipe for Apple Cider Caramel Candies.

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4

Sweet-and-Savory Peppermint Popcorn

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Give tins of this holiday snack out as gifts, or serve at your next gathering!

Get the recipe for Sweet-and-Savory Peppermint Popcorn.

5

Striped Peppermint Sandwich Cookies

These easy holiday cookies make a delicious gift or party treat! They may look like they just came from a professional baker's dessert case, but these beautiful 5-ingredient Christmas cookies couldn't be easier to make.

Get the recipe for Striped Peppermint Sandwich Cookies.

6

Chocolate-Peppermint Fudge

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Oh, fudge! This already hard-to-resist holiday treat is even more tempting when given a jolt of cooling peppermint extract and topped with the classic red and white striped candies.

Get the recipe for Chocolate-Peppermint Fudge.

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7

White Chocolate Pomegranate-Pistachio Bark

These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (9)

The burst of tart juices combined with the sweet white chocolate creates a balance of flavors in this perfect-for-the-holidays bark.

Get the recipe for White Chocolate Pomegranate-Pistachio Bark.

8

Orange-Glazed Pecans

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Something pretty magical happens when you toast pecans in orange juice and zest. They become irresistible! Set these out at your Christmas party and they'll disappear in no time.

Get the recipe for Orange-Glazed Pecans.

9

Chocolate Coconut Truffles

These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (11)

Who can say no to truffles?

Get the recipe for Chocolate Coconut Truffles.

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10

Maple, Cinnamon, and Walnut Fudge

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Combine these cozy flavors in delicious fudge and you've got the perfect holiday sweet treat!

Get the recipe for Maple, Cinnamon, and Walnut Fudge.

11

Cranberry Pâte de Fruit

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Careful: once you try these bite-sized jelly squares, it's hard to stop eating them.

Get the recipe for Cranberry Pâte de Fruit.

12

Chocolate-Dipped Peppermint Sticks

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These peppermint sticks look beautiful and taste even better! Leave out a dish of them when trimming the tree or relaxing by the fire with a mug of hot cocoa.

Get the recipe for Chocolate-Dipped Peppermint Sticks.

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13

Roasted Hazelnut & Pistachio Dark Chocolate Bark

These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (15)

This homemade treat is easy to package in treat bags or boxes for a sweet holiday gift.

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14

White Chocolate Peppermint Patties

These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (16)

Impress your friends with a snappy and sweet homemade peppermint patty.

Get the recipe for White Chocolate Peppermint Patties.

15

Slice-and-Bake Shortbread Cookies

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This easy-to-make dough can be turned into three different cookies, depending on what you're in the mood for. The chocolate ones are perfect for Santa.

Get the recipe for Slice-and-Bake Shortbread Cookies.

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16

Pecan Pralines

These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (18)

No holiday table would be complete without some sort of sweet treat filled with pecans, and these sweet pralines will hit the spot after Christmas dinner.

Get the recipe for Pecan Pralines.

17

Cherry and Pecan Divinity

These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (19)

These light-and-delightful classic Southern desserts look and taste absolutely divine.

Get the recipe for Cherry and Pecan Divinity.

18

Christmas Light Gingerbread Cookies

These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (20)

These pretty gingerbread cookies are simple to make, and can be arranged into an absolutely stunning dessert-table centerpiece.

Get the recipe for Christmas Light Gingerbread Cookies.

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19

Gourmet Marshmallows

These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (21)

The perfect treat for those cups of cocoa by the fire? How about some homemade marshmallows in cute little gift bags? Yes, please!

Get the recipe for Gourmet Marshmallows.

20

Tart-Cherry and Dark-Chocolate Bars

These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (22)

What makes a delicious food gift? Homemade chocolate bars! Tart cherries hiding in the center of these quick and easy chocolate treats deepen the earthiness of the dark chocolate.

Get the recipe for Tart-Cherry and Dark-Chocolate Bars.

These Christmas Candy Recipes Will Help You Sweeten the Season (2024)

FAQs

Which candy is associated with Christmas? ›

A candy cane is a cane-shaped stick candy often associated with Christmastide, as well as Saint Nicholas Day. It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavored with peppermint, but the canes also come in a variety of other flavors and colors.

What is the most popular Christmas candy of all time? ›

To absolutely no one's surprise, candy canes - red and white, or red, green, and white, striped candy traditionally flavored with peppermint - are one of the signature Christmas candies, with most countries firmly associating them with the holidays. Candy canes are supposedly a German invention.

How did candy canes become associated with Christmas? ›

A Christmas legend

There's some mystery surrounding the origins of candy canes because there are no exact records of their invention. One well-regarded story suggests that in 1670, a choirmaster in Cologne, Germany, gave out sugar sticks to the children as a way to soothe them during the long nativity ceremony.

What does the candy cane symbolize? ›

Cane: Is like the staff used by the shepherds in caring for sheep. Jesus is our “Good Shepherd.” The Color Red: Is for God's love that sent Jesus to give his life for us on the cross. The Stripes: Remind us of Jesus' suffering-his crown of thorns, the wounds in his hands and feet; and the cross on which he died.

What is the oldest Christmas candy? ›

One of the oldest traditional candies eaten for special occasions like Christmas is marzipan. This almond-based confection dates back centuries, with origins in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Each region has its own uses for the sweet.

Which sweet is eaten on Christmas? ›

Kul Kuls (pronounced as Kalkals) are traditional Indian Christmas sweets that are formed into little curls. These are deep-fried, sweet pastry nibbles that are served on every Indian Christmas plate. It is prepared during Christmas by Indian Catholics in Mangaloreans, Goans and Maharashtra.

What is America's #1 candy? ›

Top-selling chocolates and sweets. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the No. 1 selling candy brand in the United States, consisting of white fudge, milk, or dark chocolate cups filled with peanut butter. They were invented by H.B. Reese after he founded the H. B. Reese Candy Company in 1923.

What is the most sold candy in the world? ›

Snickers is listed as the most popular candy in the world. M&Ms, with annual sales of over $500 million, is the most popular candy brand in the United States. In duty-free shops, Toblerone is the best selling candy. KitKat's popularity is the highest in Japan, with over 200 distinct flavors available such as green tea.

What is the best selling candy in December? ›

Kit Kat ranked top in 13 states, followed by a tie between Skittles and candy canes. In a recent survey conducted by Hubscore, findings revealed that four in five Americans love to put candies in their Christmas stockings during the holiday season, while only a few preferred to fill them with small toys and gift cards.

What does an upside down candy cane mean? ›

This hard candy was shaped so it would resemble a “J” for Jesus or, turned upside down, a shepherd's staff. He made it white to represent the purity of Christ.

What does the red and white mean on a candy cane? ›

In 1847, he made a candy to symbolize Christ. The cane's "J" shape stands for Jesus; when turned upside-down, it becomes a shepherd's staff. The white color signifies purity; the red represents Christ's blood, shed for the world's sins, and three red stripes symbolize the trinity.

What color were candy canes originally? ›

Or course, today, there's nothing more iconic when it comes to candy than the alternating red and white stripes of the candy cane, but, according to Schildhaus, for 200 years, before mass-production was automated, they came in just one color: white.

When was Jesus's actual birthday? ›

The date of the birth of Jesus is not stated in the gospels or in any historical sources and the evidence is too incomplete to allow for consistent dating. However, most biblical scholars and ancient historians believe that his birth date is around 4 to 6 BC.

What does a broken candy cane mean? ›

The candy was rendered in the shape of a J, which reflected Jesus' name as well as the Good Shepherds' staff. He then painted three lines on it, one to represent the scourging Jesus got and the other to represent Christ's bloodshed on the cross. The bent cane serves as a reminder that Jesus' body was broken by us.

What is the oldest candy cane company in the US? ›

Doscher's Candies is an American candy manufacturer, and the oldest producer of candy canes in the United States. It is known for being the oldest continually operating candy company in America.

What is traditional Christmas candy? ›

From peanut brittle to chocolate Santas, the holiday season is a time for sweets and celebration. Hundreds of millions of candy canes, chocolate Santas, and tins of peanut brittle are made each year, and millions of candy gifts are given each year.

What candy was featured in a Christmas story? ›

Be a connoisseur of soap by enjoying our Christmas Story Don't Fudge It Up Soap Candy. Spread humor and cheer this holiday with these sour cherry-flavored hard candies shaped like little bars of soap, just like the one that gets shoved into Ralphie's mouth in the iconic holiday movie.

What four holidays are associated with candy? ›

Here's a list of the top five American holidays that are synonymous with candies, chocolates, snacks, and everything delicious:
  • Halloween (October 31) ...
  • Easter (Date Varies) ...
  • Valentine's Day (February 14) ...
  • Christmas (December 25) ...
  • Fourth of July (Independence Day)
Sep 4, 2023

What foods are associated with Christmas? ›

Every family in every part of the world serves their own traditional Christmas foods, but in the U.S., some are enjoyed nationwide:
  • Turkey.
  • Prime Rib.
  • Baked Ham.
  • Mashed Potatoes & Gravy.
  • Stuffing.
  • Green Bean Casserole.
  • Candied Sweet Potatoes.
  • Roasted Vegetables.
Dec 19, 2022

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